CSEF projects, 2002–2026

Every California Science & Engineering Fair project Fairfolio holds: 17,387 entries across 24 years, with the abstract, category and awards the fair published for each one.

CSEF coverage: available historical abstracts for 2002–2019; award-listed projects only for 2021–2025, without abstracts and with explicit labels where titles were not published, except that most 2023 winners carry the abstract from CSEF's archived public showcase; public showcase abstracts for 2026. The 2020 fair was canceled.

Years

Category breakdown

Counts cover every year of this fair and use its own category labels, exactly as the source published them. Each one links to that category's CSEF projects.

Projects

17387 projects · showing 15571–15600

CSEF · 2004

The Power of Rat Senses

Mammalian Biology

Objectives/Goals My project was to determine the role of rats# memory and senses in navigating a maze environment. I believe that their sense of smell will be better than their sense of sigh…

CSEF · 2004

The Prediction and Variability of Ozone Levels during Episodes of Severe Air Pollution in the Southern San Joaquin Valle

Environmental Engineering

Objectives/Goals As no specific method of ozone prediction previously existed, we wanted to create one for use on high ozone days so it could be determined which hours of the day were safer…

CSEF · 2004

The Recognition of Facial Expressions among Varying Adolescent Populations

Behavioral Sciences

Objectives/Goals In this experiment, our objective was to determine how different adolescent populations recognize specific emotions at varying intensities. Methods/Materials To test this, w…

CSEF · 2004

The Removal of Toxic Chemicals from Contaminated Filter Materials: An Extended Study

Environmental Engineering

Objectives/Goals The Goal of my project is to properly remove and dispose of the Toxic chemical Malathion from my filter Media. Methods/Materials Remove the Malathion trapped inside my filte…

CSEF · 2004

There's a Germ Out There. Can You Tell Me Where?

Microbiology

Objectives/Goals Does the Kitchen, the Bedroom, the Bathroom or the Living Room harbor the most germs? If the Living Room harbors the most germs, is there a relationship between the amount o…

CSEF · 2004

Thermoacoustics: Creating Sound with Heat

Physics & Astronomy

Objectives/Goals The objective is to understand and demonstrate the thermoacoustic phenomenon, which uses heat to initiate the oscillation of gas without moving parts. The second objective i…

CSEF · 2004

The Role of Brassinosteroids in Root-Cell Differentiation in Arabidopsis thaliana

Biochemistry/ Molecular Biology

Objectives/Goals The objective of this project was to answer two questions: 1) Do brassinosteroids play a role in cell differentiation in the root of Arabidopsis? 2) Is this role due to the…

CSEF · 2004

The Role of Krox-20, a Transcription Factor, in Craniofacial Muscle Development

Mammalian Biology

Objectives/Goals To understand the effect of the Krox-20 mutant on jaw-opener development. Methods/Materials Mandibles with muscles attached were dissected from E14 embryos and mounted onto…

CSEF · 2004

The Science of Snowboarding

Applied Mechanics/ Structures & Mechanisms/ Manufacturing

Objectives/Goals Oun Goal was to determine how the length, width, and flexibility, of a snowboard, determine the speed.We tried to factor out as much experimental error as we could. Methods/…

CSEF · 2004

The Sequel of Nim: Symmetries and Transformations of n-Cubes and the Nimber-Simplex Graph

Mathematics & Software

Objectives/Goals This project is a continuation of last year's project which mapped finite groups under Nim addition to n-dimensional Simplexes, creating the Nimber-Simplex graph. The goals…

CSEF · 2004

The Shapes of Boat Hulls Matter

Aerodynamics/ Hydrodynamics

Objectives/Goals In this experiment I proved that the shape of a boat hull affects the friction or resistance between it and the water. Methods/Materials A water trough was constructed out o…

CSEF · 2004

The Sowbug's Dilemma: Shelter, Shade, or Swamp?

Zoology

Objectives/Goals Sowbugs (Oniscus asellus) are known to seek (1) hiding places, (2) darkness, and (3) dampness. I wondered what a sowbug would do if forced to choose between two things it li…

CSEF · 2004

The Speed of the 21st Century

Electricity & Electronics

Objectives/Goals My objective was if the amount of storage space and RAM effect the speed of a computer. I chose to do this project to find out if I could simply add more storage space and R…

CSEF · 2004

The Stroop Effect

Behavioral Sciences

Objectives/Goals We observed the effect of age and gender on an individual's performance on the the Stroop Color and Word Test Methods/Materials In our experiment, we tested four different a…

