Kern County Science Foundation

The Kern County Science Foundation (KCSF) is a non-profit community-based organization dedicated to enhancing student, teacher, and public interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Our many accomplishments over the last thirty-five years have been made possible by the generous support of the community, but there is still much to do.  When KCSF began in 1987 the world had not heard of Google, hybrid cars, the Internet or smart phones. It is clear STEM disciplines are shaping the future and are essential for a robust local economy and to provide fulfilling careers for our youth.  Unfortunately, Kern County’s poverty rate is 50% greater than the national average, affecting the opportunities of many of our children.  This sobering statistic underscores the need to assist and encourage more students to choose a path that will lead to tomorrow’s well-paying jobs.  Research shows that students are more likely to persist in STEM after participating in a hands-on extracurricular STEM activity. This is why KCSF sponsors numerous STEM related activities throughout the year, including the Kern County Regional Science Fair, STEM Olympiad, Kern Codes Competition, Mathematics AP Contest, Physics Olympics, and other STEM activities.  In addition, the Foundation provides grants and professional development for teachers, and offers scholarships to students pursuing STEM related degrees. Starting in 2019, we have become affiliated with the Intel ISEF Fair, which is an international competition bringing together the brightest student STEM minds in one competition. We are proud to inform you that Kern County students took first and second place at ISEF just this past year. We accomplish this, and so much more, through our long-standing partnership with the Kern County Superintendent of Schools office.    

The Foundation is managed with an all-volunteer board that is a cross-section of industries and organizations in Kern County, including: oil and gas, agriculture, academia, broadcasting and entertainment, engineering, utilities, and more.  But for us to exist and function we depend on contributions from individuals and organizations like yours. Please consider donating today to support STEM activities in Kern County!