Simcoe Science and Technology Fair

HOW TO BECOME A JUDGE AT THE SCIENCE FAIR

Registration

2025 Judging Registration:

https://forms.gle/PzGMvdvwBHZTQcp4A

Judging registration is open! Feel free to forward the registration link to others who might be interested in volunteering their time. If you would like to be a judge next year, please Contact Us or email scrstf.judging@gmail.com and we will add you to our mailing list.

The Role of a Judge

Science Fair provides a broad, cross-curricular learning opportunity for students that is made richer by their interaction with our volunteer judges. Judges come from diverse careers and interests. Their expertise and experiences lead to rich, rewarding conversations with our student exhibitors. Judging is one of our most rewarding volunteer roles at our fair as it provides the best opportunity to encourage, challenge, and celebrate student excellence in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

The Simcoe County Regional Science and Technology Fair is held on a weekend in late March or early April. Judges volunteer on Friday evening and/or Saturday morning. We welcome new judges and are always grateful to see the familiar faces of returning judges each year.

No previous experience is required to be a judge at the regional Science Fair. Registered judges receive a guide to help them understand the judging process and the criteria by which we evaluate student projects. We hold a training session with our judges at the fair before judging begins so that we can answer questions and ensure that everyone is comfortable with their assignments.

Judging Details

Division and category judging occurs on Friday evening (6:00 – 9:00 PM). Dinner is provided. As a judge, you will receive a list of projects to visit throughout the evening. Judges from each category and division (see below) meet in teams to discuss the results and make decisions about award winners in each group. Experienced judges act as group leaders to help facilitate these discussions, and members of our committee are also available to support this process.

Special awards judging occurs on Saturday morning (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM). Light morning refreshments and lunch are provided. Each of our special awards has different criteria that are provided by the award donor. Each judging team receives criteria specific to the award(s) they will be judging, and use it to determine which project(s) best meet the award criteria.

National Science Fair

Sometimes we are asked how our joint volunteer efforts at the Simcoe County Regional Science Fair tie into the larger provincial and national network. Each year Simcoe County selects seven students to compete at the Canada Wide Science Fair. Please visit Youth Science Canada to learn more about the scope of Science Fairs and how our many threads throughout academia, government and industry are helping to build a strong and innovative future for all Canadians.