Terra Science and Education

Terra STEM Fairs play a key role regionally and beyond as we strive to create a world that draws upon the potential of every person to make a positive difference in the world.

Through its network of seven New York and New Jersey regional STEM fairs, Terra Science and Education provides middle and/or high school students the opportunity to engage in authentic scientific research or engineering practice and to share their experiences and findings with others in an ISEF-affiliated STEM fair.

Through our support of educators, families and students with a focus on STEM, Terra works tirelessly to meet the educational needs of the underserved and under-represented, including women in STEM. While we concentrate on our 37 science fair counties, many of our resources are available to the general public regardless of geography.

Terra Fairs are affiliated with the internationally-known high school fairs Regeneron ISEF and GENIUS Olympiad. Terra fully funds selected finalist projects and students from its affiliated fairs to attend ISEF, and we pay all costs except transportation for a GENIUS Olympiad finalists.

Terra STEM Fairs

Terra Science and Education manages seven international ISEF-affiliated regional fairs serving students in middle and/or high school:

TRFSEF in Rochester, NY serving students in nine counties (Monroe, Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, Yates, Steuben, Livingston, Schuyler, Chemung)
TNRSF in Northeastern NY serving students in four counties (St Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton, Essex)
TNYC STEM Fair in New York City, NY serving high school students in five boroughs (Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten island) serving only grades 9-12
TWNY STEM Fair in Buffalo, NY serving students in eight counties (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagra, Orleans, and Wyoming)
TNJSF in North New Jersey serving high school students in seven counties (Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Union and Warren)
TCJSF in Central New Jersey serving students in four counties (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset)
TDCSF in Dutchess County, NY serving students in Dutchess county

Terra Science and Education even funds teachers and schools in the Upstate NY counties its fairs serve:

STEM Fair Grants for schools or nonprofits to organize their own STEM fair
STEM Fellowships for teachers to guide students undertaking STEM projects
Capacity-building grants for teachers or schools to acquire necessary tools or equipment

Becoming a Terra Fair

What exactly is a Terra Fair?

As Terra Fairs, ISEF-affiliated regionals simply add “Terra” to the front of their name and continue as before with their Fair Committee members and Fair Director(s). Terra pays ISEF affiliation fees, covers expenses for your selected finalists, and provides chaperonage for the Terra Fairs party of students. Additional benefits include each Fair Codirector receiving a stipend of $1000 plus Terra staff support of the fair committee with marketing, student recruitment, website maintenance, a secure project application process, liability insurance for the fair, printing services, full Fair Day support, special awards and gifts for students, and more.

Our experienced staff will make sure that your fair committee members receive all the support they need throughout the year and will attend your meetings as needed to provide that support.

Who is Terra?

Terra Science and Education is an active innovator and sponsor of project-based STEM K-16 education through its diverse programs. Terra has made a long-term commitment to support internationally-affiliated STEM fairs. Terra consistently advocates for expanding youth experiences, supporting quality teaching, and affirming individuals with the passion to make a difference in their world.

Terra’s extensive experience in creating and organizing regional and international STEM fairs helps us understand that organizing a regional fair is a big undertaking. Therefore, Terra values those who volunteer their time in such efforts. However, it also knows that without much support, volunteers may burn out, leading to frequent turn over in fair committee membership or reduced funding and student participation.

What’s next?

If you are interested in becoming a Terra Fair, removing the pressures of funding and organization support, while keeping your regional fair committee and director in charge, please contact us at [email protected].
To see all to be gained by becoming a Terra Fair, please review the Benefits Document.

About the TNJSF

Who we Are

The Terra North Jersey STEM Fair is a high school student competition in all STEM fields, in which students, individually or in groups, present a wide variety of projects. Most of the projects are investigative in nature, posing and attempting to answer some question or problem, either through experimentation and design or in a theoretical sense. All areas of science, math, and engineering are included. The fair accepts entries from seven counties of northern New Jersey: Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Union, and Warren. The TNJSF provides the only route for students in our designated region to gain entry to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), administered by the Society for Science.

