Dates To Know

October 15 - 31, 2025

Teacher / School Online Registration Opens:

We utilize the online science fair organization, www.wesef.zfairs.org, for WESEF 2025. We will be using zFairs for teacher, student, and judge registration as well as for turning in all student paperwork. Before your students can register, you will have to register on our customized, zFairs website.

November 1, 2025

Student Online Registration Opens: 
Registration will take place using zFairs, teachers must register first and then work directly with their students to register them one at a time using the link that was provided to teachers only. Students should NOT register on their own. Student registration for WESEF 2025 is $90 per student.

Registration Deadline: December 1, 2025

Payment Deadline: 
December 20, 2024

Student Online Registration Closes & Payment is Due
Online registration closes for project registration; this should be completed WITH your teacher. No additional students may be added after this date.
Registration Fees: Everyone registered on this date will be invoiced. The deadline for WESEF payment receipt/postmark for Registration Fees is December 19th. Student registration for WESEF 2025 is $90.
Please check with your teachers to determine if your school is covering this fee or if you are responsible.
Checks ($90 per student ) for registration fees should be postmarked by Dec 20th, 2024 and mailed to: Stephanie Peborde Burke, WESEF Treasurer, PO Box 1373, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598

December 12, 2025

All Student Paperwork Due
Students are responsible for uploading their own forms and paperwork ONLINE in order to qualify for Regeneron WESEF 2025. Students must use the zFairs platform to determine which forms will be needed for your project and upload signed PDF files for all required forms. 
All student paperwork must include Forms 1, 1A, 1B as well as the WESEF Abstract, Research Paper, and Research Plan. Please double-check that you have uploaded the correct documents with all required signatures – no forms will be accepted after this date. 

December 19, 2025

Teachers Review Student Paperwork in zFairs
Teacher should use this time to carefully review all student paperwork, ensuring that required forms are properly uploaded with dates and required signatures. No forms will be accepted after 11:59pm on this date. In addition, this is the deadline for WESEF payment receipt/postmark for Registration Fees.

March 13, 2026

Regeneron WESEF 2026 – Project Setup
All projects must be set up between 4:30 – 7:30pm. Tables with project numbers will be provided informing you where you should set up your project. Please do NOT make any changes to the floor plan.
In the event that you cannot set up your own project during this time, it is allowed for someone else (friend, teacher, parent) to set up your project for you during this time window. Any project that is not fully set up by 7:30pm will be disqualified from WESEF 2025.
All materials which you plan to display MUST be set up this evening. The only exception being technology such as laptops, tablets, etc… which should be brought on the day of the fair. We will have staffed security overnight.
Finally, You MUST complete the MANDATORY Project Check-In Form which will be available via QR Code at your poster, once this is submitted, your project is considered fully registered. 

March 14, 2026

Regeneron WESEF 2025 – Day of Fair!
8:00-8:30 am – Judges and Students arrive.

• Somers High School will be used for all categories EXCEPT Behavior. Somers Middle School will be used for ONLY the Behavior Category. Behavioral Science Projects will be in Somers Middle School.

• All students should go into the main entrance and proceed to the auditorium.

• Students are strongly encouraged to be dropped off and/or carpool as there will not be enough parking spots for all of the 400 judges, the 50 teachers and the nearly 600 students.

9:00 am – Student Orientation in the Auditorium

• Students will convene for a short orientation before judging sessions begin.

• Immediately thereafter, students will proceed to their posters in either Somers HS or Middle School.

• Student attendance will be taken at their posters.

9:20 am – Judging Sessions begin

• Any student not at their poster when the judging starts at 9:20 will be disqualified from participating.

• There will NOT be Wi-Fi access for students at Somers High School or Somers Middle School.

• Projects will likely have 3-5 individual official judge interviews. 

• Students should be prepared to give an 8 minute summary of their research. Judges are then permitted 5 minutes for Q&A.

• There will be official judging periods which will be posted. Please try to adhere to the schedule to ensure that you are afforded the time for a full presentation session.

• Judges will then have time to score rubrics and move to the next poster. 

• In some cases, Special Awards Judges will also meet with and interview students 

• Under no circumstances should a Judge review a student project for which there may be a conflict of interest. Judges are asked to recuse themselves from any projects where they do not feel they can fairly assess a student project.

11:00 am – 3:00 pm – Student Lunch

• Student Lunch (bag) will be available starting around 11:00am

• There will be an area in the lobby/commons of each school where students can pick up their bagged lunch

• Students should bring their lunch back to their poster area where they can eat between judging sessions

• There will be vegetarian/vegan and gluten free options for ONLY those students who indicated their preference upon registering

• Students are encouraged to bring snacks, a water bottle, and/or their own lunch in addition to the WESEF-provided lunch

3:00 pm – Judging Sessions finishing up
3:30 – 4:30 pm – Public Viewing Session

• Parents, siblings, friends are invited to see all of the posters and talk to the students about their projects during this time period.

• Students MUST be at their poster from 3:30 – 4:30 for the public open house in order to be eligible to win an award.

• During this time, it is possible that Special Awards Judging and Tie Breaking will still be occurring.

4:30 – 5:00pm – Project Breakdown and Clean up.

• Posters and all other materials must be removed from your project space.

• Any materials that are left at Somers HS or Somers MS will be disposed of. We are not responsible for any materials that are left behind.

• Students are expected to fold and stack their chairs. Adults will be responsible for breaking down and moving tables. 

March 19, 2026

Regeneron WESEF 2025 AWARDS CEREMONY
The WESEF Awards Ceremony will take place at Somers High School, Somers, NY. Invitations will be sent out during the week prior to the ceremony. Students may bring one guest.
Doors will open at 5:30pm.
Award Ceremony to begin at 6:30pm.

May 9 – 15, 2026

Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair 2026
The top 15-20 highest scoring projects will be selected to represent our region at the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) which will be held this year in Phoenix, Arizona. 
Special thanks go to our generous sponsors who have made this all expenses paid opportunity possible!