History

The origin of ACSEF was a vision supported by Intel and founding director Patti Carothers to create an International Science Fair (ISEF) affiliated fair in Alameda County. Alameda county, at that time, was one of the largest counties in California without an ISEF affiliated science fair. Through affiliation with ISEF students become eligible to compete for a space to attend and compete at the international level.

Steps were taken starting in 2011 to form a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit public charity organization for funding the fair and then to create a county-wide event supported by Intel and later by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory as the title sponsors. We are currently looking for a new title sponsor.

ACSEF launched it's first science fair in 2012 after a year of planning, obtaining supporting sponsors and forming an organizing board. ACSEF fully supports STEM education, the Next Generation of Science Standards and has helped to improve science in the classrooms through its school outreach Science Fair 101 workshops available to teachers and students from all parts of Alameda County and the Title 1 school participation incentive programs. Our goal is to do our part in creating the next generation of scientists and engineers.

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We are still growing!

We are steadily growing in participation! In our inaugral year 2012 close to 300 students from county school districts participated. In 2017 over 700 students participated from each of the county school districts. Not only has the number of participants grown but so has the quality of projects.

ACSEF encourages middle and high school students who attend school or are home schooled in the cities & towns of Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Cherryland, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Niles Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Sunol, and Union City to participate in The Annual ACSEF.

We are here to help!

The ACSEF Director Balita Shepperson, along with the Scientific Review Committee, is available throughout the summer and school year to offer advice and guidance to students and teachers as they begin to think about project topics and research.

ACSEF organizing board is proud to be a part of this broader reaching county-wide science fair. We are excited to bring the opportunity for middle and high school students and teachers in the county to become involved in science and engineering research projects.

We welcome the opportunity of partnership with agencies within the county to encourage increased hands on science for underserved students.