Judges

Start Here

Start here!

SEFH 2021 will be conducted entirely online, and we need 500 volunteer judges to make sure it is a great experience for our students.  Here is what you need to know before volunteering:

  • For most judges, the time commitment to participate will be a total of approximately six hours between Saturday, February 13th and Thursday, February 18th, 2021.
  • Most of this time commitment will be flexible, which means judges will be able to review and score assigned projects anytime.
  • Because the fair will be entirely online, judges will be able to participate from anywhere with an internet connection.
  • Judges will need access to a desktop or laptop computer, because the website we will use to display projects and collect scores is generally not compatible with smart phones or tablets.
  • SEFH will provided detailed instructions and training opportunities for our online judging process during January and early February.

We hope you will join us for SEFH 2021!

Judging Procedure

Judging Procedure

Online judging for SEFH 2021 will take place in three phases:

Round 1 – February 13-18, 2021 – Online Asynchronous
All volunteer judges will participate in Round 1. Students will have prepared and uploaded project materials, including a video presentation, to our judging platform (RocketJudge). Judges will access the platform to review their assigned projects asynchronously, post written questions to students, and assign scores.  Judges will work in teams of three or four to review the same set of projects and select projects to move to round 2. Lead judges will organize a synchronous online (e.g. zoom, google meet, MS Teams) caucus meeting to discuss and select projects.  Scheduling for this meeting will be flexible, but will likely take place on February 17th or 18th.

Round 2 – February 20-22, 2021 – Online Live Interviews
Only volunteers serving as lead judges or category coordinators will participate in Round 2. Students who advance to round 2 will present their work during live interviews with our lead judges using our online platform (RocketJudge). All interviews will be scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 20th between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM central time. Each interview will include student presenters and at least two lead judges and will last 15 minutes. Make up interviews resulting from technical difficulties for judges or students will be scheduled for Sunday, February 21st. Once all projects are reviewed, category coordinators will organize a synchronous online (e.g. zoom, google meet, MS Teams) caucus meeting to discuss and select place award winners.  Scheduling for this meeting will be flexible, but will likely take place on February 21st or 22nd.

Round 3 – February  27, 2021 – Online Live Interviews
Only volunteers serving as category coordinators will participate in Round 3. Students who advance to round 3 will present their work during live interviews with our category coordinators using our online platform (RocketJudge). All interviews will be scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 27th between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM central time. Each interview will include student presenters and a panel of four or five category coordinators and will last 15 minutes. Make up interviews resulting from technical difficulties for judges or students will be scheduled as needed during Saturday afternoon. Once all projects are reviewed, category coordinators will organize a synchronous online (e.g. zoom, google meet, MS Teams) caucus meeting to discuss and select place award winners. This meeting will take place immediately after the last interview is completed.

Signup

Signup for Judge

Judge Registration for SEFH 2021 is now open!

Please complete the Place Judge Registration form here.

Judges registrations will be reviewed and assigned to categories within 10 business day.

 

 

 

Promoting the learning and application of science and technology for Texas youth since 1958.
Affiliated with Regeneron, International Science and Engineering Fair, Texas Science and Engineering Fair, and Broadcom MASTERS.

Promoting the learning and application of science and technology for Texas youth since 1958.
Affiliated with Regeneron, International Science and Engineering Fair, Texas Science and Engineering Fair, and Broadcom MASTERS.