The Greater Austin Regional Science and Engineering Fair or GARSEF is one of the largest regional science fairs in Texas, open to students in grades 3–12. For Kiker Elementary School students, the Elementary Division participates in the regional fair held right here in Austin (GARSEF) — this is the final level of competition, as elementary participants do not advance to the state fair.

While GARSEF has a competitive element participants will compete against themselves not one another.  The true goal is to spark curiosity and inspire students to explore STEM in ways that excite and interest them. It’s less about competing and more about discovering the joy of scientific investigation.

Each project will be judged using age-appropriate guidelines via rubric that focus on the scientific process, understanding of the topic, and how clearly the project is documented and presented. 

At GARSEF, students can earn 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place ribbons based on their scores. Some projects may also receive Special Awards for outstanding work in specific areas like renewable energy, health, or environmental science — so creativity and curiosity really do shine!