DaVinci Fest 2027
Science Showcase

The DaVinci Fest Science Showcase invites students in grades PreK–12 to share their science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) projects with the community. Whether it's a fun exploration, classroom project, or science fair entry, we want to see it!

Students can simply display their projects or opt to meet with a volunteer science mentor to discuss their work, answer questions, and receive feedback. Stillwater Area Public School students who wish to participate in the Twin Cities Regional Science Fair will have their registration fees covered by The Partnership Plan (see more below).

Register Your Project

Registration closes December 31, 2026.

At A Glance

>WHO

Students in PreK-12th Grade

Open to students who live in the boundaries of Stillwater Area Public Schools (ISD 834)

>WHAT

Science, STEM, & Curious Ideas

An experiment, investigation, invention, or research project that explores a question or idea

>REGISTER BY

December 31, 2026

All participating students or educators must register online
Register Here

>SET UP

Saturday, January 23

8:00–10:00 am
Stillwater Area High School
Gymnasium

>MENTOR MEETINGS

Optional

10:30 am–12:30 pm
Stillwater Area High School
Gymnasium

>PICK UP

Saturday, January 23

4:00–5:00 pm
Stillwater Area High School
Gymnasium

Rather than a traditional judged science fair, students are invited to share their projects without formal judging or awards. Students can opt to participate in a brief meeting with a volunteer science mentor to discuss their work, ask questions, and receive feedback.

New in 2027

Good to Know

  • Start with something you're curious about.

    The Science Showcase is open to projects from students at all levels of experience.

    You might conduct an experiment, investigate a question, build or design something, explore a scientific topic, or share another kind of science-related project.

    There is no single required format for projects at DaVinci Fest.

    Choose something that interests you, ask questions, and use your teachers, mentors, and trusted adults as resources along the way.

  • There is no one required way to display your project.

    The Science Showcase is designed to welcome students at different ages and experience levels.

    If you hope to take your project to the Twin Cities Regional Science Fair (TCRSF), we encourage you to follow their project and display requirements and use DaVinci Fest as an opportunity to practice and get feedback.

    Learn more about the TCRSF → HERE

  • Yes!

    Group projects are welcome.

    Choose one member of your group to complete the registration. That student will serve as our primary contact and will be responsible for sharing information with the other members of the group.

Showcasing Your Work

Display Your Project

Bring your project to DaVinci Fest and let people see what you've been working on.

Your project will be displayed alongside projects from students of all ages. During the event, community members can walk through the space, explore the projects, and discover the questions, experiments, inventions, and ideas students have been exploring.

There is no judging or formal presentation required. Simply set up your project, share your work, and let it be part of the showcase.

Science Mentor Feedback

Want to talk about your project with someone else? Students can choose to participate in a Mentor Feedback Session.

Volunteer mentors will visit with you individually at your project, ask questions, and talk with you about your work. It's an opportunity to explain what you did, share what you learned, and receive thoughtful feedback. Think of it as a conversation, not an interview. The mentors are there because they're interested in hearing about what you've created.

    • You’ll stand with your project

    • Volunteer science mentors will visit with students individually throughout the session

    • Talk with each mentor about your work

    • Your Question or Idea

      • What were you curious about? What did you want to explore, solve, create, or better understand?

    • Your Process

      • How did you approach your project? What did you do, test, build, research, or investigate?

    • What You Discovered

      • What did you learn along the way? Did anything surprise you or turn out differently than expected?

    • Your Thinking

      • What would you do next? What new questions do you have, or where might you take your ideas from here?

    • Tell your story

      • Explain what interested you and what you wanted to learn or discover.

    • Show them your work

      • Point out charts, graphs, photos, models, or anything else that helps explain your project.

    • Share what you learned

      • Experiments don't always turn out the way we expect — and that's okay! Mentors are interested in what you discovered along the way.

    • It's okay to be nervous

      • The mentors aren't there to test you — they’re genuinely excited to hear about your work!

    • Ask questions, too.

      • If a mentor says something interesting or you're curious about their perspective, keep the conversation going.

    • Enjoy it!

      • You put time and effort into your project. This is your chance to share it with curious minds.

