2026 Junior Science Fair - Judging Sign-Up

The 2026 Junior State Science + Technology Fair of Iowa is a one day fair for youth in 3rd-5th grade! We will have six different locations.

November 3rd - Orange City (Northwestern College)

November 9th - Atlantic (Cass County Community Center)

November 11th - Dubuque(The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium)

November 16th - Coralville (The Iowa Children's Museum)

November 19th - Des Moines (The Science Center of Iowa)

November 23th - Mason City (Muse Norris Conference Center - NIACC)

We are currently recruiting judges for all locations.

For each location Judging registration will begin at 8:30 am with Judging Orientation at 8:45 am.

We will begin Judging at 9:30 am at each location. Lunch will be provided. Judging will conclude no later than 2pm each day.

Be sure to block off your calendar for this great opportunity. Please encourage friends and coworkers to volunteer for this wonderful STEM experience.

** Please know you will not recieve your background check or email from the university until around October 3rd, 2026.

Name

First NameLast Name

Email

example@example.com

Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Phone Number

Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.

Organization

Workplace, school, or who you are representing. We like to credit those who volunteer!

Which fair will you be judging?

Do you have any food allergies? (Lunch will be provided for judges)

Please list food allergies.

We do our best to provide the youth presenting their research projects with the most judges we can give them. Please mark your calendars to save the date. Did you save the dates you're committing to in your calendar?

BACKGROUND SCREEN POLICY

Per Iowa State University (ISU) policy, all staff and volunteers (including JSSTFI judges) engaged in youth programs must undergo a background screen. ISU utilizes an external third party vendor, Hire Right, to conduct this screening. A background screen for your role as a JSSTFI judge consists of a Department of Justice National Sex Offender Registry check. Within the next few weeks, you will receive an email from Hire Right asking you to fill out an online form and consent to the background check.

Your application to be an JSSTFI judge will not be considered complete until your background check is completed. Click below to acknowledge you understand you will be receiving a separate email to complete the background check process.

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY VOLUNTEER SERVICE AGREEMENT

PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY.

It is important information for all ISU Volunteers. By signing the ISU Volunteer Roster for this opportunity, I understand and agree that:

ISU volunteers are provided a scope of service for each volunteer opportunity. I will only volunteer for activities within my ability and skill level. I understand that this Volunteer Service Agreement applies to all ISU volunteer opportunities in which I participate.
An ISU employee may not volunteer to perform services for the university that are identical or similar to his/her duties as an employee.
An individual younger than fifteen years of age must be accompanied and supervised by his/her parent or guardian when serving as an ISU volunteer.
An individual younger than eighteen years of age must have the permission of his/her parent or guardian to become an ISU volunteer.
An individual who is a foreign national must provide proof of proper visa or other legal authorization permitting him/her to volunteer at the university.
An individual who has been convicted of child abuse, sexual abuse or any other criminal offense for which he/she must register with the National Sex Offender Registry cannot participate as an ISU volunteer in any program involving contact with vulnerable populations, including children under the age of eighteen. These types of offenses may prohibit individuals from being eligible to serve in a volunteer capacity for Iowa State University.
An ISU volunteer is not an ISU employee while performing volunteer services, nor is the volunteer paid a salary or wage for participation in volunteer activities.
ISU volunteers are not entitled to employee benefits, including accident or medical insurance, nor covered by Workers' Compensation as a result of participation as a University volunteer. l must have my own health insurance and will bear all financial responsibility for any medical treatment arising from my volunteer activities, unless my injury is due to ISU's negligence.
ISU volunteers have no authority to enter into a contract or make a financial commitment on behalf of the University.
ISU volunteers are provided personal liability protection by the Iowa Tort Claims Act, Iowa Code Chapter 669, and the Federal Volunteer Protection Act, 42 United States Code Chapter 139 while acting within the scope of their volunteer duties and responsibilities. The State will defend, indemnify, and hold volunteers for the University harmless against a tort claim caused by an act or omission of the volunteer unless the act or omission of the volunteer involved intentional or criminal misconduct, a knowing violation of the law, or a transaction from which the volunteer derives an improper personal benefit.
ISU volunteers must abide by ISU policies and procedures as well as local, state and national laws at all times. I will assist in making the volunteer opportunity a safe experience through my appropriate behavior and conduct and by following all instructions of the ISU supervisor.
ISU shall have the right to release a volunteer for any reason and without prior notice.

I have freely made the decision to volunteer, without pressure or coercion from anyone, and I agree to the information above.

Comments or Concerns