Synopsys Science Fair 2027: The November Deadlines That Come First

By Dr. Harman Brah, MD · Judge, California Science & Engineering Fair

The Synopsys Science & Technology Championship is Santa Clara County’s science fair, and it takes place on March 4, 2027. Most families plan around the January application deadline. For many projects, the deadline that matters is in November.

The four dates to know

• November 2, 2026: early SRC/IRB due date for projects that need SRC/IRB pre-approval, including all previous participants.
• November 13, 2026: final deadline for all projects that need SRC/IRB pre-approval.
• January 8, 2027: final application deadline for new participants.
• March 4, 2027: the Championship, with check-in on March 3.

If your student’s project needs pre-approval and you miss November 13, a January application will not save it.

Which projects need pre-approval

Projects with human participants, vertebrate animals or certain biological agents need review before the experiment starts. In practice, that includes more student projects than families expect:

• a survey of classmates
• a reaction-time or memory test given to volunteers
• anything with an app or device tested on people
• most work with bacteria or other microorganisms

The rule is simple and strict: the review comes before the experiment. Data collected from people before approval cannot be entered. That is why the review deadline sits months ahead of the application deadline.

What to do this week

Decide the project type now. If the question involves people, animals or microorganisms, the paperwork has to be ready for the November deadlines. If it does not, your student has until January 8 to apply, and the fall is for doing the research.

Write the plan before the forms. Review committees approve a specific procedure. A student who can describe exactly what participants will do, how consent works and what data is kept will move through review faster than one with a vague idea.

Do not start collecting data early. It is tempting to run a pilot survey to see if the idea works. For a human-subjects project, that pilot is data collected without approval.

Why Synopsys is worth doing well

Synopsys Championship grand prize winners qualify to compete at Regeneron ISEF, and its winners go on to the California Science & Engineering Fair in April. For a Santa Clara County student, it is the first step on the road to the state and international fairs.

The fair rewards the same things every good science fair rewards: one clear question, real data, honest controls, and a student who can explain every choice at the board.

If you are in Alameda, San Mateo or Contra Costa County

Each county has its own fair and its own route to the state fair. The Alameda County fair judges on Saturday, March 13, 2027 at Chabot College. The San Mateo County STEM Fair is held virtually on Saturday, March 20, 2027. The Contra Costa County fair is held each March at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg. Pre-approval rules apply at all of them, so the same advice holds: decide the project type in the fall.

Dr. Harman Brah, one of our mentors, judges at the California Science & Engineering Fair. Our students include Prajval and Bhuvan, who took 1st place at the Alameda County fair and 3rd place at the state fair. If your student needs a project plan that clears review on time, see how our research mentorship works.

FAQ

When is the Synopsys Championship 2027?

The Championship is March 4, 2027, with check-in on March 3. The final application deadline for new participants is January 8, 2027.

What is the SRC/IRB deadline for Synopsys 2027?

The early SRC/IRB due date is November 2, 2026, and the final deadline for all projects that need pre-approval is November 13, 2026.

Does a survey project need pre-approval?

Yes. Projects with human participants, including surveys and tests given to volunteers, need review before any data is collected.

Can Synopsys winners go to ISEF?

Yes. Synopsys Championship grand prize winners qualify to compete at Regeneron ISEF, and its winners go on to the California Science & Engineering Fair.