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Judges

Meet the Experts
Evaluating Your Work.

Our panel is still coming together. Mr. Genovese is confirmed so far, with additional judges, most likely fellow Robbinsville High School teachers, to be announced as SciFest 2027 gets closer.

The Panel

SciFest 2027 Judges

Each presentation is assigned a number before judging begins to minimize bias, so every judge evaluates each project blind to whose it is.

Mr. Genovese, SciFest 2027 judge and advisor

Mr. Genovese

Anatomy Teacher, RHS

SciFest and Science Olympiad advisor at Robbinsville High School. Confirmed for the SciFest 2027 judge panel.

The Rest of the Panel

Mr. Genovese is our confirmed judge so far. The remaining seats will most likely go to fellow Robbinsville High School teachers, and we will announce the full lineup here as SciFest 2027 gets closer.

Know a teacher who would be a great fit, or want to put your own name in? See Become a Judge below.

Once complete, the panel will be distributed across the four competition divisions based on judge background and the mix of competitor categories.

Judging Criteria

What the Panel Is Trained to Evaluate

Full rubrics for each division are published on the Compete page. The following is a summary of the standard applied consistently across all four divisions.

Judges Evaluate

Scientific Depth & Accuracy

Is the information correct, and can the competitor demonstrate understanding under questioning?

Quality of Evidence & Sourcing

Are claims supported by credible, properly cited sources?

Coherence & Organization

Does the project tell a clear, logical scientific story start to finish?

Visual Communication

Do graphs, diagrams, and supplementary materials serve the science?

Verbal Defense

Can the competitor explain their work and engage honestly with follow up questions?

What Stays Outside the Rubric

Cost of Supplementary Materials

Only relevance to the science earns credit, however elaborate the materials.

Topic Prestige

A rigorous case study scores as well as a sophisticated lab experiment.

Aesthetics Divorced From Content

A beautiful board with weak science scores lower than a plain board with strong science.

Get Involved

Join the SciFest 2027 Judge Panel

We expect most of the panel to be Robbinsville High School teachers, though anyone with a relevant background is welcome to reach out.

Eligibility

Robbinsville High School teachers are especially encouraged to apply. Outside applicants should have a background in science, engineering, mathematics, or medicine. Full availability on event day from approximately 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Responsibilities

Attend a brief pre-event orientation, evaluate assigned presentations across four judging rounds using the rubric, ask substantive questions, and join the post-judging discussion to help decide awards.