Schedule and Timelines

Stay on track throughout the TNJSF competition by reviewing the event schedules and important student deadlines for each competition. Be sure to meet all submission deadlines to ensure your project remains eligible for judging.

Please review all deadlines carefully. Failure to meet a required deadline may result in your project being considered incomplete or withdrawn from the competition.
SRC Prior Approval Entry Deadline
December 1, 2026 Required for all projects that require prior review and approval from the TNJSF SRC before experimentation begins.
  • Complete your project documentation in Terra Entry System.
  • Submit the required ISEF Form 2C information.
  • Request SRC Prior Approval through Terra Entry System before beginning experimentation.
Consult the ISEF Rules and Guidelines if your project involves human participants, vertebrate animals, potentially hazardous biological agents, tissue/body fluids, and/or hazardous chemicals or devices. Also review the TNJSF SRC Vertebrate Animal and Tissue and Human Participants policies.
Research and Engineering Design Entry Deadlines
Deadline Applies To
December 1, 2026 Projects with assistance from an RRI or professional scientist/engineer that began before November 1, 2026. This includes both onsite and remote mentoring.
February 1, 2027 All other projects.
By the application deadline, your project documentation must be completed in the Terra Entry System. This includes all required information and signatures from all Adults supporting the project. For ISEF Form 2C, if work is still in progress, preliminary information should be submitted in the entry system.
Fair Day
Date and site: TBD
Deadlines
January 4, 2027 — Entry Opens for Topic Presentations
Enter a Topic Presentation in the TNJSF through the Terra Entry System website. In Terra Entry System, you will create a profile and enter your project information. Required information includes:
  • Student profile information
  • Parent or guardian and Adult Sponsor information
  • The title and short description of your topic
  • An abstract for your Topic Presentation
  • Your list of references
See the How to Enter page for detailed instructions.
February 22, 2027 — Entry Deadline for Topic Presentations
Enter all required information into Terra Entry System by this date. This includes all required signatures from the student, parent or guardian, and Adult Sponsor.
Submit your abstract through Terra Entry System as early as possible. Abstracts submitted early may be revised until the entry deadline. Abstracts are manually reviewed before they are posted on the website, so allow sufficient time for the review process.