2011 Middle School Best of Fair winners Peter Graham and Kyra Patton pose with Intel NWSE Fair Director Stephanie Jones.

The Intel Northwest Science Expo is the state-level science research competition for Oregon and Clark County, Washington.  It is affiliated with the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. 

The Intel NWSE has been held for 5th through 12th grade students since 1984. The competition has grown from about 100 high school students in 1984 to 716 middle and high school students in 2011. Students compete in categories encompassing all the scientific disciplines, engineering, computer science and mathematics.

At the high school level, six projects are selected from Intel NWSE participants to compete at Intel ISEF, held each year in May. These expenses-paid trips are the highest awards given. In addition, one life science best of fair award and one physical science best of fair award is selected, awards are given for the best projects in each of the seventeen categories, scholarships from public and private Oregon universities are given, and dozens of organizations sponsor special awards.

The highest middle school award is best of fair, and two projects are chosen each year. Awards are given in each of the 13 middle school categories and many organizations sponsor middle school special awards as well.