General Event Questions
- What is the science fair, and who can participate?
- Where and when does the fair take place?
- Do I need to register in advance? How do I qualify to participate?
- Can I compete as part of a team, or is it individual only?
- Do I need to have a traditional science experiment? What if I invented something?
- Will there be activities or presentations I can attend?
- What should I wear? Is there a dress code?
- What happens if I need help during the fair? Who can I ask?
The CoorsTek Denver Metro Regional Science & Engineering Fair (DMRSEF) empowers the next generation of STEM professionals by fostering an enthusiasm for science and inquiry. Our annual event, held each February at CU Denver, offers students an opportunity to engage the Denver metro STEM community and to present their original research in an atmosphere of competition, creativity, education, and fun. All middle and high school students (grades 6-12) from the eight Denver metro counties (Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, and Summit) are eligible to compete in the DMRSEF. Winners from our fair go on to compete in the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair (CSEF) and the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
DMRSEF is held each February at the University of Colorado Denver campus. On the day of the fair, students will head to the CU Denver Student Wellness Center (1355 12th St, Denver, CO 80204) to set up their projects! Judges and Volunteers will check in at the Student Commons Building (1201 Larimer St, Denver CO 80204).
Yes! Registration opens in early November and closes in mid-January. To register, please see: https://clas.ucdenver.edu/denversciencefair/registration-0
Keep in mind that all projects require certain forms to be completed alongside your registration and must comply with the ISEF Rules. CLICK HERE to learn more about forms and rules!
Teams of up to three are able to collaborate on a single project! Upon registration, you will be asked to designate a "team captain" who will be responsible for uploading the forms that go along with your project, but it is exected that all team members contribute equally to the final project. All team members must be able to attend on the day of the fair!
All research and engineering projects are welcome at DMRSEF, check out the full list of categories HERE!
Be sure your project complies with all ISEF rules found HERE before registering your project for the fair.
Each year at DMRSEF, students have the opportunity to participate in a hands-on exploration of STEM careers, experiments, opportunities, and more as they travel from booth to booth engaging with members of our local STEM community at the Activities Fair. There will also be optional panels to attend during this time where you will have the chance to speak with professional scientists and researchers across various fields!
There is no set dress code for DMRSEF, but keep in mind you are here to show off all your hard work - dress however you feel best represents you and your work as a researcher! You will be interacting with various STEM professionals throughout the day, so dress to impress - you never know when you might meet your next mentor or STEM role model!
Please wear comfortable shoes! There is a lot of standing and walking on science fair day - leave those brand-new dress shoes and heels at home or at least plan to bring a backup! (We promise, nobody is worried about your shoes!)
DMRSEF has a wonderful team of volunteers here to help you at every step of the way with any questions or concerns you may have. Your first stop for questions will be the Info Desk located inside the presentation space (gym), but any volunteer is happy to direct you to the answers to your questions!
Day-of-Fair Logistics
- What is the schedule for the day? What will I be doing during the fair?
- What time should I arrive, and how long does the day last?
- Do I need to be there the whole day?
- Where do I go when I first arrive? Will there be parking available?
- Will there be food and drinks available? Should I bring my own?
- Is there a place to store my personal items during the fair?
- What should I do if I need to leave early?
- Can I be excused from school to participate?
A student's day at the 2025 DMRSEF begins at 7:30 AM when doors open for project setup, followed by display and safety reviews and a student networking breakfast from 8:00 to 9:30 AM. After a brief welcome and opening remarks at 9:30 AM, students participate in an activities fair and STEM panels from 9:45 to 11:45 AM. Lunch is served from 12:00 to 1:45 PM, featuring a guest speaker. Judging interviews take place in the afternoon from 1:00 to 5:00 PM, and the day concludes at 5:00 PM.
Doors will open at 7:30am, and we recommend students arrive by 8:00am to have enough time to set up and have their project displays approved before heading to our community breakfast! Please plan to arrive no later than 8:30am as this will not leave you enough time to get set-up and approved with time left over to participate in morning activities.
Yes! Students are required to stay from project set up until judging adjourns at 5:00pm. We know this is a long day, but - in addition to project interviews - the day is jam packed with activities, speakers, and other fun opportunities to keep you busy!
Fair Location
University of Colorado Denver · Downtown Campus
Lola & Rob Salazar Student Wellness Center - 2nd Floor Gymnasium
1355 12th Street, Denver, Colorado 80204
Students may be dropped off on 12th Street between the Wellness Center and Student Commons Building.
(Please be mindful of other DMRSEF participants and do not leave your vehicle unattended in the drop-off area.)
Parking is available in the Tivoli Parking Garage for $20/day. Credit card payments are made at the first-floor kiosks. Please be aware that you will need to enter your license plate number when paying.
