Free guides: research competitions Bay Area high schoolers can enter this winter

Most families know the county science fair and ISEF. Fewer know that students can self-nominate for the Stockholm Junior Water Prize with a research paper - California received 42 entries in 2026, and Bay Area schools placed 1st and 3rd in the state.

Others with winter deadlines: The Earth Prize (Jan 31, 2027), ExploraVision (Jan 27, 2027) and Genes in Space (details in January).

Free guides on who can enter, how each is judged and the dates, written by a California Science & Engineering Fair judge: https://admissioninsight.org/research-competition-mentorship/?utm_source=patch&utm_medium=community&utm_campaign=competitions