2026 ECEF Science Fair
2026 ECEF Science Fair
Thank you Ms. Brianna Bogan & Ms. Melissa Lorenc for making this event possible.
ECEF offers the following prizes for the winners:
- $250 gift card for 1st place
- $150 gift card for 2nd place
- $100 gift card for 3rd place winners
- $25 gift card and medal for honorable mention
- Certificates for all participants
**Did you know?
- All participants of this science fair are eligible to compete in the
Bergen SciChallenge, the science fair hosted by the Bergen County Academies. The competition is on 5/31/2026, and the registration deadline is 5/3.
- Projects awarded “Top 10% of the Fair” at the Bergen SciChallenge are invited to compete in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, the National Middle School Science Fair. From there, top finishers are awarded scholarships and travel to Washington, DC.
- The Bergen SciChallenge is one of only four fairs in NJ affiliated with The Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, which is by invitation only. 7th grader Olivia Huang was awarded one of the Top 30 Junior Innovators in this Challenge in 2024. She and 8th grader Benjamin Lau were awarded among the Top 300 Junior Innovators in the same year.
- Upper School Previous Bergen SciChallenge Winners include:
1. Joshua Cho — 1st Place, Environmental Science, 2025 & Top 10% of Fair - “Sustainable Agricultural Solutions: Designing a Water Absorbent Product Using Banana Fiber and Areca Nut Fiber as Renewable Alternatives to Peat Moss”
2. Olivia Huang (8th) — 1st Place, Chemistry, 2025 & Top 10% of Fair - “Breaking Beans: Can Altering pH Optimize Alpha-galactosidase Breakdown of Raffinose?”
3. Vivienne Huang (7th) — 1st Place, Environmental Science, 2025 & Top 10% of Fair - “For Peat’s Sake: What biodegradable materials can be used to create sustainable hydroponic growth mediums”
4. Kayla Pietrocola — 3rd Place, Environmental Science, 2025 - “Does music have the power to influence people’s decisions?”
5. Stella Mui — 3rd Place, Biology, 2025 - "What is the impact of various natural repellents on plant growth?”
6. Olivia Huang: 1st Place, Chemistry, 2024, & top 10% of fair - “Can Medications for Lactose Intolerance and Gastroesophageal Reflux Work Together to Increase Efficacy of Lactase?”
7. Benjamin Lau: 1st Place, Engineering, 2024 & top 10% of fair - “Designing a Plant-Based Biodegradable Absorbent for Cleaning Oil Spills.”
8. Kayla Pietrocola: 1st Place, Computer Science, 2024, & top 10% of fair - “Can AI Platforms and Original Writing be Distinguished?”
9. Jayoon Lee: 2nd Place, Chemistry, 2024, & top 10% of fair - “Atopy-Safe Slime: Formulation Innovation”
10. Annabel Yoo: 2nd Place, Chemistry, 2024, & top 10% of fair - “How Much Vitamin C is Left in a Strawberry After Washing?
11. Vivienne Huang: 1st Place, Environmental Science, 2024, Lemelson Early Innovator Award - “The Case for Casein: Is Casein a Better Biodegradable Material Than Plastic, PLA, or Paper?”
12. Benjamin Lau - 1st Place, Engineering, 2023 & top 10% of fair. - “Designing a Pedal Power Magnetic Induction Stove”
13. Charles Kakkanatt - 1st Place, Biology, 2023 & top 10% of fair. - “Performance vs. Perception: Determinants of Confidence and Persistence”
14. Annabel Yoo - 3rd place, Biology, 2023 - “Which berries absorb the most water?”
15. Charles Kakkanatt - 1st Place, Biology, 2022- “Can meditation improve athletic performance?” [Invited to Broadcom MASTERS, top 10% of Fair]
16. Christopher Lau - 1st Place, Biology, 2022 –“ How does pH level in hydroponic systems affect mung bean growth?” [ Invited to Broadcom MASTERS, top 10% of Fair]
17. Claire Shi - 2nd Place, Environmental Science, 2022 – “Building with Mushroom Roots: Three-Point Flexural Test”
18. Lauren Kim - 3rd Place, Biology, 2022 – “What is the best technique for seed germination?”
19. Charles Kakkanatt - 2nd Place , Biology, 2021 – “Does meditation help decrease stress?”
20. Joanne Shyr - 2nd Place, Environmental Science, 2021 –“Sustainable Future: Bioplastic Durability Test”
Congratulations to our ECEF Upper School Science Fair 2025 winner, Vivienne Huang, who was awarded among the Top 300 Junior Innovators in the 2025 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge on Sep. 3rd, 2025!
Vivienne won first place in Environmental Science and top 10% of the Bergen SciChallenge (held by Bergen County Academies in June). She was invited to compete in this national STEM competition for middle school students. She was one of the only four students from New Jersey. We are so proud of her!
*The Top 300 Junior Innovators were selected from nearly 2,000 applicants, from 48 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Students who are named in the top 10% of their local science fair are eligible to enter the Thermo Fisher JIC. The Thermo Fisher JIC reaches 65,000 students annually through the Society’s Affiliated Fair network.
2025 ECEF Science Fair
Congratulations to our ECEF Upper School Science Fair 2024 winner, Olivia Huang (currently 8th grade), who won the Team Award at the National Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge on Oct. 29th, 2024!
Among the 6 teams consist of the top 30 finalists in the Finals Week in D.C., Olivia’s team won the Team Award based on their ability to work together and solve problems through shared decision making, communication and scientific and engineering collaboration throughout two full challenge days where they learned to do a bunch of new skills like coding, building solar-powered mini houses, analyzed a fictional family with sickle cell disease, made a battery, learned how to micropipette and do gel electrophoresis and code with raspberry pi. Olivia enjoyed the challenges and also felt great to make good friends and connections with people from across the country. She rates this experience 10 out of 10 and highly recommends that other kids strive to get there to experience it as well. We’re really proud of her and grateful to be in this inspiring journey with her.
Congratulations to our ECEF Upper School Science Fair 2024 winner, Olivia Huang (currently 8th grade), who was announced as the Top 30 Finalists in Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge on Sep. 18th, 2024!
Congratulations to our ECEF Upper School Science Fair 2024 winners, Benjamin Lau and Olivia Huang, who were awarded among the Top 300 Junior Innovators in the 2024 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge on Sep. 4th, 2024!
Ben won first place in Engineering and top 10% of the Bergen SciChallenge (held by Bergen County Academies in June). Olivia won first place in Chemistry and top 10% of the same fair.
Science Fair 2024
Science Fair 2023
SCIENCE FAIR pictures 2023
2022 Science Fair Winners
Englewood Cliffs Upper School 2021 Science Fair
Sponsored by the Englewood Cliffs Education Foundation(ECEF)
2026 ECEF Spring Gala - "Golden Hour on the Green"
Saturday, May 16, 2026 @ 7 pm
Montammy Golf Club @
7 Montammy Dr., Alpine, NJ 07620
Step into a magical evening where golden light meets timeless elegance. Join us for a relaxed, golden-hour soirée featuring a delicious buffet-style dinner, an open house bar, and shimmering glamour, all set within a premier golf club. Enjoy a lively silent auction, a vibrant social atmosphere, and an inspiring celebration of education in its very best light.