CENTRAL WESTERN OREGON
SCIENCE EXPO

How Is Judging Organized?

Judges are organized into Category, Special Awards and Finalist teams.

Category Judges:

Student projects are entered into either of two Divisions, based upon grade level:
1) High School Division (grades 9 - 12); and,
2) Middle School Division (grades 5 - 8).
These two Divisions are judged separately. Within each Division the projects are classified and judged in Technical Categories. Category Judges are being recruited to judge the High School Division, the Middle School Division, or both in each of the categories. Qualified Judges may judge more than one category if they desire and the need exists.

High School Categories

1. Animal Sciences
2. Behavioral & Social Sciences
3. Biochemistry
4. Cellular & Molecular Biology
5. Chemistry
6. Computer Science
7. Earth Science
8. Engineering: Materials and Bioengineering
9. Engineering: Electrical & Mechanical
10. Energy and Transportation
11. Environmental Analysis
12. Environmental Management
13. Mathematical Sciences
14. Medicine and Health Sciences
15. Microbiology
16. Physics and Astronomy
17. Plant Sciences

Middle School Categories

1. Biology
2. Behavioral and Social Sciences
3. Chemistry and Earth
4. Computer Science and Mathematics
5. Consumer Products Testing
6. Engineering
7. Energy and Transportation
8. Environmental Science
9. Medicine and Health
10. Physics and Astronomy

    
    

    Special Awards Judges:
    
    Special Awards are bestowed on projects by a wide range of professional societies and organizations. While the requirements differ for each of these Special Awards, Special Awards Judges are needed to determine the winners. Judges for special awards will be selected by the donor of the award. Judges may volunteer for Special Award judging consideration.
    
    Finalist Judges:
    
    Once the winners in each Category are determined, a panel of Finalist Judges reviews the winning projects in all categories and selects "Best of Fair" winners in both Divisions. High school Best of Fair awardees will participate in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair held later in the spring. The finalist judging panel needs representation from each of the categories. Finalist Judges are often Head Category Judges. Being a Finalist Judge requires extra time and effort beyond that needed to serve as a Category Judge.