Our Mission

The mission of the TNJSF is to support, encourage, and recognize student involvement in scientific research. It is our belief that students can only truly appreciate the creative nature of the scientific process if they have actually experienced it themselves. In addition, we endeavor to provide resources which further this overarching goal, including giving students various opportunities to interact with professional scientists and engineers. The opportunity to partake of the TNJSF itself as well as the other resources we offer is intended to be open to all high school students in the northern NJ region.

The History of the TNJSF

The TNJSF began as the North Jersey Regional Science Fair, or NJRSF, in 1983-84, serving 4 counties near Bell Labs, where the fair was originally organized. The organizers, the Murray Hill Science Education Club, were initially all members of technical staff at Bell Labs, and the fair was supported at first by the New Jersey R&D Council, but both the committee and the sponsorship rapidly expanded in subsequent years, to include both members and financial support from a number of educational and industrial groups. By 1987-88, our territory encompassed 10 counties in northern and central New Jersey.

The fair was originally held at Morristown High School, in the spring of 1984, with 21 entries. We stayed at Morristown for the first 12 years while the fiar grew to an annual total of about 120-150 projects. From 1996 to 2005, we held the fair at several locations, including Bergen County Academies, Morris County College, and Middlesex County College. From 2006 to 2019, the venue was the College Ave Gym on the Rutgers New Brunswick Campus. In 2020, due to the pandemic, the fair was held virtually, and that continued through 2022. In 2023, the fair switched back to an in-person event, hosted by Kean University.

In the 41 years of our existence, we have seen nearly 10,000 students participate in our fair, from over 150 high schools in our region. We have sent nearly 200 students to ISEF (the International Science and Engineering Fair, now known as the Regeneron ISEF), acquiring an impressive record of awards and recognition.

The fair is judged by a collection of more than 100 scientists and academicians, mostly from northern New Jersey, who volunteer their time to support the fine science students in our region.

In 2023, the NJRSF organizing committee decided to affiliate with Terra Science Education, as a way of ensuring the continuity of the organization for the future. Since that time, the public name of the fair has been the Terra North Jersey STEM Fair. In 2027, Hunterdon, Middlesex, and Somerset counties were merged with the Mercer County Science and Engineering Fair to become the Terra Central Jersey STEM Fair. Today, the TNJSF continues to serve the 7 counties in northern New Jersey.

Terra Science and Education was founded in 2011 as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization for the improvement of K–16 education through consulting, scholarships, research, new program development, and public forums.

Mission

Terra Science and Education is dedicated to developing innovative young minds through project-based learning.

Our Key Initiatives:

We are committed to supporting those engaged in project-based learning with a focus on environmental and STEM education and constantly seek new programs and partnerships to enhance the educational experiences for students. Terra welcomes the opportunity to collaborate and tailor programming to meet your team’s needs.

GENIUS Olympiad: A global competition where high school students from over 70 countries and 35 U.S. states come together to tackle environmental challenges through diverse disciplines such as art, business, coding, music, robotics, short film, speech, and STEM.
STEM Fairs Program: Terra sponsors and manages six regional science and engineering fairs across New York City, Northern New Jersey, Buffalo, Potsdam, Rochester, and Duchess County, providing students with platforms to showcase their innovations.
Terra Journals: Open-access and peer-reviewed, our journals include the International Journal of High School Research, International Journal of Undergraduate Research, and International Journal of educational practice and leadership—providing valuable publishing opportunities for students and researchers.
Gerace Research Partnership: In collaboration with the Gerace Research Center of the University of the Bahamas, we offer immersive, hands-on marine ecology experiences for all US or international educators and students in San Salvador, Bahamas.
ACASU Accreditation: Terra recently launched the American Council for Accreditation of Schools and Universities (ACASU), which supports schools abroad in aligning with U.S. higher education standards by guiding them through a customized accreditation process.
Terra Educational Data (TED) Solutions: Our unique data management software tool helps educators manage data efficiently by streamlining processes such as student tracking, assessment, intervention, and registration, all aimed at increasing student success.
Terra Grants: Capacity Building Grants provide $1,000–$5,000 to K-12 schools and nonprofits for sustainable projects such as robotics clubs, lab equipment, and technology upgrades only for selected non-profits and schools within specific counties of New York State.
Terra Scholarship: Scholarship programs include renewable College Achievers awards of up to $1,000 per year as well as automatic readiness and achievement awards based on Regents and New York State test performance only for SANY students.
Invention Convention New York Affiliate: In collabration with The Henry Ford foundation Terra will provide professional development to teachers empowering K-12 students across New York to become innovators and problem-solvers. Through hands-on invention education, students identify real-world problems, design creative solutions, and showcase their inventions at local and statewide events, with the opportunity to advance to national and global competitions.

