Why Participate?

The Barjo Science Fair is a fun, community-focused event where students from Barrington Elementary and Jones Middle School can explore their curiosity, conduct experiments, and share their findings.

On February 4, 2026 (6:00–8:00 PM) at Barrington Elementary, students will present their projects in a supportive, engaging environment. Additionally, students in grades 5–8 may advance to the District 7 Science Fair on March 21, 2026, held at Columbus State Community College.

Project Guidelines & Rules

Most projects are welcome — pick a question, test it, analyze results, and present. And if you only want to present at the Barjo Fair, and are not presenting at the district fair, then we can accept essentially any project. However, projects involving humans, vertebrate animals, hazardous materials, or risky procedures require prior approval from our IRB (Institutional Review Board).

If you aim to submit to the regional fair, additional rules and forms will apply (see next section).

Example Past Projects

• Bristlebots: Mobility Factors
• Iron Content in Cereal
• Crystal Growth Experiments
• Do Plants Grow Better to Music?
• Natural Insect Repellents
• Guitar Acoustics & Vibration
• Microplastics in Soil vs. Plant Growth
• Volcano Modeling
• Newton’s Cradle Demonstrations
• Avocado Ripening Effects
• Water Cycle Models
• Speed Testing of Toy Cars

Every great project starts with a question. What are you curious about? Let’s make it your project.

How to Get Started

Not sure where to begin? This year, we're supporting participants with regular office hours, guided webinars, and a resource hub to walk you step-by-step.

Project Types Guide

Overview of different allowable project types (experimental, engineering, observational, etc.).

UA Public Library – Science Resources

Access digital tools like National Geographic Kids, World Book Kids, and Science Reference Source (requires UAPL membership).

Topic Brainstorming Worksheet

A guided worksheet to help you choose an engaging, testable question for your project.

ISEF Categories Reference

List of categories recognized by the International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF).

Understanding Plagiarism

Ethics and citation guidelines every project should follow.

Trifold Board Layout Tips

Design advice and examples for your display board.

Helpful Videos & Tutorials

Video walkthroughs on planning, executing experiments, and preparing presentations.

District & Regional Participation

Students in grades 5–8 may compete in the District 7 Science Fair. Projects advancing to district or state levels need to follow stricter guidelines. Reach out with questions at barjo@barjosciencefair.com.

ProjectBoard FAQ

Comprehensive answers about judging, rules, and requirements for project submissions.

Engineering Research Plan Template

Template for the research write-up if your project is design-based.

Hypothesis Research Plan Template

Template for hypothesis-based science projects.

Ohio Science Day

Official site of the Ohio Science Day competition.

Science Day Standards 2025–2026

Rules and criteria for final judging.

District 7 Science Fair (CSCC)

Information for the host college and regional program.

Student Guide: Entry Steps

Step-by-step guide to entering and formatting your project for competition.

Hypothesis & Meta-Analysis Workbook

Workbook for hypothesis-driven or meta-analysis projects.

Engineering Design Workbook

Workbook to guide you through an engineering-style project.

Previous Project Examples

Browse past projects submitted to state-level competition.

Timeline & Key Dates

The following schedule outlines important milestones for this year’s fair:

Judging & Volunteer Opportunities

Interested in volunteering or judging? We’d love your help! Please fill out the Judge Registration Form.

Judging Rules (Ohio Science Days)

Learn how judges evaluate projects and how scoring works.

Sample Scorecard (5th–8th Grade)

Example judging rubric used at Ohio Science Days.