About
The Santa Clara Valley Science and Engineering Fair (Synopsys Championship) holds an annual regional science and engineering fair for students who prepare and present projects. Since 1995, every project is judged through a conversation with the student, and awards are based on the student’s explanation and defense of their work, with the display serving as an accessory. Tech papers were added in 1980 as optional entries based on the physical projects, and NASA judges read these papers when they were part of the fair.
• Ages: 11–18 years old
Since the late 1990s, the fair has been limited to Santa Clara County students in grades 6 to 12 in public, private, parochial, or home schools, with participation usually ranging from 900 to 1000 students. The Santa Clara Valley Science and Engineering Fair Association (SCVSEFA) celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010. The mission of SCVSEFA is to inspire and develop middle school and high school students across Santa Clara Valley to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and prepare them for their future endeavors. The Board began presenting fall Student Clinics in 1975, which give hints about how to select a project, what makes a good display, and clarify rules and answer general questions.
Rules for the fair have been modified as technical developments occur, including changes related to lasers, and federal and state laws, International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) rules, and practical limits such as size and noise affect what can be displayed. Team projects have been added, removed, and then included again over time based on ISEF practices, and product-comparison projects have been limited to lower grades. Tech papers became so numerous that they were later limited to high school students and are no longer part of the fair because of the limited number of judges. In 1984, artists at NASA modernized the fair’s logo into a representation of a computer chip without all its leads.
Synopsys Outreach Foundation provided major funding from 2000 through 2013, and Great America contributed theater space and park tickets as in-kind donations during those same years. Students from Russia have visited the fair with their projects since 2001; their projects are displayed but not officially judged. One testimonial from Richard J. Castronovo (1966–67) states that major benefits to youth participating include recognition for their work, contact with others interested in science, and the opening of doors to industry or other outlets for their talents. Dr. Oreon Keesler stated that the fair was founded to encourage students and recognize them for work done in science and to promote their interests in scientific vocations. Everett H. Layne (1965–1971) described science fair as one of the most effective ways of providing recognition and incentive to responsible young students who are concerned about problems and willing to work to solve them. The Synopsys Science and Technology Championship Awards Ceremony took place on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at Heritage Theatre in Campbell, CA.
Last updated June 6, 2026.
• Ages: 11–18 years old
Since the late 1990s, the fair has been limited to Santa Clara County students in grades 6 to 12 in public, private, parochial, or home schools, with participation usually ranging from 900 to 1000 students. The Santa Clara Valley Science and Engineering Fair Association (SCVSEFA) celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010. The mission of SCVSEFA is to inspire and develop middle school and high school students across Santa Clara Valley to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and prepare them for their future endeavors. The Board began presenting fall Student Clinics in 1975, which give hints about how to select a project, what makes a good display, and clarify rules and answer general questions.
Rules for the fair have been modified as technical developments occur, including changes related to lasers, and federal and state laws, International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) rules, and practical limits such as size and noise affect what can be displayed. Team projects have been added, removed, and then included again over time based on ISEF practices, and product-comparison projects have been limited to lower grades. Tech papers became so numerous that they were later limited to high school students and are no longer part of the fair because of the limited number of judges. In 1984, artists at NASA modernized the fair’s logo into a representation of a computer chip without all its leads.
Synopsys Outreach Foundation provided major funding from 2000 through 2013, and Great America contributed theater space and park tickets as in-kind donations during those same years. Students from Russia have visited the fair with their projects since 2001; their projects are displayed but not officially judged. One testimonial from Richard J. Castronovo (1966–67) states that major benefits to youth participating include recognition for their work, contact with others interested in science, and the opening of doors to industry or other outlets for their talents. Dr. Oreon Keesler stated that the fair was founded to encourage students and recognize them for work done in science and to promote their interests in scientific vocations. Everett H. Layne (1965–1971) described science fair as one of the most effective ways of providing recognition and incentive to responsible young students who are concerned about problems and willing to work to solve them. The Synopsys Science and Technology Championship Awards Ceremony took place on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at Heritage Theatre in Campbell, CA.
Last updated June 6, 2026.
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