CALIFORNIA SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR
2023 PROJECT CATEGORIES

05. Biochemistry/ Molecular Biology:

Studies at the molecular, biochemical, or enzymatic levels in animals (including humans), plants, and microorganisms, including yeast. Studies of biological molecules, e.g., DNA, RNA, proteins, fats, vitamins, nutrients.

12. Mammalian Biology:

Studies of growth and developmental biology, anatomy, and physiology in all mammals, including humans. Studies of the behavior of all mammals in their natural habitats (or reproductions of them).

15. Microbiology (General):

Studies of genetics, growth, and physiology of bacteria, fungi, protists, algae, or viruses. Includes surveys of bacterial contamination. Senior Division Only: includes projects described within the category Microbiology (Medical).

16. Microbiology (Medical) (Junior Division Only):

Studies of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria, fungi, or viruses. Includes all antimicrobial studies except testing of commercial antimicrobials.

18. Plant Biology:

Studies of the genetics, growth, morphology, or physiology of plants. Studies of the effects of fertilizers on plants.

22. Zoology:

Studies of growth and developmental biology, anatomy, and physiology in animals other than mammals. Studies of the behavior of all animals (excluding mammals) in their natural habitats (or reproductions of them).

01. Aerodynamics/ Hydrodynamics (Junior Division Only):

Studies of aerodynamics and propulsion of air, land, water, and space vehicles; aero/hydrodynamics of structures and natural objects. Studies of the basic physics of fluid flow.

02. Alternative Energy (Junior Division Only):

Studies of power generation using alternative energy technologies such as solar cells.

03. Applied Mechanics & Structures:

Studies concerning the design, manufacture, and operation of mechanisms, including characteristics of materials, dynamic response, and active/ passive control. Testing for strength and stiffness of materials used to provide structural capability; studies and testing of structural configurations designed to provide improved weight and force loading or stiffness capabilities. Senior Division only: includes aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, and fluids projects.

06. Chemistry:

Studies in which chemical properties of nonbiological organic and inorganic materials (excluding biochemistry) are observed. Some studies involving physical properties are appropriate, including phase changes, crystal structures and formation, intermolecular and intramolecular forces.

10. Electronics & Electromagnetics:

Experimental or theoretical studies with electrical circuits, computer design, electro-optics, electromagnetic applications, and antennas.

13. Materials Science (Junior Division Only):

Studies of materials characteristics and their static (not in motion) physical properties. Includes measurements and comparisons of materials durability, flammability, and insulation properties (thermal, electrical, acoustic, optical, electromagnetic, etc.).

17. Physics & Astronomy:

Studies of the physical properties of matter, light, acoustics, thermal properties, solar physics, astrophysics, orbital mechanics, observational astronomy, planetary science, and astronomical surveys.

08. Computational Systems & Analysis (Senior Division Only):

Studies that focus primarily on the development or use of computational systems for applications in the biological, physical, or engineering sciences, such as analyzing big data, modeling and simulations, autonomous navigation, and bioinformatics.

14. Mathematical Sciences:

Studies of mathematics (e.g., algebra, geometry, logic), and computer science (e.g., artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the design, improvement, or optimization of algorithms, computer languages, operating systems, or software architecture.)

09. Earth & Environmental Sciences:

Projects surveying, measuring, modeling, or studying natural and man-made changes on the environment. Studies in water pollution, geology, seismology, physical oceanography, marine geology, coastal processes, air pollution, atmospheric physics and chemistry, and meteorology, including the impacts of floods, fires, acid rain, and climate change.

11. Environmental Engineering:

Projects which apply technologies such as recycling, reclamation, restoration, composting, and bioremediation which could benefit the environment and/or the effects of pollution on the environment.

21. Toxicology:

Studies of the negative effects of chemicals, toxins, medicinal and nutritional factors, prescription drugs, natural remedies, food components (caffeine), and other potentially harmful factors (such as temperature, carbon dioxide, radiation) at the cellular or higher levels on plants and animals.

04. Behavioral & Social Sciences:

Studies of human psychology, behavior, development, linguistics, and the effects of chemical or physical stress on these processes. Experimental or observational studies of attitudes, behaviors, or values of a society or groups within a society, and of the influences of society on group behavior. Includes gender and diversity studies, anthropology, archaeology, and sociology. Studies may focus on either normal or abnormal behavior. Senior Division only: includes studies of cognition.

07. Cognitive Science (Junior Division Only):

Studies of learning, memory, and cognition in humans, using human or animal models for human processes. Studies of the effects of chemical or physical stress on cognition. Includes projects on subliminal perception, optical illusions, recall and observations (e.g. reliability of eyewitnesses), and the interaction of different senses.

19. Product Science (Biological) (Junior Division Only):

Comparison and testing of commercial off–the-shelf products for quality and/or effectiveness for intended use in real-world consumer-oriented applications. This category is reserved for experimental methods involving biological sciences and processes.

20. Product Science (Physical) (Junior Division Only):

Comparison and testing of commercial off–the-shelf products for quality and/or effectiveness for intended use in real-world consumer-oriented applications. This category is reserved for experimental methods involving non-biological, physical sciences and processes