15 Winter Science Competitions for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 21 hours ago
- 12 min read
Winter is a great time to do something productive and see how far you’ve come in science, outside of typical classroom learning. One way to challenge yourself and test your knowledge is by joining a winter science competition. These competitions let you apply what you’ve learned in class to actual problems while exploring how science connects to everyday life.
Winter science competitions often focus on areas like environmental science, physics, biology, or chemistry. You might build models, design experiments, or find creative solutions to research questions. Through this, you’ll strengthen skills such as observation, analysis, teamwork, and communication, all of which are useful both in and beyond school.
Taking part in a science competition can also help you later in high school when you start choosing subjects or thinking about future career paths. It shows that you can think independently and handle challenges. It also adds real value to your academic profile when applying to programs, internships, or summer research opportunities.
With that, here are 15 winter science competitions for middle school students!
15 Winter Science Competitions for Middle School Students
Location: United States and U.S. Territories (also open to Canadian students)
Cost: Free
Competition Dates: Project Deadline is February 3, Regional Winner is announced on March 9, National winner is announced on April 27, and Exploravision Awards weekend is on June 3- 6
Submission Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: Open to K–12 students in U.S. schools, territories, or DoD schools abroad. Middle schoolers (grades 7–9) join the Middle Level category. Teams of 2–4 with a teacher or adult coach; mentors optional.
The Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision competition is co-hosted by Toshiba and the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) to inspire young scientists and engineers to apply real-world problem-solving and innovation. You’ll research an existing technology and project how it could evolve ten or more years into the future. Working in teams, you’ll develop an abstract, a detailed project report, a bibliography, and sample web pages that visualize your proposed innovation. You can see past projects here. Projects are evaluated based on creativity, scientific accuracy, and clarity of communication. Winning teams receive savings bonds, technology prizes, and national recognition, and their work is featured on the ExploraVision website.
Location: Regional Competitions across the U.S. and National Finals in Washington, D.C.
Cost: $25 registration fee per organization
Competition Dates: Regional Competitions: January; National Finals: February
Submission Deadline: Varies by region, check with the local Regional Coordinator
Eligibility: Middle school students in grades 6–8 from public, private, or home schools, or members of recognized youth-focused organizations such as Boy/Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs, or 4-H.
Future City is a nationwide STEM competition where middle school teams imagine and design a city 100 years in the future. Each team must include at least three students, one educator, and an optional STEM mentor. The challenge involves multiple components: writing a 1,500-word city essay, building a physical model using recycled materials with at least one moving part, creating a project plan to organize their work, and presenting their city to a panel of judges. The presentation includes a 7-minute pitch followed by a Q&A session, encouraging students to explain their ideas clearly and respond to questions thoughtfully. Teams compete in regional competitions held in January, and top teams advance to the National Finals in Washington, D.C., in February.
Location: Washington state, USA, various venues for invitational and regional tournaments
Cost: $300 per team for Washington Science Olympiad state registration. Individual schools may charge additional club fees
Competition Dates: Invitational Tournaments (Winter): December 6, Camas High School Invitational (Div B, middle school); January 31, Evergreen Middle School Invitational (Div B, middle school) | Regional Tournaments: Dates TBD | State Tournament: April 18 | National Tournament: May 22–23
Submission Deadline: Teams must register for their respective invitational or regional tournaments by the deadlines listed on their state Science Olympiad registration page.
Eligibility: Middle school students in grades 6–9 at Evergreen Middle School (Division B). Students are assigned to teams of up to 15 members, with each student participating in 3–4 events.
Washington Science Olympiad is an international nonprofit program that encourages teamwork and hands-on learning across multiple scientific disciplines, including biology, chemistry, physics, geology, engineering, and technology. Middle school students work together in teams to prepare for invitational and regional tournaments held during the winter, applying their knowledge to both theoretical and practical challenges. Successful teams progress through Regional, State, and ultimately National tournaments, gaining experience in scientific problem-solving, experimentation, and engineering projects. You’re required to make a time commitment of 5–10 hours per week, with additional support from parents and teachers.
Location: Online
Cost: Regular season is free. $35 per student for ACSL Finals (optional, invitation-only).
Competition Dates: Contest #1: October 20 – January 11, Contest #2: January 5 – March 1, Contest #3: February 2 – April 12, Contest #4: March 2 – May 17, ACSL Finals (invitation-only): May 23
Submission Deadline: Students access each contest during its window; submissions are automatically scored online by the ACSL platform before contest closing times.
Eligibility: Students must be part of a K–12 school, organization, or local group. Middle school students in grades 6–8 may participate in the Junior Division. Participation is individual; collaboration or consulting external sources during the contest is prohibited.
The American Computer Science League (ACSL) is a national computer science and programming competition open to K–12 students, including middle schoolers in grades 6–8. You’re tested on fundamental computer science concepts, including number systems, Boolean algebra, and digital electronics. In upper divisions, contests also feature programming problems using Python, C++, or Java. The competition consists of four online contests during the regular season, with students accessing problems via the HackerRank platform. Middle school students compete in the Junior Division, participating in both short-answer questions and optional programming challenges. Top-performing students across the regular season are invited to compete in the online ACSL Finals, held in May, where prizes and certificates are awarded.
