ACSEF started in 2011 as a vision supported by Intel to create an International Science Fair (ISEF) affiliated fair in Alameda County, which was one of the largest counties in California without an ISEF affiliated science fair. Through affiliation with ISEF students become eligible to compete for a space to attend and compete at the international level and national Broadcom Masters Rising Star competition. ACSEF started its first Science Fair in 2012 and has grown over the years to include 638 students in the 2018 fair.
ACSEF provides an opportunity for all local Alameda Co students to showcase their science and engineering savvy at regional, statewide, national, and international levels. ACSEF provides a forum for stimulating student interest in STEM and an avenue for educators to fulfill the Common Core Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.
This year, the Fair is also focusing on bringing a one-step method to cover the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and enhanced STEM through hands on science research projects to more of the Title 1 schools and underserved students/teachers in Alameda County.