Students

CALL FOR sUBMISSIONS: sTUDENT rESEARCH cOMPETITION

Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society, invites student researchers to submit their work for the 2025 IFoRE Student Research Awards competition. This year's event will be held virtually, with activities conducted via Zoom, Whova, and ProjectBoard.

Students are encouraged—but not required—to connect their research to this year’s conference theme, “Science and Society: Crafting a Vision for a Sustainable Tomorrow.” All high-quality research across disciplines is welcome. Eligible students include those at the high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels across all fields of science, engineering, and mathematics.

New for 2025: The student presentation format has changed to better support virtual engagement. Students will now be required to submit:

  • A short video (up to 2 minutes) introducing themselves and their research

  • A slideshow (up to 10 slides) summarizing their project

  • An abstract summarizing the research

  • Participation in a live Zoom meeting with judges (scheduled approximately two weeks before the official start of IFoRE)

Submissions will be hosted and showcased on ProjectBoard, an online platform designed to support interactive project displays and feedback from judges and attendees.

Important Information About Registration:

  • Students must first submit an abstract by the deadline of September 5, 2025.

  • After an abstract is accepted, students will be required to register to confirm their participation.

  • Only 300 students will be invited to compete for the IFoRE Student Research Awards.

  • Early submission and registration are strongly encouraged to secure a spot in the competition.

Judging Dates:

  • Judging will take place October 18-26, 2025.

  • Students will be assigned a specific date and time for their Zoom meeting with the judges during this period. Students will need to be available for their scheduled presentation slot.

Students competing for awards must use the IFoRE Student Submission Portal. Submissions will be evaluated based on research quality, creativity, and clarity of presentation. Award winners will be announced during the 2025 IFoRE conference.

Please contact programs@sigmaxi.org  for assistance with the submission process.