Feedback from judges is extremely important for our student participants.

Here’s some feedback we received from the 2022 event from judges:

“I really enjoy talking with young scientists and working with students to help them improve their critical thinking skills and encourage their curiosity.”

“I am glad to be able to judge these projects. The overall caliber of scientific work is excellent, especially at a high school level, and has good novelty.”

“I enjoy supporting young interested scientists. Every year I am blown away by what these students can accomplish. Whether it's Middle School or High School projects, there are always projects that strike me as way beyond the expectations that we would have for students their age.”

Judges must have an interest and experience in social science or a science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) field. We welcome judges from most levels of education and experience.

High school project judges must:
- have at least a Bachelor’s degree OR
- have at least four years of experience in a social science or STEM field

Middle school project judges must:
- have either of the qualifications listed above OR
- have at least two years of experience in a social science or STEM field OR
- be a current student in a social science or STEM field as an undergraduate, in a trade or in a two-year college

Judges who are parents, relatives, and teachers of students competing must disclose their connections to participants by answering a particular question in the registration process to avoid conflicts of interest in assignments.

Judging areas of focus follow International Science and Engineering Fair Categories.

BEHA

EAEV, PLNT, ANIM

CELL, MICRO, TMED, BCHM / BMED

CHEM, MATH, PHYS, MATS / EGSD

SOFT, CBIO, EBED, ROBO, TECA

BMED, ENEV, BNBM, EGSD, ETSD / MATS

To learn more abouBMED, ENEV, BNBM, EGSD, ETSDt about the categories for science fair click here.

No matter the topic, you are evaluating

• whether or not you think the project has a clear purpose or problem that’s testable or addresses a certain need,

• if the research plan was well-designed and variables appropriate,

• if data were collected systematically or the prototype was tested in multiple conditions,

• if the student showed creativity, and

• how the poster and conversation were.

We have a rubric for you to fill out.

Click here to see a webpage with some good ideas of what questions to ask students.

If you have questions and are a general judge (for Grand Awards), contact info@mnmas.org.

If you have questions and are judging a sponsored award (such as through your workplace or organization), contact lizbuhmann@mnmas.org.

We welcome people who are open to doing a variety of tasks and committed to helping us host a successful event to serve as a general volunteer. We do not require event volunteers to have a social science or STEM background.

Volunteers must be at leat 16 years of age to be a volunteer at the MN State Science & Engineering Fair.