Welcome to the Ventura County Science Fair!

In 1954, two Ventura County students entered projects in the California State Fair in Los Angeles, which had begun two years earlier. At the time, Ventura County did not have its own science fair, so Frank Aldon Nowak, a senior at Santa Paula High School, submitted his project titled "Amateur Astronomy" directly to the state competition. Likewise for Oxnard High School sophomore Lloyd Raymond Taylor, whose project was titled, "Progress in Radio and Communications."

The 1955, the Ventura County Science Fair (VCSF) was officially established. By 1957, VCSF was sending eight promising young scientists, primarily from Ventura and Oxnard, to the state competition. Some of the project titles that year included "Crystal Structure," "Human Blood," "Our Mineral Oil Friend," and "How Would You Describe This Leaf?"

With categories ranging from Animal Behavioral and Social Sciences to Zoology, the Ventura County Science Fair is designed to promote, encourage, showcase, and reward student achievement in the various fields of science. By building skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), students are laying the foundation for future academic and career success.

Each year, over 30 of our top students are invited to compete at the California State Science Fair, where many have gone on to earn 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards in various categories.