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While New Zealand finalists have participated in the International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) for years before, they have never had their own national fair. They always attended as part of the Australian delegation. Now, for the first time, New Zealand will be represented at ISEF under its own affiliation.听听

This is a significant听milestone听for the country, where听91导航 education听is a growing priority for students.听听

Holly Young,听Senior Advisor Communications & Strategic Events听at听,听reflects on the听process听of bringing听the affiliated fair to听fruition.听听

Royal Society Te Ap膩rangi is a nonprofit organization that advances and promotes science, technology and the humanities and serves as New Zealand鈥檚 national academy of scholars and researchers.听听

The New Zealand science and technology fair scene is driven by passionate volunteers and young students who 鈥渇ollow their curiosity鈥�, Holly says. Regional fairs and STEAM academies have been running for over 50 years. However, there has been no national fair since 2014, leaving some programs unsupported and ultimately shut down. 听

鈥淭e听Ap膩rangi听has become an affiliate and will use this as a springboard to support the regional fairs, to foster scientific integrity听and to inspire students and fair听organizers听to take their love of STEAM to the next level,鈥澨鼿olly says.听听

With this new affiliated fair, Holly says听teachers and students听may feel听inspired to attend an international competition.听This听national fair听hopes that more students are motivated to explore and complete听projects.听听

鈥淲e hope听to听increase opportunities to engage with diverse communities and our Indigenous M膩ori and Pacific students who are traditionally underrepresented in these activities,鈥� Holly says.听听

Last year, in May 2025,听听placed in their categories听representing听New Zealand in the Australian Delegation.听听

Isabelle says her experience felt surreal.听听

鈥淚magine being surrounded by听nearly 2,000听students from all over the world, each with projects that could genuinely change lives. It was overwhelming at first, but also incredibly inspiring,鈥� Isabelle says. 鈥淚 loved听the energy.听Everyone was so passionate,听curious听and eager to share ideas. I came away with new friends, new perspectives听and deep joy and confidence in what young people can achieve.鈥�听

Isabelle placed third in the chemistry category for her project:听.听听

鈥淲hen they called my name, I froze for a second. I听couldn’t听believe it,鈥� Isabelle says. 鈥淚 felt incredibly grateful for the support I had received from mentors, my family听and everyone who encouraged me along the way.听Representing听New Zealand on an international platform was an听honor听that I听wouldn鈥檛听have been able to achieve without an amazing community backing me.鈥�听

Jesse Rumball-Smith听will return for , representing New Zealand and its new delegation.听听

鈥淚SEF 2025 blew me away,鈥� Jesse says. 鈥淭he most special part was meeting others who are passionate, diverse and far smarter than me, from across the globe. They were what made ISEF truly mind-blowing. I still talk to my ISEF friends to this day and would never have ended up at ISEF if it wasn鈥檛 for such passionate advocates.鈥澨�听

Jesse鈥檚听ISEF听story听began听in 2023.听

鈥淚听reached out to听the听听(TISF) and convinced them to听allow听New Zealand听to return after a听five-year听hiatus听due to funding challenges,鈥� Jesse says.听听

After numerous emails and LinkedIn direct messages, Jesse secured enough funding to make the trip to the Taiwan International Science Fair. He ended up serving as the Head of Delegation, Chaperone, and competitor all at once.听

鈥淚鈥檓 incredibly grateful to everyone who made my journey possible,鈥� Jesse says. 鈥淚鈥檓 stoked to have helped get the ball rolling for future Kiwis to have a far easier ISEF qualification.鈥�听

Both Jesse and听Isabelle share similar advice when it comes to听representing听New Zealand at ISEF.听Pick a project that one听truly cares听about.听听

鈥淚听don鈥檛听think the听only听goal should ever be to听win a medal听or a prize.听The core of ISEF, I believe, is to disperse curiosity, passion听and good through the sharing of ideas and听meeting听people,鈥� Jesse says.听听

鈥淓xplore what excites you enough to spend late nights researching and testing. Additionally,听don鈥檛听be afraid to ask for help. Mentors,听teachers听and peers can give you insights that make your project stronger,鈥� Isabelle says.听听

You can learn more about their time at ISEF in this听.听听