| New Hampshire Science and Engineering Exposition (NHSEE) |
OPEN COMPETITION CATEGORIES
- Animal & Plant Science (ASPS): Animal science is described as "studying the biology of animals that are under the control of humankind". It can also be described as the production and management of farm animals. Plant science involves the observation of plant growth and characteristics and investigation into the relationship between plants and their environment. Other topics in this category include: zoology, botany, and ecology.
- Behavioral Science (BEHA): The study of thought processes and behavior of humans or other animals studied through observational and experimental methods. Other topics in this category include: psychology, educational testing, animal behavior, neuroscience, sociology and anthropology.
- Biology (BIOL): The science of life, including the study of the development, structure, and interactions of living organisms. Other topics in this category include: cellular biology, biomedical science, health science, translational medical science, nutrition, veterinary medicine, microbiology, genetics, physiology, anatomy, computational biology and toxicology.
- Chemistry (CHEM): The study of the composition of substances, their structure, their behavior, reactions, analysis and synthesis. Other topics in this category include: physical chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, materials chemistry, computational chemistry, and environmental chemistry.
- Computer Science (COMP): A study of computer construction, programming, languages, algorithms, techniques and general operations. Other topics in this category include: robotics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, computational science, and systems software.
- Engineering (ENGR): Applied science concerned with utilizing products of earth, properties of matter, sources of power in nature, and physical forces for supplying human needs in the form of structures, machines, manufactured products, precision instruments, the means of lighting, heating, refrigeration, communication, transportation, sanitation, public safety and other productive work. Some types of engineering include: aeronautical, automotive, civil, electrical, environmental, geothermal, marine, materials, mechanical, photographic, solar and sound engineering.
- Environmental Science (ENEV): The study of environments and the impact of changes (natural or as a result of human interaction) on ecosystems, including pollution sources (air, water and land), natural resource consumption, climate science, and invasive species.
- Mathematics (MATH): The science of numbers and quantities that can be used to solve real-world problems or answer testable questions through the application of mathematical formulas, modeling, or statistics. Other topics in this category include: data science and computational modeling, geometry, game theory, number theory, probability, and statistics. Calculus and abstract algebra may be more suitable for High School.
- Physics & Electronics (PHYS): Physics is a science covering matter, energy, and the interactions between the two that do not involve change in composition. Topics covered by physics include: aerodynamics and hydrodynamics, solid-state theory, optics, acoustics, particle, nuclear, atomic, plasma, thermodynamics, semiconductors, magnetism, quantum mechanics, and biophysics. Electronics is the study, control and application of the conduction of electricity through gases or a vacuum or through conducting or semiconducting materials. Other topics in this category include: circuits, Internet of Things, optics, sensors, signal processing, and electronic phenomena, devices and systems.
CHALLENGE COMPETITION CATEGORIES
Popsicle Stick Bridge
Design and build a bridge out of popsicle sticks that can support the most weight possible. The bridge must meet all design specifications. See the instructions and a short video of how the bridge is to be tested:
2026 NHSEE Popsicle Stick Bridge Rules 3.pdf
Hill Climb Car
Design and build a car that can climb the steepest slope possible. The car must meet all design specifications. See the instructions below. The climbing ramp's surface will be defined in the project judging sheet (soon to be posted).
Hill-Climb Car 2026.pdfStraw Tower
Design and build a tower made from 100 straws and 100 pins that supports the most weight possible. The tower must be a minimum of 50 cm high. See the instructions below.
Straw Towers 2026.pdf