Upper Fair (Grades 6-12)

School Registration
(due November 21, 2025)

• School Registration Form

Early School Registration deadline is October 10, 2025.
Key teachers for schools that register before this date and who participate in the fair will receive an incentive worth $50.00.

ALL schools must have a Scientific Review Committee (SRC); Internal Review Boards (IRBs) are for those schools who allow student projects using vertebrates, potentially hazardous materials - including molds, and human subjects. IRB and SRC teams must be correctly listed.

An SRC must include a biomedical scientist (registered nurse, earned doctorate, veterinarian, professor...), an educator, and at least one additional member.

An IRB must include an educator, a school administrator, and an individual who is knowledgeable about and capable of evaluating the physical and/or psychological risk involved in a given study. This may be a medical doctor, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, doctor of pharmacy, registered nurse, psychologist, licensed social worker, someone who holds a doctorate in educational research, or licensed clinical professional counselor.

Categories: Descriptions

• Behavioral and Social Sciences
• Biochemistry
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Earth and Environmental Science
• Animal Sciences
• Biomedical and Health Sciences
• Microbiology
• Physics and Astronomy
• Engineering Mechanics
• Mathematics and Systems Software
• Robotics and Intelligent Mechanics
• Plant Sciences

Project Paperwork
Prior to Experimentation

Teams: Only teams of 2 are allowed to enter Region V Upper Fair.

All 6-8 grade projects require:

1. A student registration form
2. Additional forms if needed

All 9-12 grade projects require:

1. A student registration form
2. Form 1
3. Form 1A
4. Form 1B (signature in Box 2a required for all)
5. A research plan or summary
6. Additional forms if needed

Additional forms could be required due to the nature of the project.  9-12 grade participants interested in competing to attend ISEF (Best of Fair finalists) must complete proper ISEF forms. The information below will help.

• Please visit the Forms Wizard to determine if additional forms are needed (humans, biohazards, microorganisms (excluding yeast), harmful or hazardous activities, etc.).
  FORM & RULES WIZARD
• ISEF Forms link if needed: ISEF Forms
• Remember that all paper work with the exception of the abstract and regional registration must be filled out and reviewed by your SRC and IRB prior to any experimentation!
• If you have any questions regarding these forms please contact sciencefair.msstate@gmail.com

Student Registration
 due January 31, 2026

Participants must have already placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in their category and class within their school or district level competition. If schools do not have enough students interested to host a science fair at their school they can assist students in registering to compete at the regional fair without competing in a school fair. The Upper Fair is divided into 4 competition classes: Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, and Grade 9-12.

Requirements include a Student Registration form and all additional prior experimentation paperwork from step 2.

Registration: 

• Printable/Fillable Student Registration Form 
• or Online Student Registration Form

Registration Fee

• $30.00 per student
• Click here to pay.  Confirm with teacher before payment, some schools pay for this event.
• Schools may pay by school check. Send the check to
  Bagley College of Engineering ATTENTION: Dr. Shana Lee, Mail Stop 9544 Mississippi State, MS 39762.
• Late Registration: An additional fee of $5 per student will be charged for late entries with NO exceptions.
  • An Upper Fair entry is considered late when student registration is received later than January 31, 2026.
  • Please contact the director at sciencefair.msstate@gmail.com if your school needs more time for payment.
• Student registration may be submitted by online registration, email (scan), or snail mail to the Region V MSEF Coordinator, address above (email the coordinator if you choose snail mail).

Abstract Form 

All project registrations must include an abstract that is completed after all experimentation. This form is combined with the student registration form. This should not exceed 250 words summarizing the project (not a research plan).

All additional prior experimentation paperwork

• In addition to the student registration form and the abstract form.
• Additional Forms may be required due to the nature of the project (see step 2).
  • ISEF Forms
  • Form and Rules Wizard

Make the board for presentation.

Traditional board methods. 

• Board: Tri-fold boards
  • Tri-fold boards that fit in a 3 foot wide space on a table. Traditional dimensions 36" x 48" open and 36" x 24" closed (suggestion).
  • You will not be disqualified for board size but you must fit within a 3 foot wide area. Although the traditional size is 48" when open that is meaning open flat. When displaying the board, the flaps are angled in causing no issues with fitting within a 3 foot wide area.
• Poster: There are limitations!
  • In this sense a poster is considered a flat board that is made using software and printed by professionals.
  • If you are making a poster for the presentation keep the following in mind:
    • Region V MSEF DOES NOT provide easels for your poster. The student is responsible for providing their own easel.
    • Region V nor teachers are responsible for paying for your poster to be printed. This can be expensive.
    • If you plan to design and print a poster for yourself please email the director to let them know. Effort to accommodate for a convenient space will be made but not guaranteed.

Suggested formats for board - click here