Pasco County Schools

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Pasco Science & Engineering Showcase

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The 2026-27 Pasco Science & Engineering Showcase

Each year, the District School Board of Pasco County hosts the Pasco Science and Engineering Showcase. This science fair event is a deeply enriching experience for every student, regardless of prior experience. Through the scientific research process, students take ownership of their interests, explore pressing issues and problems that our world faces every day, and stretch their creativity in an attempt to design and implement powerful solutions. Several of these young men and women advance to state and national competitions and many ultimately pursue careers in specialized scientific and engineering fields. This year's theme for the Pasco Science and Engineering Showcase embraces a One Mission, Infinite Discoveries mindset!. Our students are tackling real world challenges everyday, and their mission is to Explore Experiment, Engineer, & Discover. The 2026-27 Pasco Science and Engineering Showcase event will be held on February 6, 2027 at the Angeline Academy of Innovation. Both the elementary and secondary fairs will occur on the same day. The invite only awards ceremony will be at the Wesley Chapel Performing Arts Center on Thursday evening (February 18, 2027) from 6-9 pm.

Our next generation of successful scientists and engineers needs you! We are in need of judges with expertise in science, technology, math and engineering related fields. Volunteering to judge at the Pasco Science & Engineering Showcase is a rewarding and uplifting experience that is actually best realized when a student researcher is presenting their project and realizes their judge both understands and cares about their research. By judging, you are providing encouragement and opportunities for our future scientists and engineers to grow and succeed. If you are interested in volunteering as a judge, click here to register.

Check out the 2026 State Finalists and Award Recipients

Elementary Scientific Research Resources:

Elementary Science and Engineering Showcase Help Coordinators Meeting PowerPoint <--Updated District Finalists Parent Communication Showcase Coordinator & District Finalist Info Pack	Students have access to a module within their MyLearning Science course that can be used to guide them through the brainstorming, research and investigation process. This course is a wonderful tool for families to access. You can also contact mwbutler@pasco.k12.us
Showcase Research	Students can utilize the Discovery Education app on their MyPascoConnect dashboard for age appropriate research information related to their topic.
PSES Showcase Student Guides 2026-27 Gr 3 Workbook Gr 4 Workbook Gr 5 Workbook	A resource to help guide students through topic selection and project development.
Experimental Project Rubric Design Project Rubric Computer Science Project Rubric	These are the rubrics judges use for scoring projects.

Secondary Scientific Research Resources:

Coordinator Contact Info Form	Coordinators, please take a moment to share your contact information with us.
Pasco Science & Engineering Showcase Overview Updated!	An overview of the the district competition with important reminders and due dates.
Showcase Parent Info Flyer Awards Gala Digital Program Showcase Coordinator & Particpant (Student/Parent) Info Pack	Parent and School Coordinator information including a schedule for the District competition.
26-27 Secondary Showcase Coordinator's Training PowerPoint Updated	The Secondary (Gr 6-12) Coordinators Training will be held October 5th, 5:30-7:30pm at the District Office, Building 2 in Land O Lakes. This is the powerpoint used at the school fair coordinator's meeting this year. Learn about the latest updates to the Pasco County district level competition as well as state and international policy and rule changes.
Pasco Z-Fairs Website	This is the z-fairs website that coordinators (or if directed by their school coordinator, students) will register their students for the district competition. This also where students will submit their required paperwork for competition.
2026-27 ISEF Rules & Guidelines Changes to 2026-2027 Rules (PDF) Rules Companion Use of AI Rules NEW!	These documents outline the specific state and international rules for science fair projects. The state competition abides by all international guidelines but has additional requirements and limitations defined in the SSEF supplement below.
2026-27 SSEF State Rules Supplement	This document outlines the specific state rules that apply above and beyond the international rules.
ISEF Rules FAQ	The ISEF SRC has attempted to provide answers to questions that they commonly receive about the International Rules and Guidelines
Roles and Responsibilities of Individuals	Outlines the roles and responsibilities of both students and adults with regard to science fair research, experimentation, & competition. Includes description of Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the Scientific Review Committee.
Display & Safety Rules	These regulations must be adhered to when a finalist exhibits a project at ISEF. All projects must adhere to the Display & Safety requirements of the affiliated fair(s) in which they compete to qualify for participation in ISEF. The SSEF fair has additional restrictions and requirements. Check the SSEF Rules Supplement above for specifics. Knowledge of these requirements is the responsibility of the Finalist, Adult Sponsor, and Fair Directors. There will be no electricity available at the Regional or State Competitions No project materials may be distributed to judges. All projects will sit on a table (no floor-standing displays will be allowed). Projects may not exceed 66” in height from the table, 30″ in depth, and 48″ width. Projects MUST be capable of standing upright without toppling, even against normal indoor air currents (such as when someone walks by quickly, the air conditioner turning on, etc.). Acknowledgements to recognize the contributions of a university, professional organization or mentor, or grant funding agency MUST be contained to one section of the poster/board, be in text-only format, and may not include a logos. All photos/visual images/graphs/charts/data tables are individually and completely cited, including URLs where appropriate.
Judging Categories	All projects are organized into 1 of these 13 categories as defined by the State Science & Engineering Fair of Florida
Scientific Investigation Project Rubric Updated for 26-27 Engineering Project Rubric Updated for 26-27	These are the rubrics judges use for scoring projects., These have been revised for the 2026-27 season to better align with State and International Judging
Judging Rubric Guiding Questions	Guiding questions for judges to elicit student responses about their projects
Planning and Hosting Science Fair at Your School	Here are some easy steps to setting up and hosting a science fair at your school. Great for new coordinators.
Sample Science Fair Timeline	Example school timeline

Project Support:

ISEF Rules/Forms Wizard	The Rules Wizard has been designed as a first step to help you determine what forms and approvals are necessary before beginning a science fair project. Answer each of the questions and a result page will provide a list of forms and information based on your answers; these forms and the accompanying rules should be reviewed closely with a teacher or mentor BEFORE experimentation begins.
Pasco Science Fair Powerpoint Template	This PowerPoint template provides teachers and students with an additional option for presenting scientific research and aid in the development of the student presentation for school level fairs (Check with your school to determine if this option is allowable). Note that a backboard is required for students participating in the District Showcase as well as the State or International Science Fair Competitions.
The Art of Presenting Your Project <--NEW!	This is an amazing resource for both students and teachers on how to best present resercah at the comeptitions!
Project Idea Support	Resources, advice, and stories of inspiration on completing research outside of a traditional laboratory environment
Science Project Flip Chart	Can be used to help students outline the Science & Engineering Fair process

Forms:

Entry Form (Digital Registration - zFairs Site)

For District Showcase Participants

Fair Coordinator will register State Delegates upon selection.

2026-27 Abstract (Editable pdf)

The abstract is a summary of the study and is written after experimentation. Follow these instructions to complete it.

All abstracts for the 2027 SSEF MUST be on the approved 72nd SSEF Abstract Form
ONLY the official approved and stamped SSEF abstract received on-site at SSEF may be displayed vertically at the display. No copies of the abstract may be distributed to judges or to the public.
Abstracts must be displayed vertically and separate from the display board. It may be in an acrylic/plastic frame or taped to the front edge of the table.