Celebrating the Next Generation of Innovators!

Big ideas start with bold questions. 

That spirit filled the room at the 45th Annual IUSD Science Fair, sponsored by IPSF in partnership with the Broadcom Foundation. This year, 531 students in grades 6–12 unveiled 413 original projects, each one a hands-on experiment in creativity, problem-solving, and innovation. 

From adaptive tech prototypes to inventive coding solutions, students didn’t just complete projects, they engineered possibilities. Local STEM professionals volunteered as judges, offering mentorship and real-world insight as students shared their discoveries. From this inspiring group, 150 projects will advance to the Orange County Science and Engineering Fair. 

Innovation That Stands Out 

• The Broadcom Foundation Coding with Commitment® award went to Daniel Zhai, Violet Bian, and Jeremy Bian for their Bike Safety and Surrounding Awareness Sensor, a digital rear-view system that helps riders detect blind spots. 

• Seventh grader Harrison Gu earned the Lemelson Early Inventor Prize for designing VisionShield, an adaptive grid-dimming visor that reduces real-time sun glare, a creative solution to a real-world safety challenge. 

• Thirty-seven projects were recognized by the Irvine Ranch Water District for innovative approaches to water conservation and sustainability. 

• Forty-six middle school students will move on to the Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge, continuing their exploration on a national stage. 

IPSF is proud to support programs that give students the space to build, test, and refine their ideas. The Science Fair showcases what happens when curiosity meets opportunity.