Location
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
5555 N. River Road
Rosemont, IL 60018
CONSEF/Dates
Design Contest: 12/5/25
School Registration: 12/5/25
Project Submission: 3/6/26
Event Date: 4/25/26
STEM EXPO/Dates
Video Submission Deadline: 2/13/26
Announcement of the Qualifiers: 3/2/26
Event Date: 4/25/26
CONSEF2026
Design Contest 2026: Imagine – Invent – Impact Big change begins with bold ideas—make yours count.
Artwork Submission Deadline: December 5, 2025.
New Rules: Students cannot use AI to create their t-shirt design. Students can use AI to do research on the theme and generate ideas/concepts for their design.
Consef 2025
CONSEF 2025 Video Clip
CONSEF 2025 Pictures
Awards Ceremony 2025
CONSEF 2025 Results
Consef Info
CONSEF Manual
Coaches and Parents
Categories
Awards
“In this country, there is no other place I have seen this many kids come together with enthusiasm and genuine support in schools. It is evident that these students have the encouragement and education to become the next Bill Gates, or Steve Jobs” (March 2012).
“I just felt a real sense of knowing that someone here today, some young person is going to do something great. I am just happy to say that I was here at a time when they start their careers” (March 2011).
I think STEM from the standpoint of ‘you’ve got a lot of talented kids,’ but they end up in, you know, classrooms that really don’t realize their potential. And through the STEM program it’s pretty obvious that many of these kids are able to reach that potential and go way beyond it.
I have worked for multiple CMO’s, both local and nationally-based, and I have never been a part of a CMO-organized event like CONSEF. This was truly an amazing experience for our students and staff.
CONSEF Posters
CONSEF 2026 Poster
CONSEF 2025 Poster
CONSEF 2024 Poster
CONSEF 2023 Poster
Watch 2014
Judging Rubrics
CONSEF_Judging Rubric_2022 JUDGING CRITERIA – EXPERIMENTAL PROJECTS The following is the criteria for the Concept Science & Engineering Fair judging procedure. THE DECISION OF THE JUDGES IS FINAL. There are four parts (Overall Impression of the...
Important Dates
Important Deadlines- 2026 STEMCON Design Contest Student Artwork Submission: Dec 5, 2025 CONSEF Project Session School Registration: Dec 5, 2025 - Early bird The early bird school registration fee is $160, which covers 1-45 projects per school per...
Preselection Criteria
All projects are subject to a pre-selection process based on the criteria listed below. PRE-SELECTION CRITERIA – EXPERIMENTAL PROJECTS Scientific Approach : ( max-8 pts) Well defined problem was solved using scientific principles. Experimental Approach: (max-10...
2014-Pictures
Click for the Consef 2014 pictures.
STEM EXPO Finalists 2013
STEM EXPO FINALISTS Tyler Meyer Gateway Science Academy Chemical Reactions Maguire Kinealy & Grace Jegle Gateway Science Academy Water Tension Babay Diaper Jakob Nagl Gateway Science Academy Bed Of Nails And Balloon Darrin Burley HSA Cleveland High School...
Design Contest Finalist 2014
We are proud to announce the winners of the 11th Annual CONSEF Design Contest. Thank you to all participants for sharing your creative entries; we truly value the time, effort and imagination your students put into each design. Congratulations to the top three...
STEM EXPO Finalists 2014
School Title First Name Last Name First Name Last Name Chicago Math and Science Academy (CMSA) Iodine Clock Reaction Jonathan Robinson Roberto Rand Horizon Science Academy – Columbus Elementary School Milk Art Alyson Longe Horizon Science Academy – Dayton Diffusion...
STEM Conference
www.stemcon.net MAKING THE RIGHT CONNECTIONS The demand for skilled workers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is closely linked to global competitiveness. In recent years with the help of technology, social media, and changing viewpoints, we have...
Science Demonstrations
Demonstration/Purchase Watch Melting Spoon Click to watch Giant Alcohol Canon Click to watch Chemical Volcano Dry Ice Smoke Bubble Click to watch Bouncing Balloon Click to watch Chemist's Match Old Foamy Click to watch Magic Genie Click to watch Instant...