Buses: Teachers, please alert DMRSEF staff if your students will be arriving by bus. Bus parking is available in the Elm lot between 5th and 7th Street, off Walnut Street.
There is no check-in for students. Please have your project number readily available when you arrive and proceed directly to your pre-assigned project table. There will be maps and volunteers ready to direct you to the right spot! Project packets with further instructions will be waiting for you. (Chaperones will check in at the Info Desk located inside the gym.)
Students and their chaperones will be provided both breakfast and lunch on the day of the fair, per the dietary restrictions listed on their registration form. (Please be sure you have accounted for any religious observations!) If you have very specific dietary needs or concerns that the fair may not be able to meet, packing your own lunch is encouraged, otherwise we have you covered!
Please bring a reusable water bottle! In the interest of sustainability, we will not be providing single-use water bottles. Compostable cups and filling stations will be available throughout the venue, but we ask that you bring your own reusable water bottle as well.
Keep in mind, snacks and drinks other than water bottles will not be allowed at your display for safety reasons.
You will have space under your booth to store backpacks, coats, etc. The presentation hall will be monitored at all times, so your belongings are safe!
Students are required to be at the fair for the full day. From check in until we adjourn at 5pm, students must be fully available to actively participate.
In the event of an emergency, please seek out a member of the DMRSEF Team and we will work with you and your designated adult to find the best solution.
It is up to you to ensure your school will accept your participation as an excused absence, but the DMRSEF Team is more than happy to provide you a signed letter you can submit to your administrators and/or teachers explaining the academic importance of the event and requesting you be excused.
Chaperones, Family, and Visitors
Students should be accompanied by a teacher or chaperone at the fair. Middle school groups require at least 1 chaperone for every 10 students. If you are a middle school student participating independently of your school, please plan to have a parent or family member accompany you to the fair. All registered chaperones will be provided lunch.
Upon arrival, chaperones will check in at the info desk located inside the wellness center gym where they will receive their nametag. Chaperones will also be provided a lunch which they will eat with their students during the designated lunch break.
If you have not already registered as a chaperone, please do so HERE.
Unless your adults are registered as a chaperone or volunteer, only student participants are permitted to stay after the project set-up; however, there will be a public viewing time during the final hour of judging interviews (4-5pm) where they are welcome to join us and check out other student work!
For parents and other guests looking to stick around for the day, we encourage you to sign up to volunteer at the fair!
Yes! There will be a public viewing time during the final hour of judging (4-5pm). During this time, family, friends, and members of the DMRSEF community are welcome to quietly explore the project gallery.
We ask that guests be mindful that judging is ongoing at this time. You are encouraged to engage with participants, but be mindful that a judge may need to speak to that student and to please allow them to do so if they approach. We also request that guests not watch onging judge interviews and allow students the space and focus to do their best work!
Preparation and Expectations
- What should I bring with me? Do I need to bring extra materials like paper copies of my forms or a lab notebook?
- What size and type of display board is required?
- Are there any rules about what I can and can’t include in my display?
- How can I prepare for the judges’ questions? What kind of questions do judges usually ask?
- Do I need to memorize my presentation, or can I use notes?
- What is the judging criteria? Will I be judged on how I present my project or just on the content?
Your poster and all related materials for judging (including demos, lab notebooks, etc.).
Comfy Shoes – There is a lot of standing and walking on science fair day… leave those brand-new dress shoes and heels at home or at least plan to bring a backup!
A reusable water bottle - in the interest of sustainability, we will not be providing single-use plater water bottles. Compostable cups and filling stations will be available throughout the venue. We ask that you bring your own reusable water bottle as well.
Breakfast and lunch are provided to students and pre-registered chaperones.
The maximum dimensions for a project are as follows:
Depth (front to back): 30 inches or 76 centimeters
Width (side to side): 48 inches or 122 centimeters
Height (floor to top): 108 inches or 274 centimeters
You can find all the requirements for your poster board in the Student Materials Guide.
The following items are prohibited:
- Living organisms, including plants
- Glass (excluding device screens)
- Soil, sand, rock, cement and/or waste samples, even if encased in a slab of acrylic
- Taxidermy specimens or parts
- Preserved vertebrate or invertebrate animals
- Human or animal food
- Human/animal parts or bodily fluids (for example, blood, urine)
- Plant materials (living, dead, or preserved) that are in their raw, unprocessed, or non-manufactured state
- All chemicals including water. No liquids can be utilized in the Project Display
- All hazardous substances or devices (Example: poisons, drugs, firearms, weapons, ammunition, reloading devices, grease/oil and sublimating solids such as dry ice)
- Items that may have contained or been in contact with hazardous chemicals (Exception: Item may be permitted if professionally cleaned and documentation for such cleaning is available). Filters (including microbial) may not be displayed unless the Display & Safety Committee can determine that the device was cleaned or was never used
- Sharp items (for example, syringes, needles, pipettes, knives)
- Flames and highly flammable materials
- Batteries with open-top cells or wet cells
- Drones or any flight-capable apparatus unless the propulsion power source removed
- 3D Printers unless the power source is removed
- Inadequately insulated apparatus capable of producing dangerous temperatures
- Any apparatus with belts, pulleys, chains, or moving parts with tension or pinch points that are not appropriately shielded
- Any display items that are deemed distracting (i.e. sounds, lights, odors, etc.)
