Student Scientists to Present Award-Winning Projects at 2026 Riverside County Science and Engineering Fair

RIVERSIDE – An elementary student experimenting with the ingredients in chocolate chip cookies, a middle school student testing how light propels spacecraft travel, and a high school student researching how DNA tweezers can unlock understanding of glioblastoma multiforme tumors, are examples of projects that will be showcased at the Riverside County Science and Engineering Fair on Friday, February 27, 2026, at the Riverside Convention Center.

A total of 530 students from 30 affiliate fairs representing public, charter, and private schools will present their findings in 367 projects spanning 22 subject matter categories from Behavioral and Social Sciences to Translational Medicinal Science.

Judging will take place on Friday, February 27, but is not open to the public. Admission is free for public viewing on Saturday, February 28, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Riverside Convention Center (3637 Fifth Street, Riverside, CA). The awards ceremony, which is also open to the public, will take place on Saturday, February 28, at the Riverside Convention Center at 12 p.m., where gold, and silver medals will be presented. Community awards will also be announced during the awards ceremony.

“The brilliance and determination of students is on full display at the Riverside County Science and Engineering Fair, where projects explore the power of experimentation and a greater understanding of the natural world and how it works,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. “By fostering curiosity, the power of observation, and critical thinking, this event showcases how students are striving to make an impact on their future and their community.”

Within each of the 22 subject matter categories, students will compete in the Grade 4/5 division, Junior division (grades 6-8), and Senior division (high school). Winners in the Junior and Senior division will advance to the California State Science and Engineering Fair to be held entirely online on April 11, 2026. Sweepstakes awards will be presented to one project in the Grade 4/5 division, one project in the Junior division, and one project in the Senior division. Three Senior division students will advance to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering (ISEF) Fair to be held May 9-15, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona.

Participating districts and charter/private schools include:

2026 Riverside County Science and Engineering Fair by the numbers:

• 530 – Total students participating
• 367 – Total projects
• 30 – Districts and/or charter/private schools participating
• 115 – Projects from students in Grade 4/5 division
• 136 – Projects from students in Junior division (Grades 6-8)
• 116 – Projects from students in Senior division (Grades 9-12)
• 22 – Categories of competition
• 46– Entries in most popular categories: Chemistry, and Engineering Technology: Statics and Dynamics

Examples of entries from this year’s event include:

Project Title: What Type of Fat Makes the Biggest Chocolate Chip Cookies?

Student: Emma Vazquez

Grade: 4

School/District: North Ridge Elementary School, Moreno Valley USD

Project Description: This experiment included testing the variables of butter, margarine, coconut oil, and olive oil. After baking the cookies multiple times, the height and width of each cookie was measured.

Project Title: Extreme Temperatures, Rising Risks: A Data Analysis of Temperature Trends and the Correlation to Mortality in U.S. Cities

Student: Vienna Zhou

Grade: 8

School/District: El Cerrito Middle School, Corona-Norco USD

Project Description: This project aims to increase the understanding of how climate change impacts, not just the flora and fauna around us, but also public health, increasing mortality rates, and whether climate change translates from changes in our thermometers to real-world health risks.

Project Title: Iron Chef

Student: Carly Johansen

Grade: 8

School/District: Western Center Academy, Hemet USD

Project Description: The purpose of this study was to determine if organically grown spinach contains higher iron concentrations than conventionally grown spinach. Using a spectrophotometer and the Deer-Lambert Law, iron levels were quantified in both raw and boiled samples of Spinacia oleracea. The procedure involves acid extraction with HCI and heat application to release bound iron from plant fibers

Project Title: Cardio Carry

Student: Azalea Manco

Grade: 12

School/District: Desert Hot Springs High School, Palm Springs USD

Project Description: The purpose of the project was to test how a weighted vest load affects heart rate and perceived exertion during a constant-speed treadmill run of one mile. This research is aimed at explaining how the body’s cardiovascular and energy systems respond to increased exercise demands, allowing athletes to train more effectively and safely. By understanding how added resistance impacts heart rate, endurance, and recovery, individuals can apply principles such as progressive overload to improve performance while reducing the risk of injury.

Project Title: Human Mouth vs. Dog Mouth

Student: Madisynne Foltz

Grade: 6

School/District: Good Hope Elementary School, Perris Elementary SD

Project Description: Animals and humans have bacteria all over their bodies. The purpose of this project was to investigate if dogs or humans have more bacteria in their mouths.

Project Title: Photon Push

Student: Kristopher Crawford

Grade: 7

School/District: Edward Hyatt World Language Academy, San Jacinto USD

Project Description: This experiment investigates the pressure of light on reflective and absorptive sails, demonstrating the same principle that powers solar sails in space. A miniature, free-hanging sail system was constructed using aluminum foil (reflective) and black paper (absorptive) to measure the mechanical effect of photon momentum. This project models how spacecraft can harness light for propulsion without fuel, providing insight into an otherwise invisible cosmic force.

Project Title: The Heat Is On!

Students: Jose Zavala and Legna Villegas

Grade: 6

School/District: Palm View Elementary School, Coachella Valley USD

Project Description: This project sought to identify the hottest surface at Palm View Elementary School. The initial hypothesis predicted that the blacktop would absorb the most heat. The experiment revealed lessons in thermal radiation and heat distribution over various surfaces.

Project Title: Perchlorate Reduction with Integrated Photochemical and Catalytic Processes

Student: Erica Yin

Grade: 12

School/District: Martin Luther King High School, Riverside USD

Project Description: Perchlorate is a common wastewater pollutant due to its widespread industrial usage and formation as a byproduct to water treatment processes, and this toxin poses a health risk to humans. Previous studies on perchlorate degradation pose issues including extreme conditions or ineffectiveness under real conditions. This study focuses on designing an optimized system to degrade perchlorate via a combination of photochemical systems and catalytic systems.

Project Title: Structure-Guided Biochemical Design of DNA Tweezers Targeting the Glioblastoma Biomarker Protein S100A4

Student: Hayley Foo

Grade: 11

School/District: Great Oak High School, Temecula Valley USD

Project Description: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive and rapidly growing malignant brain tumor that is linked to glial cells, infiltrates surrounding brain tissue, and is the most common primary brain cancer in adults. This project aims to computationally investigate the glioblastoma-associated protein S100A4 and evaluate its potential as a diagnostic biomarker using molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and DNA tweezer design.

For additional details on this year’s event, visit the Riverside County Science and Engineering Fair web page..