At Terra, we are passionate about empowering the next generation of leaders and innovators through project based learning in STEM. We are excited to collaborate with you to develop programs that inspire, challenge, and prepare students for success using extracurricular activities. We look forward to working together to achieve meaningful educational outcomes.

Terra Science and Education is pleased to be a partner in the international STEM Learning Ecosystem network. STEM Learning Ecosystems bring together various STEM educational stakeholders to collaborate with each other to improve STEM instruction in their communities for students and lifelong learners in a mutually beneficial relationship which helps to stimulate local economies. STEM Learning Ecosystems include members such as school districts, colleges and universities, museums, educational nonprofits, businesses, and other educational stakeholders. Partners use their shared resources to develop STEM programs in their local areas.

Statement of Service

Terra Science and Education envisions a world in which all children and adults celebrate their shared humanity and seek the realization of each person’s potential. As we strive toward this future with a focus on STEM, Terra works tirelessly to meet the educational needs of the underserved and under-represented, including women in STEM, offering tools and support for students, their teachers, and advocates to establish justice and equality.

Transparency

Terra received Platinum Level Transparency Seal from GuideStar, a national non-profit data source to help givers find effective charities. The Platinum Seal puts Terra Science and Education in the top 0.1% of non-profits in terms of transparency.

Terra consistently keeps its general management expenses (MGE) below 10%, which is below the national average for nonprofits (within 14-18% range over the years).

Kean University – Host and Co-Sponsor

Kean University is the host and co-sponsor of the Terra North Central Jersey STEM Fair, supporting New Jersey high school students as they explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through research, creativity, and innovation. Founded in 1855, Kean University prepares future leaders and innovators in business, the sciences, education, and the arts and humanities while fostering research that addresses issues affecting communities in New Jersey and beyond.

Mission

Kean University, New Jersey’s first Urban Research University, creates a world-class, innovative, and inclusive society through equity and excellence in teaching, learning, global research, and impactful public engagement.

Values

Kean University’s core values are the foundation of its community and guide its teaching, research, leadership, and public engagement. These values are academic excellence, equity, inclusivity, wellness, social mobility, and public impact.

Kean University at a Glance

To learn more about Kean University, including student enrollment, academic programs, student success, research, campus life, and other institutional information, visit About Kean University .

To learn more about Kean University and its academic programs, please visit its main website at https://www.kean.edu/ .

Mary Eileen Wood – [email protected]

TNJSF Acting Director

Mary Eileen Wood is the primary contact for Terra Regional STEM fairs and for its affiliates, Terra Fair Fellowships, and MakerHallsSM program showing at schools. She is part of the management team at conferences, grants, and the annual GENIUS Olympiad. An educator and nonprofit director with decades of experience in grassroots organizing, STEM advocacy, and science and engineering fair development, Mary Eileen has been the bridge in providing funding and educational support to our Terra Fairs network of regional science and engineering fairs. She has extensive prior experience in K–12 teaching, outreach activities for K–12 schools in the CNY region, nonprofit management focusing on STEM engagement, and regional STEM fair development.

Kimberly Arnold – [email protected]

K–12 Programs Manager

Kim leads and supports programs including TerraFairs, New York Invents, GENIUS Olympiad, and Terra Journals, while expanding K–12 partnerships and developing new educational opportunities. Her more than 15 years of experience creating regional STEAM initiatives, building school and higher-education partnerships, and connecting students with hands-on learning opportunities aligns with Terra’s mission to inspire and empower the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers. She previously served as Director of Education at the Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, where she led educational programs reaching nearly 19,000 participants annually and developed partnerships with schools, universities, nonprofits, businesses, and community organizations throughout Central New York. Kim holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology (Environmental Science) and has completed additional professional development in environmental and STEM education through Cornell University and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums.