Location: North Carolina
Cost: Varies by tournament. Check with your regional tournament coordinator for specific fees.
Competition Dates: Division B (Middle School) tournaments follow individual tournament schedules. Registration guide.
Submission Deadline: May 1 (Challenge opens early January)
Eligibility: Grades K-12
The North Carolina Science Olympiad (NCSO) is a state-level program aimed at attracting and retaining K-12 students pursuing STEM degrees and careers in North Carolina. Each year, NCSO hosts rigorous academic interscholastic tournaments featuring a series of hands-on, interactive, and inquiry-based events spanning biology, earth science, environmental science, chemistry, physics, engineering, and technology. The competitions align with both the North Carolina Standard Course of Study and the National Science Education Standards, designed to enhance science content knowledge and process skills. Division B tournaments are for middle school students, and rules for Division B & C are released by the National Science Olympiad organization and made available for free download each September.
Location: Nationwide
Cost: Free
Competition Dates: Finalist and State Merit Winner Announcements are in June, Final Event and Wimmer announcement is in October.
Submission Deadline: January - May 1
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 5–8 in the United States
The 3M Young Scientist Challenge is one of the most prestigious middle school STEM competitions in the U.S., encouraging young innovators to use science and creativity to solve real-world problems. You’ll submit a 1–2 minute video describing your original idea or invention that addresses an everyday issue affecting your community or the world. Ten finalists are selected for a summer mentorship with a 3M scientist, helping them refine their ideas and bring their solutions to life. The competition culminates in a national event where finalists present their projects to judges from 3M and Discovery Education. There is a Grand Prize of $25,000 and the title of America’s Top Young Scientist. The top 10 finalists receive $1,000 and a 3M mentorship, State Merit Winners receive Prize packs and certificates, and Honorable Mentions receive certificates for one winner per grade.
Location: Nationwide
Cost: Free for the online regional qualifying exam. $15 for the national qualifying exam.
Competition Dates: Regionals are held October–May; National Championships are post that.
Submission Deadline: Online Regional Qualifying Exam opens at the start of the academic year
Eligibility: Open to students in 8th grade and below
The National Science Bee is an academic quiz competition that challenges students’ knowledge across all areas of science at a grade-appropriate level. The contest begins with a free Online Regional Qualifying Exam, where around 60% of participants advance to the Regional Tournaments. At the regional level, students compete in buzzer-based quiz rounds featuring progressively easier clues for each question. The top half of participants in each age division qualify for the National Championships, which follow the same competitive format. High-performing students also have the opportunity to advance to the International Science Championships and International Environmental Science Olympiad.
Location: Online and In-person
Cost: Online exams cost $20 per exam
Competition Dates: National Qualifying Exam has 4 sets between September - April 7, National Championships on May 17 and May 19
Submission Deadline: Final qualifying deadline April 17
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 8 and below who qualify through the National Qualifying Exam (NQE). Students can qualify by taking the NQE at any in-person regional event or online and must either score 50 or higher, finish in the top 50% of their division at that location, or meet or exceed the set qualifying score for that exam on the official release dates.
The National Biology Bee is organized by the International Academic Competitions (IAC) as a quiz-style competition that challenges students to demonstrate their understanding of biology through multiple-choice and buzzer-based rounds. The contest begins with a 35-question National Qualifying Exam (NQE) and culminates in the National Championships. You’ll compete individually within separate divisions for each grade level, from 8th grade through elementary school. There are four versions of the qualifying exams, Red, White, Blue, and Gold, released between September and March. Each version has its own qualifying score deadlines, and exams can be taken online or at regional tournaments.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Competition Dates: Opens January; submission; awardees & semifinalists will be announced in May; winners will be announced in the Summer
Submission Deadline: Typically Mid-April
Eligibility: Open to U.S. students in grades 7–12; students may apply individually or in teams of two
Genes in Space is a national STEM competition that allows students to propose space biology experiments for the chance to have their idea sent to the International Space Station (ISS). The contest encourages you to explore space biology topics with a molecular or genetic basis, identify an open research question, define a hypothesis, and design an experiment using the Genes in Space Toolkit. You can win biotechnology prizes for their school, including the opportunity for one grand prize winner to send their experiment to space.
Location: Santa Clara County, California
Cost: Not specified on the official site
Competition Dates: Judging Day is on March 10, and Awards Day is on March 29
Submission Deadline: Final project submission is on January 12
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 6–12 attending public, private, or home schools in Santa Clara County, or full-time students of an online middle or high school program residing in the county.
The Synopsys Championship is a regional science fair that celebrates innovation and scientific curiosity among middle and high school students in Santa Clara County. You’ll conduct independent research across diverse STEM fields, applying scientific inquiry and engineering design principles. The event spans several months of preparation, beginning with applications opening in late September and concluding with the final judging in March. Projects involving human subjects must undergo Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, with earlier submission deadlines for review. Winners are announced at a formal awards ceremony held at the Heritage Theatre in Campbell, California.
Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Cost: Free
Competition Dates: Typically held in late January
Submission Deadline: January of next year for registration; October of the current year for IRB/SRC paperwork
Eligibility: Open to middle and high school students participating in Alexandria City Public Schools
The Alexandria City Science Fair is a free competition just for middle and high school students in Alexandria City Public Schools. You’ll get to explore science in a hands-on way by designing a project that solves a problem you care about. You’ll plan your research question or engineering challenge, submit drafts and forms for approval, collect and analyze data, and build a display to present your findings. Registration happens in January, but you’ll need to submit IRB/SRC paperwork by October of the current year to get started. During the fair in January, you’ll present your project to judges and explain your process and results. If your project stands out, you’ll move on to the Regional Science Fair.
Location: Wentworth Education Center, Stockton, CA
Cost: Free
Competition Dates: Project check-in is on February 5 | Student interviews and judging are on February 7
Submission Deadline: Online student registration closes January 20
Eligibility: Open to students in grades K–12 attending school in San Joaquin County with a teacher or qualified adult sponsor.
The SJCOE STEAM Fair is an exciting hands-on competition for students in grades 6 through 12, hosted by the San Joaquin County Office of Education. If you participate, you’ll get to explore and present your own project in science, technology, engineering, art, or math. You’ll share your work through interviews and project displays, and judges will recognize outstanding projects with awards. If your project stands out, you could advance to the California State Science and Engineering Fair. Alongside the competition, the fair includes a STEAM Expo filled with interactive exhibits. You’ll get to experience NASA activities, explore the Star Lab, and watch live engineering demonstrations.
Location: Nationwide
Cost: Free
Competition Dates: Challenge Launch happens in November; Semifinalists are announced in March; Finalists are announced in April, and Winners are announced in May
Submission Deadline: Late February
Eligibility: Open to K–12 students enrolled full-time in U.S. public, private, or home schools within the United States, U.S. territories, or Department of Defense schools abroad. Individual entries only; no team submissions allowed.
The Future Engineers – Power to Explore challenge is a national competition that invites K–12 students to think creatively about space exploration. Each year, the challenge focuses on a new topic, with the most recent one asking students to learn about Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS), a type of nuclear battery that powers many of NASA’s deep space missions. You’ll be asked to imagine a space mission powered by RPS, choose a destination, and describe how your own unique “power” (like curiosity, teamwork, or persistence) would help make the mission successful. Your entry is judged on how realistic your mission idea is, how creative your destination choice is, how well you connect your personal strength to the mission, and how clearly you write. Prizes include NASA RPS Prize Packs, virtual sessions with NASA experts, and a grand prize trip to NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
Location: Nationwide, participation through schools
Cost: Free
Competition Dates: Challenge opens on September 4,|Winners announced and build begins on January 20, Experiment showcase happens on May 15, and Experiments launch in the Summer
Submission Deadline: November 3
Eligibility: Open to U.S. public, private, or charter schools serving students in grades 6–12. Teams must consist of a minimum of four students and a teacher or school employee as the team lead. Homeschools may participate only if affiliated with a qualifying school.
The NASA TechRise Student Challenge is a hands-on STEM competition, and the topic for this season is “Design an experiment to test on a suborbital flight”. You’ll gain experience in engineering, computing, electronics, and experimental design. Teams submit a proposal for their experiment idea, which, if selected, receives $1,500 to build the experiment, a starter kit including a flight box, and access to NASA-sponsored technical support. Winning experiments are flown on the selected flight vehicle during the summer following the competition.
Location: Roy Wilkins Auditorium, St. Paul RiverCentre, MN
Cost: $100 for individual projects | $180 for 2-person teams | $240 for 3-person teams
Competition Dates: Fair in late March; Awards Ceremony on March 29
Submission Deadline: Varies by affiliated regional science fair
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 6–12. Middle school students (grades 6–8) and high school students (grades 9–12) compete in separate divisions. Students must qualify by participating in an affiliated regional science fair in Minnesota.
The Minnesota State Science & Engineering Fair is a major annual event where middle and high school students present original research to STEM professionals. If you’re in grades 6–12 and interested in science or engineering, this fair gives you the chance to showcase your work and compete at a high level. To participate, you first need to enter a regional science fair. If your project is selected, you’ll advance to the state fair, where you’ll present your research using a “quad chart.” This chart summarizes your research question or engineering goal, your methods, data analysis, and conclusions. Middle school students must also complete a Middle School Project Review Form, a research plan, and an abstract before presenting.
One more option—The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE.
The program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. The program is rigorous and fully virtual. We offer need-based financial aid for students who qualify. You can find the application in the brochure!
To learn more, go to our website.
Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year. You can apply using this application link! If you'd like to take a look at the upcoming cohorts + deadlines, you can refer to this page!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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