  • We encourage parents and guardians to step away during the conversation so students can practice sharing their ideas, answering questions, and receiving feedback from someone new. Parents and guardians are welcome to remain with younger students or anyone who would benefit from their support.

How To Participate

  • Complete the online registration by:

    December 31, 2026

    Register Here

    When registering, you’ll let us know whether you'd like to participate in a Mentor Feedback Session.

  • Complete your project and decide how you'd like to display it.

    There is no single required display format for DaVinci Fest.

    If you're planning to attend the Twin Cities Regional Science Fair, we recommend following their project requirements.

  • Bring your labeled project to:

    Stillwater Area High School
    Gymnasium
    Saturday, January 23
    8:00–10:00 am

    PROJECT LABEL REQUIREMENTS

    Projects should be securely identified in some manner with the following info:

    1) Student Name
    2) Grade
    3) School
    4) Teacher
    5) Project Title

  • Students participating in mentor meetings must be present with their projects during this time.

    Saturday, January 23
    10:30 am – 12:30 pm

  • After you have set up your project and completed the optional mentor meetings, you are welcome to leave the science showcase and enjoy the rest of the event.

    The public portion of DaVinci Fest runs from:

    12:30–4:00 pm

    Your project will remain on display during the event.

  • Science projects should be picked up at the conclusion of DaVinci Fest.

    Saturday, January 23
    4:00–5:00 pm

    Pick up your project from the location where it was displayed.

    Event organizers are not responsible for projects. Please make arrangements to have your project picked up during this time. If you are unable to attend, you are responsible for arranging for someone else to remove your project.

Register Your Project

Twin Cities Regional Science Fair

★

Twin Cities Regional Science Fair ★

Take your project further!

Stillwater Area Public School students in grades 6–12 who are interested in participating in the Twin Cities Regional Science Fair are encouraged to use DaVinci Fest as an opportunity to practice, share their work, and receive feedback.

The Partnership Plan wants to help you get there! We will cover the TCRSF entry fee for eligible students who:

  • Display their project at the DaVinci Fest Science Showcase

  • Participate in Mentor Feedback Sessions

  • Choose to participate in the Twin Cities Regional Science Fair

Learn more about the TCRSF → HERE

Safety & Participation Guidelines

DaVinci Fest is a family-friendly, public event held in a school setting. Our first priority is the safety and well-being of students, families, volunteers, and visitors. Projects should be designed and conducted safely and with appropriate adult guidance.

Some projects require additional review or may not be eligible for the Science Showcase. Students and teachers should review these guidelines before beginning a project.

  • Projects involving the following may require advance approval, additional supervision, or may not be eligible for display at DaVinci Fest:

    • Live vertebrate animals or research that could affect the health or well-being of an animal

    • Human participants, including surveys, interviews, physical activities, or testing an invention, app, or prototype with other people

    • Potentially hazardous biological materials, microorganisms, or human/animal tissue or body fluids

    • Hazardous chemicals or substances

    • Fire, explosives, weapons, radiation, or other hazardous devices or activities

    • Controlled substances or prescription drugs

    • Genetic modification or recombinant DNA

    • Any project that could reasonably pose a risk to students, visitors, animals, or the environment

    Some research activities may be appropriate when conducted under proper supervision and with required approvals, but may not be appropriate for display at DaVinci Fest. When in doubt, students should talk with their teacher before beginning the project.

  • Projects involving human participants may require approval before research or testing begins. This can include surveys, questionnaires, interviews, physical activities, testing an invention or application with other people, or collecting personal or identifiable information.

    Students should work with their teacher to determine whether additional review or approval is required before beginning their project.

    View the International Rules for Human Participants

  • If you are conducting formal scientific research with human participants, animals, biological agents, or other potentially hazardous materials — and especially if you plan to pursue your project through the Twin Cities Regional Science Fair — additional rules and approvals may apply.

    Talk with your teacher and review the International Rules for Pre-College Science Research before beginning your research.

Ready to Enter?

Register Here

Registration closes December 31, 2026.

We'll print your project label straight from what you submit, so double-check that information is correct before you send it in. Need to change something after registering? Email us — changes can't be made after January 13.