Central NM STEM Research Challenge

Registration

Students, Teachers, Judges, Volunteers...Create an Account & Register Now!

Teacher registration opens October 1, 2026
Judge/Volunteer registration opens October 1 2026
Student registration opens December 1, 2026

Deadlines

• November 23, 2026 - Prior Approval Request Deadline
  • All required paperwork/forms DUE for any projects requiring PRIOR APPROVAL review by the STEM-H Center. These projects include:
    • ALL vertebrate animal projects
    • ALL projects with research being done at UNM laboratory
    • ANY other project needing prior approval when no school or local SRC/IRB committee exists
  • For schools with approved SRC/IRB committees:
    • Local SRC/IRB Membership Roster must be submitted
    • Your SRC-IRB Committee Chair, at MINIMUM, must complete the FREE online, self-paced SRC-IRB Training Module with 80% proficiency. The training module will be available at https://unmstemed.moodlecloud.com. All committee members are encouraged to take the training but, if not, then the Chairperson MUST also ensure all members are briefed on the ISEF rules/forms, have access to an electronic copy of the ISEF rules/forms, and receive training in the conducting of thorough & complete protocol reviews for prior approval as well as pre-competition final reviews.
    • Local/school committees CANNOT review/approve vertebrate animal projects or projects with lab research conducted at UNM. Those MUST be sent to the STEM-H Center for review and approval.
  • Reviewing these flowchart will also help clarify what projects need prior approval and by who:
    • PriorApprovalFLOWCHART_Elementary (PDF)
    • PriorApprovalFLOWCHART_Middle & High School (PDF)
  • Submit prior approval requests to the STEM-H Center here

• February 5, 2027 - Transmittal Form & Local SRC-IRB DUE
  • Transmittal Form - Coming Soon
  • Local SRC-IRB Committee Rosters - Coming Soon

• February 8, 2027 - Online Entry, Paperwork Uploads, etc..
  • Online Entry (zFairs): Paperwork Uploads, Media/Publicity/Liability/Data Collection Release & Entry Fees ($30 per student ALL divisions)
• March 1, 2027 - Digital Project Board and Abstract updates
  • Last date to upload Digital Project Board and Abstract updates in zFairs