CSEF · 2004

The Study of A3174 G and G3877A Double Mutation in the 3' UTR of the SRD5A2 Gene

Biochemistry/ Molecular Biology

Objectives/Goals The A3174G and G3877A are double mutation, which is in the SRD5A2 gene of the 3#untranslated region (UTR). The double mutant has been found to be common in males. This has b…

CSEF · 2004

The Toothpaste that Whitens Stains the Best: Aquafresh, Rembrandt, Tom's, or Ultra Brite

Materials Science (Junior Division Only)

Objectives/Goals The purpose of the experiment was to find out of the four whitening toothpastes - Aquafresh, Tom's, Rembrandt, and Ultra Brite - the one that could whiten three distinct sta…

CSEF · 2004

The Ultimate Underground Structure: The Effect of Pillars Added to Structural Designs of Earth-Sheltered Buildings

Structural Capability & Strength of Materials (Junior Division Only)

Objectives/Goals My objective is to determine if pillars added to the structural design of an earth-sheltered structure will keep it from collapsing under the weight of dirt. I believe that…

CSEF · 2004

The Use of Potassium Release Electrodes to Detect Bacterial Cell Death

Microbiology

Objectives/Goals To determine effectiveness of antimicrobial peptide using potassium release during bacterial cell death. Two peptide conformations tested at different concentrations in vary…

CSEF · 2004

The Velcro-Support Stocking

Applied Mechanics/ Structures & Mechanisms/ Manufacturing

Objectives/Goals Elastic support stockings are used to treat leg edema (swelling).Many people who need to wear them find it too difficult to apply the stockings.The goal of my invention was…

CSEF · 2004

The Weather Outside Is Frightful

Earth Sciences/ Planetary Sciences/ Physical Environments

Objectives/Goals The objective of this project is to determine if microclimates occur in the city of Brisbane and if the topography of the mountain causes these microclimates to occur. Brisb…

CSEF · 2004

The Whispering Gallery Effect: Sound Propagation Near a Curved Surface

Physics & Astronomy

Objectives/Goals This experiment deals with the study of the acoustics of a whispering gallery. The type of gallery I am studying does not involve focussing of the sound, but rather a channe…

CSEF · 2004

Thin-Layer Chromatography vs. Spectroscopy: Analysis Techniques of Color Identification in Cosmetics

Chemistry

Objectives/Goals The objective of the experiment was to find out which one, Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) or Spectroscopy, is a more efficient way to identify and analyze FDA colors presen…

CSEF · 2004

Thumb's Up

Social Sciences (Junior Division Only)

Objectives/Goals I attempted to show that people with a predominant ethnic heritage (one to two) tend to have fewer fingerprint patterns than people with seceral ethnic heritages (more than…

CSEF · 2004

Tick Tock, Let's Change the Mouse's Internal Clock

Mammalian Biology

Objectives/Goals The objective is to determine if having a partner will speed up the time it takes mice to change their internal clocks. Methods/Materials Six mice of identical ages and gend…

CSEF · 2004

Tiling with Shapes and Tessellations in Nature

Mathematics & Software

Objectives/Goals The overall objective of this project was to explore which shapes can (or cannot) tile a rectangular grid or infinite plane (in one or multiple ways) and understand why. Met…

CSEF · 2004

TKO: Total Kid Organizer

Mathematics & Software

Objectives/Goals The Objective of my project is to develop an easy to use multi-task software program for the Palm Pilot hand held unit (PDA) for use by elementary through high school aged s…

CSEF · 2004

To Drink or Not To Drink Cayucos Creek Water

Environmental Science (Junior Division Only)

Objectives/Goals The objective is to determine which of six Cayucos creeks contain the highest nitrate levels and to determine if they are safe for human consumption. I believe Toro Creek wi…

CSEF · 2004

Toil With Oil

Environmental Engineering

Objectives/Goals I believe that medium textured human hair will adsorb the most oil because it is not too coarse, but not too fine and thin. Methods/Materials First I collected different typ…

CSEF · 2004

Toning Up, or Being Contaminated? The Mystery Behind Bacteria Levels in Gym Equipment

Microbiology

Objectives/Goals I am testing the bacteria level in gym equipment. Methods/Materials 30 Hach Paddle Testers (20 Bacteria and 10 Mold); Thermometer; Bleach; One low watt light bulb; Masking T…

CSEF · 2004

Touchy Feely: A Project on Diabetes and Neuropathy

Behavioral Sciences

Objectives/Goals The purpose of our project is to find out if one#s skin nerve receptors sensations differ between diabetic#s and non-diabetic#s, females and males, and diabetics that have b…