Community Education -

The STEM Fair is an event where students can showcase science and engineering projects. Prior to the event, students find a question or problem that interests them. They build prototypes or conduct experiments, sharing what they learned with their peers. Students may win awards based on the quality of their projects and presentations.

The STEM Fair will be held at the Rochester Regional Sports Complex at RCTC on Friday, February 27, 2026.

Keep in touch with us by joining the STEM Fair newsletter to receive occasional emails about volunteer opportunities, student success stories, and community events. 

Students in grades 6-12 who live in these SE Minnesota counties: Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona. 

Complete both steps.

1. Register through Community Education

2. Create a free zFairs account. This is needed to process paperwork related to your project.

• September 23, 2024

  • Registration opens

• October 12, 2024

  • STEM Fair Social for students in grades 8-12

    • 1-5 PM

    • At One Discovery Square, 202 4th St SW, Rochester, MN 55902

• October and November, 2024

  • Scientific Review Committee (SRC) meetings for projects that require safety review

    • October 12, 1-5 PM (In person at the STEM Fair Social at One Discovery Square. )

    • October 23, 5:30-7:00 PM (In person at Northrop Community Education Center)

    • November 6, 5:30-7:00 PM (Virtual, meet.google.com/hnv-jxcy-epz)

    • November 20, 5:30-7:00 PM (In person at Northrop Community Education Center)

• November 20, 2024

  • Last opportunity for Scientific Review Committee (SRC) approval

  • Advice for Teachers and Parents to Help Students Stay on Track

    • A Research Plan must be written prior to conducting an experiment or building a prototype.

    • Students should transition from planning their project to executing their project by the end of November.

    • Students should create a zFairs account and submit paperwork by the end of November

• January 1, 2025

  • Registration Deadline: Register on Community Education website, pay $20 registration fee, and receive a display board at no additional cost.

• January 17, 2025

  • Late Registration Deadline: Register on Community Education website, pay $20 registration fee. Students who register late must supply their own display board.

  • Deadline to upload all ISEF paperwork into zFairs

    • This is the final date that can be listed as a project end date in ISEF paperwork

    • All data must be collected before this date (unless the SRC has approved a later end date)

    • High school students must submit all necessary paperwork by this date to be eligible to attend ISEF.

• January 31, 2025

  • zFairs is "frozen." No changes can be made by students in zFairs after this date

• February 14, 2025

  • Deadline to upload video presentations into zFairs

• February 28, 2025

  • STEM Fair

  • 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM

  • At the RCTC Sports Center

• March 4, 2025

  • Awards Ceremony

  • 6:00-7:30 PM

  • At Dakota Middle School