FISSION 2026: 11 Years of Inspiration and Innovation at ACS

April 20, 2026 --- On April 17 and 18, the American College of Sofia once again hosted FISSION – the international science fair organized entirely by students, for students. This year marks the 11th edition of the festival, continuing a prestigious tradition established in 2015 by three visionary alumni who sought to bring the spirit of international scientific forums to Bulgaria.

The scale of this year’s event was remarkable, with over 200 participants from five countries - Bulgaria, Turkey, Hungary, North Macedonia, and Romania - presenting 80 original projects. The program kicked off on April 17 with project setup and registration, followed by a full "Day of Science" on April 18, featuring an opening ceremony, specialized workshops, guest lectures, and the final awards ceremony.

Young scientists from Grades 5-12 competed across six categories:

Biomedicine, Biology, and Chemistry;

Computer Science;

Mathematics;

Ecology and Environmental Science;

Physics and Engineering;

A special "Junior Category" for the youngest participants.

The success of this massive undertaking was driven by the dedicated student organizing team: Aleksandar Arabadzhiev, Yana Dimitrova, Izabella Traykova, and Sofia Ilcheva. Working year-round under the guidance of their teacher and mentor, Dr. Krasimira Chakarova, they ensured that FISSION remains a world-class platform for youth innovation.

"Our goal was to give young people from across the region a chance to showcase their work before an elite jury," the organizers shared. FISSION 2026 has once again proven that when students take the lead, the future of science looks brighter than ever.