San Luis Valley Regional Science Fair Inc

The History & Purpose of the San Luis Valley Regional Science Fair

From project inception to presenting results to judges, the science fair experience is a blend of education, communication, competition, camaraderie, creativity, excitement, and cooperation.  This is the unique essence of the San Luis Valley Regional Science Fair.

Established in 1949, the San Luis Valley Regional Science Fair (SLVRSF) is a non-profit organization which holds a regional research competition each year, with more than 300 students from 15 school districts participating.  The purpose of the Fair is to encourage student's passion for research in science, engineering, technology, and math, giving students an opportunity to be evaluated by scientific professionals and publicly recognizing their abilities and achievements, and helping students grow towards their career aspirations in STEM.

Conducting research and participating in the SLVRSF is one of the few activities where students demonstrate and integrate a wide variety of 21st century academic skills.  Students are informed and guided by background literature, develop scientific questions, design experiments to answer those questions, utilize mathematical and graphical analysis tools, write scientific research papers, create logical visual displays of their work, and orally communicate and defend their findings to peers and professionals from a diverse range of scientific backgrounds. 

Students participate in three divisions: Elementary [4th-5th], Junior [6th-8th], and Senior [9th-12th].   Grand Awards in all three divisions are given in Behavioral and Social Science, Biomedical Science, Botany, Chemistry, Consumer Science, Earth and Space Science, Engineering, Environmental Science, Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics and Zoology.

Academic Awards are given for technical writing, oratory skills, best display, most originality, and overall best projects.   Additionally, a wide variety of Special Awards are given by local businesses, agencies, and private donors.   Winning Junior and Senior division projects qualify as finalists for the Colorado Science & Engineering Fair (CSEF), which is held in April in Fort Collins, Colorado.  In addition, two senior division students with outstanding projects are awarded an all-expense paid trip to the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) to represent the SLVRSF as Finalists in this exciting competition.  Donations received are distributed to outstanding young scientists in the form of cash awards, material awards, and financial/logistical support to attend higher levels of research competition.

The SLVRSF is dedicated to increasing academic involvement and excellence for participating fourth through twelfth grade students in our region.  The SLVRSF is proud to be an institution that unites San Luis Valley students with scientists, agency professionals, ASU professors, community members, and contributors, all with a common vision of encouraging and developing the next generation of STEM professionals, right here in the SLV.