Photo of GKCSEF in Grand Plaza

March 27 - 30, 2024

Greater Kansas City Science & Engineering Fair

Science City at Union Station is proud to continue the tradition with the 73rd Greater Kansas City Science & Engineering Fair to help our community grow a science, engineering, math and technology (STEM) literate workforce. The role of a Science & Engineering Fair in STEM education is increasing, as students learn about science and engineering practices by using them in their investigations. The experience of thousands of teachers and students across all grade levels and subject areas, backed by research, confirms that project-based learning is an effective and enjoyable way to learn the competencies required for success in career and civic life.

Prior Approval Forms for the 2024 GKCSEF are due Friday, February 16!

72nd Greater Kansas City Science & Engineering Fair

AWARDS

Looking for project ideas? Consider a project category that could lead to winning fantastic prizes and opportunities! We’ve put together a list of Special Awards from last year, along with descriptions. We highly recommend perusing them, as we anticipate this year’s list will be equally impressive!

Special Awards list

 

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Science & Engineering Fair and congratulations to all of the award winners.

2023 GKCSEF Awards List

Grand Award Winners: Shawnee Mission School District Center for Academic Achievement Biotechnology Program

Category: Earth and Environmental Science
WINNER: Elizabeth Barnes
Title of Project: Understanding the Regional Effect of Microplastic Contamination Through the Study of Beach Sand

Category: Computational Science, Bioinformatics and Math
WINNER: Abigail West
Title of Project: The Use of Topological Scoring and Chemical Cross-linking to Identify Direct Protein Interactions in the Sin3 Complex

Category: Molecular Biology
WINNER: Mia Stamos
Title of Project: Characterization of Engineered Chimeric Protein LLHP Repression Through the Induction of DNA Looping

Category: Energy & Environmental Engineering
WINNER: Erandi Ramiez Oviedo (not pictured)
Title of Project: Rubisco: A New Approach to Carbon Sequestration

Grand Award Winners, and teacher Dr. Kenneth Lee

About | Schedule | Student & Registration | T-Shirt Design Contest |Campbell Family Educator GrantCharles N. Kimball Awards Ceremony Awards Sponsors


Union Station Kansas City is dedicated to science education, a celebration of community and preservation of history. We are proud to host the 73rd Greater KC Science & Engineering Fair and want to thank all the students, teachers, parents, mentors and volunteers who help make it a success!

Students in grades 4-12 from public, private, parochial, charter and home schools in 15 counties in and around the KC metro area are eligible to participate in the GKCSEF. The Fair is filled with exemplary projects developed by talented students, some of whom win a piece of the nearly $20,000 in awards and honors.

Kansas Missouri
Johnson, Wyandotte, Leavenworth, Douglas, Franklin Jackson, Bates, Cass, Clay, Platte, Henry, Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis, Benton

 

Annually, top senior-level projects that meet the stringent requirements for entering the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) win the prestigious GRAND AWARD. This year, Grand Award winners and their teachers receive an all-expense-paid trip to the 2024 Regeneron International Science & Engineering in Los Angeles, California. Every year, tens of millions of students participate in science fairs around the globe but only about 1,800 of them earn the right to compete for nearly $5 million awards and honors bestowed each May at ISEF. Some of our very own science fair participants have gone on to win amazing awards at ISEF and you can, too!

For More Information About ISEF

A message to students: Thank you all for another inspiring Science & Engineering Fair! We know how much time it takes to plan, execute, and present a project for the Fair, and we applaud your dedication to contributing to the success of the 73rd Greater Kansas City Science & Engineering Fair. The Fair has showcased thousands of student projects over the past 70 years, and many of those students have continued their studies and gone on to pursue a career in a STEM field.

A message to parents, teachers and mentors: Thank you for motivating your students, for guiding their curiosities, and for promoting critical thinking. Thank you for encouraging your children to ask questions, to push themselves, and to not give up in the face of failure-or an unexpected result…after all, that is part of the beauty of doing science. Your guidance and support is an integral part of the accomplishments of their projects, the success of this Fair, and most importantly the shaping of who the students will become.

Contact Emily Meyer for Sponsorship or Special Award information at [email protected]

2024 Schedule


Friday, February 16th, 2024

NO LATER THAN 5:00 pm

PRIOR APPROVAL FORMS DUE

If your project requires PRIOR APPROVAL, please submit forms BEFORE your RESEARCH START DATE! Unsure about prior approvals needed?

Email the GKCSEF Scientific Review Committee at [email protected]

Friday, February 23rd, 2024

NO LATER THAN 5:00 pm ALL FORMS AND REGISTRATION DUE

Any application received after February 23rd, 2023 will not be accepted.