Ken Lyons

Founding Director

Ken Lyons is an accomplished physicist, data scientist, and dedicated advocate for STEM education. Since helping establish the North Jersey Regional Science Fair in 1983, he has served as its Fair Director, guiding its growth and creating meaningful opportunities for generations of young scientists to present their research, engage with STEM professionals, and develop their passion for discovery. Ken spent more than four decades as a member of the technical staff at Bell Labs and AT&T Labs. He began his career in materials science research, focusing on light scattering and phase transitions, before transitioning into computer science and data science. His extensive scientific background and commitment to education have enabled him to connect professional research with hands-on learning for students. Ken earned a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Colorado Boulder and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma, where he studied physics, mathematics, and Russian. Through his leadership, technical expertise, and decades of service, he has made a lasting contribution to both the scientific community and STEM education in New Jersey.

Dr. Fehmi Damkaci – [email protected]

Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Terra Science and Education

Dr. Fehmi Damkaci brings more than two decades of leadership and teaching experience in higher education. He most recently served as Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs at D’Youville University. His prior roles include Dean of Arts & Sciences and Director of the Center for Doctoral Studies & Research at D’Youville, as well as Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Chair of Chemistry at SUNY Oswego. An accomplished professor of organic chemistry, Dr. Damkaci has led initiatives in STEM education, academic program development, grant writing, recruitment, outreach, and organizational management. He taught undergraduate and graduate-level courses in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, and Nanomaterials for over fifteen years. He holds an Executive Leadership Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Harvard Business School, a Certificate in Higher Education Administration from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a Certificate in Public Diplomacy, Leadership, and Management from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Dr. Damkaci’s contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service; SUNY Oswego’s President’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching and Research; the SUNY Oswego Provost’s Award for Excellence in Mentorship; and the International Educator Award from the International Center of Syracuse.

Karen Valentino – [email protected]

Director of Operations of Terra Science and Education

Karen Valentino is the primary contact for operations, including finance and human resources, and for marketing inquiries, as well as those related to grant, scholarship, and fellowship programs. She is part of the management team at our regional science fairs, conferences, grants, and annual GENIUS Olympiad. She has more than twenty years of higher education experience in college teaching and management of programs committed to student learning and success. She was Assistant Provost for Special Projects at SUNY Oswego and directed major NSF and DOE grants to support the success of diverse transfer students and implement special programs to increase retention rates in STEM programs. As Visiting Assistant Professor of Geology, Karen instructed courses in natural hazards, geology, and environmental science at SUNY Oswego and Jefferson Community College. She holds an M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Virginia Tech and a B.S. in Geology from Temple University.

Preferred method of communication is email.

Students sending email inquiries MUST copy their Adult Sponsor and/or Mentor on the email. If you have started the entry process, also include your Entry number (SR-xxx).

Email (NJ Fair Director): [email protected]
Questions regarding FAVR procedures and issues, new schools, eligibility, and other areas not covered below.
Email (Registration): [email protected]
Questions regarding registration procedures, student deadlines, abstracts, posters, and presentations.
Questions regarding approval or rejection of your entry should go to our SRC listed below.
Email (Scientific Review Committee): [email protected]
Questions regarding eligibility of specific types of projects, prior approval before experimentation begins, and entry approval or rejection.
Questions about ISEF and TNJSF rules.
Email (Judging): [email protected]
For Judges: Questions regarding judge registration, assignments, or anything else.
For Students: Questions regarding category assignments and the judging schedule.
Questions about the judging criteria and judging process.
Email (Awards): [email protected]
Questions regarding awards sponsorship, receipt of materials after the fair, and award instructions.
Email (Terra Science and Education): [email protected]
Phone: 315-422-2902
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. US Eastern Time

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