Young scientists from across Chester County once again met for the chance to showcase their knowledge and engage in friendly rivalry at the 2026 Chester County Science Research Competition (CCSRC), organized by the Chester County Intermediate Unit.

On Tuesday, March 10 and Wednesday, March 11, the Church Farm School in Exton hosted over 369 students from 50 schools, who displayed their love of science across 15 different categories, including botany, computer science, engineering, and more.

The CCSRC, which is sponsored by Church Farm School, CCRES, and the Children’s Fund of Chester County, offers two opportunities for students to share their scientific findings: the Dr. Lucy Balian Rorke- Adams Fair is for students in grades 6-12, and the Dr. Jonas Salk Fair is for students in grades 4-5. This year, the Rorke-Adams Fair included 54 volunteer judges, while the Salk Fair included 41 volunteer judges, each offering unique expertise from a variety of backgrounds across many industries.

At both fairs, students presented the results of months-long research projects as judges asked questions and offered valuable feedback. After each student was interviewed, the judges deliberated in category-based groups and determined this year’s winners.

After a full day of competition, both the Rorke-Adams Fair and the Salk Fair concluded with an open house in the evening, where students and their families had the opportunity to browse all the projects. During the Salk open house, students who placed in each of the 15 categories received their awards while accompanied by their family and friends.

Among the many outstanding works on display at the Salk fair, the judges called special attention to Sadie Bryan from Beaver Creek Elementary School, whose presentation titled “Can You Hear Me Now?” was awarded Best of Fair. 

Dr. Delfi Krishna, a volunteer judge with a degree in chemical engineering, said, “This is such a great experience, and I can’t thank the CCIU enough for pulling this together. The students learn so many hard and soft skills, like the scientific method and how to design and experiment, and collect data, but they also learn the most important soft skill, which is critical thinking. In the age of TikTok and YouTube, to do proper research and develop opinions based on critical thinking by looking at every different angle before coming to a conclusion, is incredibly important today.”

“I loved being able to teach people about our project. We really love chemistry, so getting to conduct the experiment was one of my favorite parts,” said Aania Kawade, a student at Brandywine Wallace Elementary. “I love explaining all the science and why something worked, or why this works instead of that. Getting to share that with the judges was really exciting.”

Hitha Srinivasa, Aania’s project partner, shared the same enthusiasm. “I love science, and this fair gave us the chance to really dig into it,” she said. “I love space, and my grandfather was a rocket scientist in India, so I would love to be a rocket scientist for the United States one day.” When asked if they could see themselves pursuing careers in science, both girls answered without hesitation. 

“Of course," they said in unison.

“This competition transforms students,” said Kathy Gurnee, special events coordinator for the CCIU. “Hundreds of young minds from across Chester County come together to showcase their ideas, build confidence, and connect with peers who share their curiosity. They don't just learn about science, they become scientists.”

To learn more about the CCSRC, visit www.cciu.org/science-fair or contact Kathy Gurnee at 484-237-5098 or [email protected].