A free national contest, co-founded by miniPCR bio and Boeing with support from the ISS National Laboratory and New England Biolabs, in which students in grades 7 to 12 design DNA experiments that use the International Space Station as a testbed. Students enter alone or in pairs and can draw on tools such as PCR and BioBits, and no special lab equipment is needed. Astronauts carry out one winning experiment aboard the station.
Offered by Genes in Space / ISS National Lab. Competition for high school students in Online, USA. Format: Online. Cost: Free. Grades 9–12. Deadline: rolling or not yet announced.
Fields: Biology, STEM, Research
Info checked October 2026.
No date is posted for the 2026-27 cycle yet. Check the official page for when applications open.
Yes. Genes in Space is free to take part in.
High school students in grades 9 to 12. It runs online. Age, residency and citizenship rules are on the official page.
More academic competitions for high school students