The Orange County Science and Engineering Fair (OCSEF) is an annual event organized to encourage the youth of Orange County to learn about science and to consider a career in science or engineering. The Fair is open to 6th-12th grade students attending public or private schools in Orange County. OCSEF is a non-profit educational organization unaffiliated with OCACS. It has promoted the sciences in Orange County since 1955 and gives awards in 20 different science categories.
In addition, the OCACS Education Committee selects one Junior Division student and one Senior Division student “who best demonstrate good understanding of the chemical principles involved in their project.” These students are invited as guests to the High School Awards Banquet, and are presented with certificates, plaques, and book store gift cards.
To find out how to participate in the Orange County Science & Engineering Fair and register in the competition, click the button below:
Past Winners of the OCACS Science Fair Awards
2023
Junior Division — Jiayou Liu: “Crying Over Spilled Water”, Turtle Rock Elementary School, Irvine. Adviser: Ms. Darcy Angel
Senior Division — Jay Ananth: “Evaluating Optimal Lipophilicity in Ligand-Receptor Complexes”, Troy High School, Fullerton. Adviser: Mr. James Kirkpatrick
2022
Junior Division — Catherine Chen: “Revealing Hidden Colors in your Candy – Using Paper Chromatography as a Method of Separating and Identifying Pigments in Food Coloring”, Santiago Hills Elementary School, Irvine. Adviser: Stephanie DeMarco
Senior Division — Jayden Chow, Khanh Duong, Anh Tran: “SCOBY as Electricity Producer for Microbial Fuel Cells”, Westminster High School. Adviser: Mr. Huy Pham
2021
Junior Division — Dylan Platfoot: “From Soil to Air”, McPherson Magnet School, Orange. Adviser: Mrs. Conrad
Senior Division — Gina Lee: “Effect of Multi-Layer Shells on InP Quantum Dots”, Portola High School, Irvine. Adviser: Meghan Truax
2020
Junior Division — (tie)
– Isaac Miller, Talbert Middle School, Huntington Beach: “O2 in H2O”
– Kim Noelle, Fairmont Private School, Anaheim: “Levitate to Medicate”
Senior Division — (tie)
– William Pan, Northwood High School, Irvine. “Smart and Biocompatible Ostomy Bag Hydrogel Adhesive”
– Leonard Zhao, El Toro High School, Lake Forest. “Denture Cleanser for Stain Removal”
2019
Junior Division — Samira Mehrinfar, Grade 8, Fairmont Private School, “A Healthier Way to Fuel”; Advisor Mr. Briner
Senior Division — Daniel Feng, Grade 10, University High, “Discovering Antibacterial Molecules in a Previously Uninvestigated Native American Medicinal Herb ”; Advisor Mrs. Burnside
2018
Junior Division – Ishan Ghosh, Grade 7, Talbert Middle School: “Modeling Kidney Filtration”; Advisor: Mr. Wood
Senior Division – Daniel Feng, Grade 9, University High: “Discovering Antibacterial Properties of Cultural Herbs: Using a New Simulation-Aided Approach”; Advisor: Megan Lewis
2017
Junior Division – Isabella Medvitz, Woodbury Elementary: “Salty and Sweet”; Advisor: Danielle DeFrank
Senior Division – Michael Wu, University High: “A Solar Powered Upconverting Reactor for Highly Efficient Photochemical Synthesis”; Advisor: Shannon Bunch
2016
Junior winner – Miranda Nicusanti, “Catalase: Destroyer of O2 Radicals”; Fairmont Private School, Teacher: John Briner
Senior winner – Cassandra Man, “The Effect of Visible Light Irradiation on Photocatalyst-mediated Decolorization of Crystal Violet in Wastewater”; Woodbridge High School, Teacher: Mike Antrim
2015
Junior winner – Qianyun Lin, “Enzyme Catalase – the Key to Hydrogen Peroxide”; Fairmont Private School, Anaheim; Teacher: John Briner
Senior Winner – Logan Prock, “The Effect of Storage Temperature on the Decomposition of Sodium Hypochlorite in Household Bleach”, Woodbridge High School, Irvine; Teacher: Mike Antrim