Community Service

The Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair (GSDSEF) is a competition open to local 7th through 12th grade students. Since 1999, San Diego Mensa has given special prizes to competitors for projects which explored issues related to human intelligence and learning in the most interesting way. The judges are drawn from our membership and have included former winners at the GSDSEF.

In 2007, the Fair will be from 27 March - 1 April, in Balboa Park, with judging on 28 March. To volunteer to be a judge, please contact Adina Sobo.

San Diego Mensa, as a group, includes money for prizes in its annual budget for prizes. Further funding comes from the Proctor Fund (proctors for the Mensa entrance exam are entitled to receive money, but don't take it) and by several individual Mensans. The awards are made at each winner's school in late May or early June.

Here is a year-by-year listing of the Prize Winners  whom San Diego Mensa has recognized, and their projects.

The Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair has been in existence for over 40 years. In order to be accepted into this level of competition, students must have been "prescreened" at a school or diocese Science Fair. Approximately 10% of the completed Science Fair projects are considered worthy of entry into the GSDSEF. Typically, over 12,000 projects are examined by the screening team, and approximately 900 students are invited to compete in the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair. The GSDSEF is open to any 7th through 12th grade student in San Diego or Imperial Counties. To merely be invited to compete is an honor. The judges are always impressed with the high level of achievement of many of the "junior" level competitors.

For more details about the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair please visit their website at www.gsdsef.org.