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COMPETITION DATES: The State Event will be split this year.  Regions 1-4 in Durham March 28.  Regions 5-8 in Morganton, NC April 25.
REGISTRATION DATES:  2025 Opens After Regional Meetings.  Students compete regionally before states


Registering for the NCSAS State Competition

We will be splitting our state event his year by region.  Our competition is different where each "room" has place winners---as a result we can hold the state event in multiple locations and still recognize the same number of students. 

  • NCSSM Durham students will compete with Region 1-4; NCSSM Morganton students compete with Region 5-8; NCSSM Online students compete in the region of their base school.

  • Your District Director will let you know if you have qualified for the State competition and will provide you with a password for registration. 

  • Once through regionals, finalists will register with the state event.  Registration or 2025 is NOT open yet, and should open by late February.

NOTE:  NCSSM now has two campuses in North Carolina.  The state event will be split this year between two locations.

Registration is CLOSED

Registration Tips

Chaperoning.  A chaperone is required to stay with you on-campus---and we have space for siblings or other relatives to register as Observers.   Teachers may chaperone a school.

We are different from State Science and Engineering Fair.  We judge by 'room'  This is different from the state science fair;  judges evaluate the presentations by room--so presentations on a similar topic/problem may be grouped together even if they represent different fields (math, public health, chemistry, etc.).  Judges also read your paper in advance, and you give a presentation.  

Get to Know Your Judges.  You have dinner with your room judges (parents/family eat separately).

Other Differences

 

  • You must include a completed Animal Use Form if you use animals in your research.

 

  • Students who participate in an NCSAS District or State Competition automatically become members of NCSAS.

2024 Schedule Example

The 2025 event at both campuses should follow a similar format as our 2024 event.  In 2024 we had 180  students presenting, 70 STEM judges to watch, along with another 100+ chaperones and guests.

The event starts at 3 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m.

  • Arrive between 1:30  and 3 p.m.  Our programming starts at 3 p.m., with an overview of presenting starting at 3 p.m.

  • Getting Here. Extra Time to Park.  Some visitors will have to park off-campus in neighborhoods, west of Maryland Ave or along 9th Street. is closest to ETC Lobby.  Do not block driveways as the city will tow the vehicle.  Leave an extra 10-20 minutes to park

  • Register in ETC Lobby.  This is next to our main entrance. See our visitor's map.

  • Bring a Reusable Water Bottle. We will have limited bottled water available and packaged snacks.  We do not eat until 7 p.m.  Dinner is included. 

  • Dinner Seating.  Food is served in one location but Parents/Observers sit separately; students eat with their judge either in the cafeteria, or the judging rooms by the cafeteria.

  • Presentation Categories.   Unlike the Science and Engineering Fair or other competitions, there is no national competition. Presentation categories simply help us organize students and often presentations cross disciplines.  We cannot move people between rooms.

  • Power Point/Google Slide Presentation ready.  Bring a laptop with the presentation ready (if possible), have it on a flash drive, or in a format you can email someone from your phone.  Presentations are 10 minutes long with 5 minutes for questions.   It's fastest to email a presentation web link to someone in the classroom connected to the monitor.   We have an open wifi network for the event.

  • Dress.  There is no dress requirement for presenters. Most professional STEM conferences are business casual though some students choose to be more formal.

  • Relax.  Our judges are excited to learn from you, ask questions, and provide guidance, and get to know your interests! 

See You Soon

NCSSM Extended Learning Team

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