The Waterloo-Wellington Science and Engineering Fair is an annual event that brings together the best of the young scientific minds of the region.

WWSEF is open to Senior Elementary and High School students from Waterloo Region, Wellington County, and Upper Grand District School Board. Grade 7 to 12 home-schooled or students from schools that do not run science fair programs are also welcome as individual entries.

The WWSEF is supported by the members of the community who encourage the development of our youth along scientific paths.

Winners at our regional fair go on to the Canada-Wide Science Fair and some have been placed on Team Canada at the International Science and Engineering Fair.

Each year we have approximately 200 projects involving 300 students from about 30 different public, separate and independent schools in Waterloo Region, The Upper Grand District School Board, and Wellington County.  Independent entries are accepted if they meet our criteria.

The projects are placed into one of three Divisions - Engineering, Life Science, or Physical & Math Science.
Within each of these Divisions, the projects are further divided into one of three Categories, according to the grades of the participants - Junior (grades 7 and 8), Intermediate (grades 9 and 10) or Senior (grades 11, and 12).

The projects and students are judged according to a national standard that includes the scientific method, creativity, organization, research, background knowledge, visual impact and a written summary of the project.

Gold, Silver, Bronze and Pewter medallions are awarded in each of the twelve Category/Divisions. Cash prizes accompany the Gold, Silver & Bronze medallions.  The Awards of Merit go to the projects judged to be the best at the Fair. These awards consist of an all-expense-paid trip to represent our region at the week-long, Canada-Wide Science Fair, held in major cities across the country. The project considered to be the best overall project in the Fair is selected as the winner of the Award of Excellence.

Over 140 judges from universities, colleges, businesses and industries volunteer their time to judge the projects and provide valuable feedback to the students.
In addition to the judging of the projects, time at the regional fair gives opportunities for the students to demonstrate their projects to each other and to the general public, and to participate in science related educational activities or presentations.

The WWSEF is organized by volunteers from the community and is affiliated with over 100 other regional fairs across the country through Youth Science Canada. Each year the best young scientific minds from across the country meet at the Canada-Wide Science Fair. The WWSEF has twice hosted the CWSF, in 1981 at the University of Waterloo and in 1994 at the University of Guelph.

The WWSEF is operated as a non-profit charitable organization with support from area universities and colleges, individuals, service clubs, area businesses, foundations, associations and institutions.

Organizations or individuals wishing to support the work of the WWSEF should click here