Registration Instructions are available as a PDF as well as further down this page.

NOTE:  If you are a registered judge and you are not able to fulfill your commitment, please notify us ASAP – contact us

What is Involved in Being a Judge?

1. You will be assigned to a "judging circle" where you and 2 other judges will be judging 5-7 inventions from students in the same grade band (Grades K-2, 3,4,5,6-8,9-12).

2. APRIL 12th - We request that the judges review their assigned inventions prior to the event. You will receive an email allowing online access to your projects .  Please review (NOT SCORE) each invention. We estimate no more than 20 minutes time per invention.

3. APRIL 18th - At the actual event at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento on April 18th, you will meet with the inventors assigned to your judging circle then score each invention.

   ​Requirements of being of judge:
   - You are 18 or older.
   - You must be registered through our registration system.
   - You commit to reviewing the materials of your 6 assigned projects between April 12 - April 17.
   - You commit to attending the event on April 18
   - The main requirement is that you are interested in what these inventors have created and are willing to review the assigned invention materials, attend the event on April 18,  and complete your scoring by 1 PM on that day.
   - You have internet-access capable device that you can bring to the event   - required to use the online judging system.

What About Training?

1. Judge Training will be on April 18th from 8:45 AM - 9:45 AM at the venue.  All judges are expected to attend even if they have previously been a judge.
   And take a look at the Judge Rubric to familiarize yourself with the scoring sheet.

Judge Schedule

1. April 12 - 17: Review assigned inventions online.

2. April 18:  The event will take place on April 18 at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento. Note that there are parking garages near the venue - estimated cost is $20. Judges will be at the event from 8:00 AM - 1 PM.
   - 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM: - Judge check in.  Coffee & tea and continental breakfast will be available
   - 8:45  AM - 9:45 AM -  Presentation from our Executive Director includes  information on how to use the scoring system as well as guidelines on evaluating the projects, scoring and providing feedback.
   - 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM-  Meeting with your assigned inventors in the judging circle on the convention floor
   - 11:00 AM- - 1:00 PM  - Review your evaluation with the other 2 judges in your judging circle, then each judge enters scores into online scoring system. We will provide a light lunch.

   

Judge Registration -- Thank you!! The only way this event can be a success is because of your willingness to participate!

Completing the registration will give us the necessary information to place you with a group of students for the judging event, and to send you any additional information you might need prior to the event. If you don't receive a Completion email, you are NOT registered. Be sure you have completed the Verify Email step. If, after filling out this registration, you have additional questions, contact us

Judge Registration Opens February 4.
- Go  to ca.zfairs.com
- Click on the Create Account tab and select Judge.
- Follow the instructions.
- You will receive an Completion email with all the pertinent information including your Username and Judging Schedule. Please save this email.
- You will receive an email with detailed logistics prior to the event.
- If you don't receive a Completion email, you are NOT registered. Be sure you have completed the Verify Email step.

Detailed Instructions are below

VERY IMPORTANT!!!  IF YOU HAVE ALREADY REGISTERED THIS YEAR AS A TEACHER, YOU HAVE TO MAKE A SMALL ADJUSTMENT WHEN REGISTERING AS A JUDGE.  WHEN YOU ENTER YOUR USERNAME and NAME, THEY HAVE TO BE DIFFERENT THAN YOUR FIRST REGISTRATION. So if you registered as Username JSMITH and Name Judy Smith  – you then register as a judge with a  new Username and change your  name to Judith or even add a digit such as Judy Smith1.  The system will not allow you to register with the same Username and Name as you used for your teacher registration.  You can use the same email. Completing this registration will give us the necessary information to place you with a group of students for the judging event, and to send you any additional information you might need prior to the event. If, after filling out this registration, you have additional questions feel free to contact us .
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STEP 1 - Creating your account: Go to ca.zfairs.com . Select [Create Account] tab located in the upper left hand corner, then Select [JUDGE].Create and enter your Username. Be sure to write this down as you will need it for online judging. Enter your first and last name and email address. This will be the email address we will use for contact you and sending invention materials for review.Click [Save and Continue]
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‍STEP 2 – Verifying your email address: The registration system will ask you to verify your email address. Go to your email system and find an email from noreply@zfairs.com Subject: Confirm Email (Note: If you don’t find the email in your inbox, check your junk mail/spam.) Open this email and click on the link to verify your account. You will be taken to the Judge’s Profile page.
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STEP 3 – Profile Information: Complete the personal information. Password is minimum 6 characters, at least 1 uppercase letter and 1 lowercase. If you are an educator, please enter your school or district under Employer. Click [Save & Continue]. PLEASE WRITE DOWN YOUR USERNAME AND PASSWORD,AS YOU WILL NEED THESE TO LOG INTO ONLINE JUDGING. Complete the 2^nd page and [Save & Continue]. Complete the 3^rd page and [Save & Continue]
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STEP 4 - Guidelines & Permissions:  Read and check each of the boxes regarding guidelines on this page. Select [Continue]
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‍Step 5. - Completion Page: You will receive an Completion email with all the pertinent information including your Username and Judging Schedule. Please save this email.You will receive an email with detailed logistics prior to the event.