Across Florida, K–12 STEM and science fairs are doing more than showcasing student projects — they are building the future workforce. These events give students the opportunity to explore real-world challenges, apply critical thinking skills, and present their ideas to industry and education professionals.
The State Science & Engineering Fair of
Florida will take place March 31–April 2, 2026, in Lakeland,
bringing together top student innovators from across the state. For many
participants, this state-level competition represents the culmination of months
of research, experimentation, and problem-solving — and for some, it opens the
door to national opportunities.
Click here to learn more about being a judge at the state competition! There are many manufacturing-related categories to choose from.
FLATE proudly served as a
Special Projects Judge at the K–12 Regional STEM Fairs in Hillsborough
County and Pinellas County in February 2026.
More than 800 students representing 305 schools
presented innovative projects spanning engineering, robotics, environmental
sciences, and emerging technologies. The winning Special Project received prize
funding and scholarship support generously provided by the Bay Area
Manufacturers Association (BAMA), along with other dedicated local and
national partners.
Why Participation Matters
STEM fairs are a powerful entry point into
high-demand fields like advanced manufacturing, engineering, and technology by:
- Building confidence and communication
skills
- Strengthening problem-solving and
technical abilities
- Connecting students with industry
professionals, and
- Inspiring career exploration at an
early age.
How the Process Works
While guidelines vary by district, most STEM fairs
follow a similar pathway:
- School-Level Fair:
Students develop independent research or engineering projects during the
school year.
- District/Regional Fair: Top
projects advance to a county or regional competition and are evaluated by
volunteer judges.
- Judging & Awards:
Projects are reviewed within discipline categories and may receive medals,
scholarships, or advancement opportunities.
- State Advancement:
Exceptional projects move on to compete at the State Science &
Engineering Fair of Florida.
FLATE encourages educators to continue
fostering inquiry-based learning in the classroom, students to challenge
themselves by participating, and community and industry partners to
serve as mentors, sponsors, and judges.
When education and industry collaborate, we
strengthen Florida’s STEM pipeline and help students see themselves as the next
generation of innovators, engineers, and advanced manufacturing leaders.