- Any apparatus or material deemed unsafe by the Display & Safety Committee
You can always reference the ISEF Rule Book if you are unsure if something will be allowed at your project display.
Check out this video on 'Acing Your Interview' for tips and tricks:
Judges are able to ask any question they may have on your project, so be prepared with a strong understanding of the science both within and surrounding your research or design. Remember, many of the judges you will speak to will be experts in your field and will be very excited to dive deeper into your topic. Some common questions you may be asked (and you should be prepared to answer) include:
- How did you come up with the idea for this project?
- What did you learn from your background search?
- How long did it take you to build/design your experiment?
- How many times did you run the experiment with each configuration?
- What are the variables in your experiment?
- How does your experiment (equipment) (instrument) work?
- What do you mean by (terminology or jargon used by the student)?
- How can your experiment be applied to everyday life or industry?
- What is the next experiment to do in continuing this study?
- If you could do this project again, what would you do differently?
- Are there any areas that we not have covered which you feel are important?
- What is something you learned during this project?
- Why is your project/experiment important?
You are more than welcome to have notes! Participants do not have to have a memorized presentation as long as they feel confident and ready to answer questions about their project. We do recommend you have a short 'elevator pitch' or overview of your project ready to share with judges (and other guests) as they approach your project that you are comfortable with and confident in!
The judging rubric is broken down into seven equally weighted categories:
- Research Question
- Design & Methodology
- Execution
- Creativity
- Poster/Slides
- Introduction Video/Project Pitch
- Interview
Click here to learn more about the evaluation criteria used by judges.
Fair Environment and Accessibility
We will always do our very best to accommodate any needs students may have! Please email denversciencefair@ucdenver.edu will any questions or concerns.
Yes! There will be bathrooms and water fountains located just outside of the gym where projects are displayed and judging takes place. We will have plenty of signage and wayfinders to help direct you during the fair. You will be able to leave the judging session for quick bathroom breaks or to refill water bottles, just be sure to make it back to your poster in a timely manner as to not miss out on judges who may come by. (It can help to let your neighbor know so they can alert any judges who may be looking for you!)
Yes! After your project has been set up and approved, participants will immediately head to the Student Networking Breakfast where they will have the chance to meet other participants and learn about each other's research!
Awards and Recognition
CATEGORY AWARDS: These awards acknowledge students who placed top (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) in their category. Students who win these awards go on to participate in future competitions like the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair, the Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge, and more! These awards come with cash prizes that vary based on division and place.
BEST IN FAIR AWARDS: These awards honor the top three junior (middle school) projects and top five senior (high school) projects across all projects competing in the fair. The top three senior award winners are nominated to represent Denver on an all expences paid trip to the International Science and Engineering Fair!
SPECIAL AWARDS: These awards come from everywhere, from the local STEM community and science fair supporters to the International Science and Engineering Fair! Many of these are awarded to multiple participants for a total of nearly 100 special awards!
In addition to the three senior Best in Fair winners who will advance to the International Science and Engineering Fair, students who place in their category (roughly 50 students) are awarded the opportunity to advance to the Colorado Science and Engineering Fair in April. Juniors who place first in their category will be nominated as finalists for the Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge.
Finalists will be provided next steps following the awards ceremony.
Awards Ceremony: Sunday, March 2, 2025, 5-8pm
Tivoli Building, Turnhalle Auditorium | 900 Auraria Pkwy. Denver, CO 80204
Attendance is optional but highly encouraged! The list of winners will also be posted online on the Monday following the fair.
Yes! Every participant will receive a participation certificate in their welcome packet at the fair.
Post-Fair Opportunities
In the weeks following the fair, you can expect to receive an email with all the judges' feedback on your project. You will not receive numerical scores, only qualitative feedback, comments, and further questions. Students moving on to CSEF will have the priority in receiving their feedback, so they have the chance to make edits before moving on to the state science fair.
Yes! Regardless of having placed at this year's fair, students are encouraged to reflect on their experience and judge feedback, and grow as researchers! While you can't bring the exact same project to a future fair, students can consider a “continuation project” in which they take the same leading question and explore new variables or make further iterations upon a design-based project.
Absolutely! Science fair is a wonderful addition to any application, resume, or CV. It demonstrates your skills in research design, presentation, science communication, teamwork, organization, and more! Consider linking to your virtual fair display to show off your project!