History of the Vienna Science and Engineering Fair

The idea of holding a Science Fair for students at international schools in Vienna was first initiated by a Vienna Chapter of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) in the mid- 1980's. Many of the ANS members had participated in Science Fairs in the US when they were younger and felt this would be a good project for their chapter to take on. In 2010 the Vienna Chapter of the Institute for Nuclear Materials Management (INMM) became the main organization for overseeing the Vienna International Schools Science and Engineering Fair (SF). Since 2020, Women in Nuclear (IAEA Chapter) has assumed the responsibility for organizing the Science Fair with the assistance of INMM and United Nations-Nuclear Young Generation (UN-NYG).

Students demonstrate their understanding of the scientific method

Students, ranging from the 6th to the 12th grade, individually or as a team, work independently under the guidance of their school science teacher on projects of their own choosing. The organizer's overall goal is for the students to learn about the Scientific Method and interest them in science. The students get introduced to this experience and discover how science can fit into their potential careers and their life. Many students who had a start in the Junior Division, return to compete in the Senior Division.

Judging the Projects

A key benefit for the students at the SF is the judging process where they meet and discuss their projects with world-class scientists and engineers. The organizers of the SF take full advantage of the excellent and generous technical staff of different United Nations organizations based in Vienna, e.g., IAEA, CTBTO, UNOCD, and Austrian companies, who dedicate their time to judge student projects at the SF. Most of the more than 40 judges come back year after year because they find the process enjoyable and satisfying. In recent years, the SF has been expanding to other Austrian locations and other international schools in nearby countries. Now over half the projects are from these non-Vienna schools, i.e., St. Gilgen, Sofia, Bratislava, Brno and Prague.

The Science Fair organizers are hopeful that the 2024 Vienna Science Fair will be live. If it must be simulated, that final decision can be made without a problem in March 2024. Since the early preparations for student projects is the same, whether live or simulated, students can begin their projects without concern as to whether the Science Fair will be live or simulated.