Scholarships
Students and teachers who are engaging in long-term projects that will be presented at an Idealized Science Institute science conference are eligible to apply for scholarships. The intent is to encourage participation in authentic scientific work. In general, long-term projects should not be about spending money or buying things. Using readily available materials, and especially those that are being reused, recycled, or are destined for the trash bin are better for the environment and often show the thriftiness that engineers and scientists appreciate.
The next Idealized Science Institute sponsored science conference will held at Penn State Beaver (located in Beaver County in Pennsylvania) on Thursday, May 7, 2026, where $15,000 in scholarships are available for students as well as $5,000 for teachers. See below for details.
Student Scholarship Awards
3 Senior Scholarships - (one Grand Prize Scholarship of $3000 and two Runner Up Scholarships of $1500 each) - The following scholarship is for a high school student who intends to enroll in an accredited 2-year or 4-year institution following high school and is in 12th grade. The criteria for this scholarship entail conducting original research, unaided, and presenting it at a science conference where it can be critiqued by members of the Idealized Science Institute. Click here for more information.
3 High School Underclassman Scholarships - (one Grand Prize Scholarship of $2000 and two Runner Up Scholarships of $1250 each) - The following scholarship is for a high school student who intends to enroll in an accredited 2-year or 4-year institution following high school and is in 9th to 11th grade. The criteria for this scholarship entail conducting original research, unaided, and presenting it at a science conference where it can be critiqued by members of the Idealized Science Institute. Click here for more information.
2 First-Time Presenting School Scholarships - (at up to $1500 each) - The following scholarship is for a high school student who intends to enroll in an accredited 2-year or 4-year institution following high school, where the high school has never participated in an Idealized Science Institute-endorsed Science Conference. The criteria for this scholarship entail conducting original research, unaided, and presenting it at a science conference where it can be critiqued by members of the Idealized Science Institute. Click here for more details.
3 Elementary/Middle School Scholarships - (at up to $500 each) - The following scholarship is for an elementary or middle school student (K-8th) who is considering following a path that includes attending an accredited 2-year or 4-year institution following high school. The criteria for this scholarship entail conducting original research, unaided, and presenting it at a science conference where it can be critiqued by members of the Idealized Science Institute. Click here for more details.
Submit your scholarship here by filling out this form (opens February 15, 2026).
Teacher Scholarship Awards
Up to $5000 in teacher scholarships will also be awarded for teachers that attend the 2026 Regional Science Conference at Penn State Beaver. These scholarships can be used to help buy supplies for classrooms that support long-term projects. Details to be released by March 2026!