The $7.00 entry fee must accompany registration for the application to be complete.
Any questions please email [email protected]

Wednesday, March 27th, 2024

8:00 am – 3:00 pm PROJECT SET UP
Students may set up exhibits at Union Station in Grand Hall and Grand Plaza.
All projects must be set up by 3:00 pm.
4:00 – 10:00 pm ACADEMIC JUDGING
The Fair is closed to the public.
7:00 – 8:00 pm STUDENT INTERVIEWSStudents should be at their projects to interview with academic judges.JUNIOR LEVEL INTERVIEWS (optional)
SENIOR LEVEL INTERVIEWS (required)

Thursday, March 28th, 2024

7:00 am –12:00 pm SPECIAL AWARD JUDGINGThe Fair is closed to the public.
10:00 am – 4:00 pm* PUBLIC VIEWING and SCHOOL FIELD TRIP EXPERIENCESThe Fair is free and open to the public. Science Fair booth closes at 4 pm, Fair is still open for public viewing!*Subject to change

Friday, March 29th, 2024

9:00 am – 4:00 pm PUBLIC VIEWING and SCHOOL FIELD TRIP EXPERIENCES
The Fair is free and open to the public.
4:00 – 7:00 pm REMOVAL OF PROJECTS
All projects must be removed by 7:00 pm. Projects not picked up will be discarded!

Saturday, March 30th, 2024

10:00 am – 12:00 pm THE CHARLES N. KIMBALL AWARDS CEREMONYGrand Plaza

Awards valued at $20,000+

Students receiving top academic or special awards: Blue Rosettes and White Ribbons, are invited to attend. Parents, teachers, relatives and friends are invited to attend as well.

 

2024 Science & Engineering Fair Theme: “Igniting Curiosity!”

We have a winner! A big CONGRATULATIONS to John Pace, 10th grader from Liberty High School, for their outstanding design submission in our 73rd Greater Kansas City Science & Engineering Fair T-Shirt Design Contest! His design, revised by our graphic design team, will go on all Fair t-shirts and will be the front cover of our Fair program book! He will receive a $100 amazon gift card and Fair swag bag, while his teacher will receive a $50 gift card and swag bag!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in the contest. Each submission brought its own unique flair and perspective, making the decision a challenging one. Local students’ enthusiasm and talent are what make our community so vibrant and inspiring!

Click Here To See Past Winners

Submission Guidelines

Volunteer at the Fair!

Be a Judge!

The 73rd Greater Kansas City Science & Engineering Fair, to be held in-person at historic Union Station from Wednesday, March 27th – Saturday, March 30th, 2024.  The commitment for judging at the GKCSEF is approximately 4 hours on the evening of Wednesday, March 27th from about 5-9pm.

That evening we will host our Judges Meeting and Dinner from 5-6pm, dinner provided, with judging and student interviews happening that night. More details will go out as we get closer to the Fair!

If you have any questions about the Fair or about judging, please email Emily Meyer, Fair Director at [email protected]

Register to be a judge

General Fair Volunteer

General Volunteers will help at the Fair booth throughout the week of the Fair. Volunteers may sing up for one or more time slots, and each shift will be 3 hours.

Register to be a volunteer

Be a Mentor!

Become a mentor today! Mentors can range in commitment from a simple phone call to full blown experimental help. Signing up does not automatically assign you to a student, but adds you to our ever-growing mentor list.

Register to be a mentor

GKCSEF Charles N. Kimball Awards Ceremony

Sponsored By Burns & McDonnell

Special Awards
Both national and local STEM organizations with a devoted interest in science education provide special awards for projects entered into the Fair. Each organization selects its own award criteria and provides judges to select the winning projects.
We would like to thank all of these organizations for their support and participation in the Fair.

Academic Awards
Every project in the Fair earns either a gold, silver, or bronze ribbon. The most outstanding projects in each division and category receive a blue rosette ribbon and will receive an Academic Award crystal award at the Awards Ceremony

Pioneers in Science
The Pioneers in Science Awards are given to the top 6 Senior Division projects across all categories. Winners will receive a plaque as their award.

Grand Awards
Grand Awards are presented to the top 4 Senior Division projects that meet the stringent requirements for entering the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. Grand Award winners and their sponsoring teacher will receive an all-expense paid trip to compete at the 2024 Regeneron International Fair held in Los Angeles, California, May 12-17th

Photo From GKCSEF Award Ceremony

AWARDS

Academic Awards: Each year over 250 scientists, engineers, physicians, educators, and other Kansas City professionals volunteer their time and expertise to judge the science projects at the fair.  Every project earns a gold, silver or bronze ribbon. The most outstanding projects in each division and category receive a blue rosette ribbon and will receive an Academic Award crystal award at the awards ceremony.

Special Awards: Both national and local STEM organizations with a devoted interest in science education provide special awards for projects entered into the Fair.  Each organization selects its own award criteria, and provides judges to select the winning projects.

Click here for a list of special awards

Pioneers in Science The Pioneers in Science Awards are given to the top 7 Senior Division projects across all categories.  Winners will receive a plaque as their award.

Grand Awards: GRAND AWARDS are presented to the top 4 Senior Division projects that meet the stringent requirements for entering the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.  Grand Award winners and their sponsoring teacher will receive an all- expense paid trip to compete at the 2024 Regeneron International Fair held in Los Angeles, California from May 12th-17th, 2024.

Special thanks to these supporters

For more information on Fair Sponsorship please email Director of Development, Sara Lissaur at [email protected]

Presenting Sponsor

GKCSEF Executive Committee

Emily Meyer
Fair Director

Dr. Brittan Wilson
Chair of International Selection

Robynn Adracsek
Chair of Judges

Dr. Rebecca McLennan
Chair for Scientific Review Committee