Entrants must select one category from the list below: this will determine the expertise of the initial review only. Semifinalists and Finalists are selected without regard to the category, and winners may not be selected proportionately across categories.

Consultation with teachers or mentors is encouraged to determine the best category for each entry.

 

Animal Sciences (AS)

Study of animals-animal genetics, ornithology, ichthyology, herpetology, entomology, animal ecology, paleontology, cellular physiology, circadian rhythms, animal husbandry, cytology, histology, animal physiology, invertebrate neurophysiology, studies of invertebrates, etc.

Behavioral and Social Sciences (BE)

Human and animal behavior, social and community relationships-psychology, sociology, anthropology, archaeology, ethology, ethnology, linguistics, learning, perception, urban problems, reading problems, public opinion surveys, educational testing, and so on.

Biochemistry (BI)

Chemistry of life processes-molecular biology, molecular genetics, enzymes, photosynthesis, blood chemistry, protein chemistry, food chemistry, hormones, and so on.

Bioinformatics & Genomics (BG)

Computer applications in biological sciences - their use and aid in the study of the composition/structure of biomolecules; computational biology; DNA microarray studies; sequence analysis of DNA or other biomolecules; analysis of human or other genomes, etc.

Chemistry (CH)

Study of nature and composition of matter and laws governing it—physical chemistry, organic chemistry (other than biochemistry), inorganic chemistry, materials, plastics, fuels, pesticides, metallurgy, soil chemistry, and so on.

Computer Science (CS)

Study and development of computer hardware, software engineering, internet networking and communications, graphics (including human interface), simulations / virtual reality or computational science (including data structures, encryption, coding and information theory).

Earth and Planetary Science (EP)

Geology, minerology, physiography, cryosphere, ocean sciences, geomagnetism, hydrology, meteorology, climatology, speleology, seismology, tectonics, volcanology, and planetary science.

Engineering (EN)

Technology; projects that directly apply scientific principles to manufacturing and practical uses-civil, mechanical, aeronautical, chemical, electrical, electronic, photographic, sound, automotive, marine, heating and refrigerating, transportation, environmental engineering, and so on.

Environmental Science (EV)

Study of pollution (air, water, and land) sources and their control; ecology.

Mathematics (MA)

Development of formal logical systems or various numerical and algebraic computations, and the application of these principles-calculus, geometry, abstract algebra, number theory, statistics, complex analysis, probability, and so on.

Medicine and Health (ME)

Study of diseases and health of humans and animals-dentistry, pharmacology, physiology, pathology, ophthalmology, nutrition, sanitation, pediatrics, dermatology, allergies, speech and hearing, and so on.

Microbiology (MI)

Study of the biology of microorganisms-bacteriology, virology, protozoology, fungi, bacterial genetics, yeast, and so on.

Materials Science (MS)

The structure, engineering properties, processing, and innovative uses of metals/alloys, polymers, ceramics, glasses, electronic materials, biomedical materials, composites, and other innovative materials at scales ranging from the atomic to the macroscopic.

Physics and Space Science (PH)

Theories, principles, and laws governing energy and the effect of energy on matter-solid state, optics, acoustics, particle, nuclear, atomic, plasma, superconductivity, fluid and gas dynamics, thermodynamics, semiconductors, magnetism, quantum mechanics, biophysics, etc. Study of celestial bodies, their positions, motions, nature and evolution - astronomy, atrometry, celestial mechanics, etc.

Plant Science (PS)

Study of plant life-agriculture, agronomy, horticulture, forestry, plant taxonomy, plant physiology, plant pathology, plant genetics, hydroponics, algae, and so on.