An international high school project competition focused on environmental issues. Founded and organized by Terra Science and Education, it hosts hundreds of students from over 70 countries who showcase individual scientific research, engineering innovations, or creative art projects dedicated to solving global environmental crises.
A Department of Defense-sponsored STEM competition that challenges high school students to present original scientific and engineering research before a panel of university faculty. Regional finalists advance to present formal oral or poster presentations, vying for tuition scholarships and a place at the National JSHS finals.
An elite global entrepreneurship competition created by Horn Entrepreneurship at the University of Delaware. High school students identify a pressing real-world issue and build an original startup concept across two tracks—Business Innovation or Social Innovation—submitting a pitch deck and a written proposal to compete for funding and global mentorship.
An annual, multi-phase global competition that transforms high school students into entrepreneurial problem-solvers. Working in small teams, participants blend science and technology with business principles to design innovative, commercially viable solutions to major global sustainability, health, and aerospace challenges.
A highly selective, residential summer research program where high school juniors and seniors experience immersive, project-based science. Operating across multiple campus locations, students work in teams of three to conduct real research—collecting and analyzing original data in experimental fields like Astrophysics, Biochemistry, or Genomics.
Widely regarded as the most prestigious summer research program in the world for high school students. Jointly sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Education and hosted at MIT, 80 elite scholars from around the globe participate in a fully funded, six-week intensive program combining on-campus graduate coursework with hands-on, individual scientific research alongside leading scientists.
An educational initiative organized by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that promotes STEM research among high schoolers. Instead of submitting completed work, students apply with a novel research proposal; selected winners receive funding, active mentorship from MIT undergraduates, and an all-expenses-paid trip to MIT's campus to kickstart their projects.
An elite, multi-tiered online algorithmic coding competition designed to identify and train top high school programmers. Participants advance through four competitive divisions—Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum—by solving complex algorithmic problems under tight time constraints using programming languages such as C++, Java, and Python.
Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF): The world’s largest international pre-college science and engineering competition. High school students first qualify through local, regional, and state affiliate fairs by presenting original, graduate-level independent research projects across 21 diverse STEM categories, competing globally for millions of dollars in awards and elite academic recognition.
An intensive, international high school robotics program combining engineering, coding, branding, and community outreach. Under strict rules and limited resources, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team brand, hone teamwork skills, and build industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors.
The United States Earth Science Olympiad (USESO) is a national competition designed to identify high-achieving students in the fields of geology, meteorology, oceanography, and terrestrial astronomy. Organized by the U.S. Earth Science Organization, the program emphasizes an "Earth systems" approach, challenging students to understand the complex interactions between the geosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere.
The USA Physics Olympiad (USAPhO) is a highly competitive, multi-stage physics competition for high school students, organized by the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). The program serves as the selection process for the U.S. Physics Team, identifying top students to represent the United States at the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) based on their mastery of conceptual and mathematical physics.
The U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) is a multi-tiered academic competition sponsored by the American Chemical Society to identify and nurture talent in the chemical sciences. High school students progress through local and national exams that test advanced chemical theories and laboratory skills, with the top 20 scorers in the nation attending a two-week intensive study camp to compete for a spot on the four-member Team USA.
The USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) is the premier biology competition for high school students in the United States, designed to identify and train the next generation of biological leaders. Participants progress through a series of increasingly rigorous exams—the Open, Semifinal, and National Finals—that test advanced concepts in cell biology, genetics, ecology, and animal/plant physiology far beyond the standard high school curriculum.
COSMOS (The California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science) is a prestigious four-week residential immersion program for high school students held at several University of California campuses. It is designed for students with a demonstrated interest and aptitude in STEM who wish to explore topics beyond the standard high school curriculum.
A nationwide competition where student teams engage in 23 events spanning biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, and engineering. Participants compete in a variety of formats, including written exams, laboratory experiments, and the testing of pre-built devices like bridges or helicopters.
A highly competitive, fast-paced academic tournament where teams of four students face off in a buzzer-based, question-and-answer format. Organized by the U.S. Department of Energy, it tests rapid-fire knowledge across diverse fields including biology, chemistry, Earth and space science, physics, energy, and mathematics.