Elementary Categories (Grades 5-6)

Chemistry
Studies exploring the science of the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter.

Computer Science
The study or development of software, information processes or methods to demonstrate, analyze, or control a process/solution.

Earth & Environmental Science
Studies dealing with the earth and its atmosphere. Studies of the environment and its effect on organisms/systems, including investigations of biological processes such as growth and life span, as well as studies of Earth systems and their evolution.

Engineering
The application of math, observation and experimentation, and scientific, economic, social, and practical knowledge used to invent, innovate, design, build, maintain, research, and improve structures, machines, tools, systems, components, materials, processes and organizations.

Life Science
The scientific study of living organisms, including microorganisms, plants, animals, and humans.

Physics, Astronomy, & Mathematics
Physics is the science of matter and energy and of interactions between the two through space and time. Astronomy is the study of anything in the universe beyond the Earth. Math, the study of the measurement, properties, and relationships of quantities and sets, using numbers and symbols. The deductive study of numbers, geometry, and various abstract constructs, or structures.

Product Testing & Consumer Science
Studies that use comparative tests to check claims made about products. This includes measurements of the properties and performance of the product.

Categories are adapted from the Intel ISEF categories and descriptions.