INTEL ISEF CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS

-All categories listed seperately-
(Mississippi Science and Engineering Fair has combined some categories for regionals)

BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

Human and animal behavior, social and community relationships--psychology, sociology, anthropology, archaeology, ethology, ethnology, linguistics, learning, perception, urban problems, reading problems, public opinion surveys, educational testing, etc.

BIOCHEMISTRY

Chemistry of life processes--molecular biology, molecular genetics, enzymes, photosynthesis, blood chemistry, protein chemistry, food chemistry, hormones, etc.

BOTANY

Study of plant life--agriculture, agronomy, horticulture, forestry, plant taxonomy, plant physiology, plant pathology, plant genetics, hydroponics, algae, etc.

CHEMISTRY

Study of nature and composition of matter and laws governing it--physical chemistry, organic chemistry (other than biochemistry), inorganic chemistry, materials, plastics, fuels, pesticides, metallurgy, soil chemistry, etc.

EARTH, SPACE, & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Geology, minerology, physiography, oceanography, meteorology, climatology, astronomy, speleology, seismology, geography, etc.

ENGINEERING, COMPUTERS, & MATH

Development of formal logical systems or various numerical and algebraic computations, and the application of these principles--calculus, geometry, abstract algebra, number theory, statistics, complex analysis, probability.

MEDICINE AND HEALTH

Study of diseases and health of humans and animals--dentistry, pharmacology, pathology, ophthalmology, nutrition, sanitation, pediatrics, dermatology, allergies, speech and hearing, etc.

MICROBIOLOGY

Biology of microorganisms--bacteriology, virology, protozoology, fungi, bacterial genetics, yeast, etc.

PHYSICS

Theories, principles, and laws governing energy and the effect of energy on matter--solid state, optics, acoustics, particle, nuclear, atomic, plasma, superconductivity, fluid and gas dynamics, thermodynamics, semiconductors, magnetism, quantum mechanics, biophysics, etc.

ZOOLOGY

Study of animals--animal genetics, ornithology, ichthyology, herpetology, entomology, animal ecology, paleontology, cellular physiology, circadian rhythms, animal husbandry, cytology, histology, animal physiology, invertebrate neurophysiology, studies of invertebrates, etc.

TEAM PROJECTS

Study conducted by two or three students in any discipline. (CLASS 2 ONLY)

Please click below to download the registration form. MSEF Elementary Registration Form (PDF) MSEF Secondary Registration Form (PDF)

Contact Information For additional information, please contact: Mrs. Barbara H. Thompson MSEF Region VII Director The University of Mississippi P. O. Box 879 University, MS 38677-0879 Phone: 662- 915-7283 Fax: 662- 915-5138 Email: bthompso@olemiss.edu Port Kaigler Coordinator of Program Services The University of Mississippi P. O. Box 879 University, MS 38677-0879 Phone: 662- 915-5132 Fax: 662- 915-5138 Email: sdkaigle@olemiss.edu