Rules and Regulations

1. A brief description of 250 words or less must accompany each exhibit and be at the judges’ disposal during the entire science fair (this document is to be submitted with the entry form also.)

2. Investigations and display work must be done by the exhibiting individuals. Source of advice, research, and equipment must be stated. No exhibitor may repeat an exhibit presented in previous years at local, regional, or international science fairs unless it is an expanded version of the project for the previous year.

3. No dangerous chemicals, open flames, explosives, exposed electrical wiring, poisonous organisms, hazardous materials, corrosive substances, poisons, drugs, controlled substances, or anything which could be hazardous are allowed.

4. Starvation experiments on animals may not be exhibited. We highly recommend NOT experimenting with vertebrate animals especially at grades K-8. Live animals cannot be exhibited at the fair. Photographs of live animals in your experiment are allowed. While experiments with live animals could be allowed at local science fairs, live animals are not eligible at international science fairs. Experiments with live animals must be approved by our Scientific Review Committee (SRC) before experimentation begins.

5. Bacteria, fungi, spoiled foods or molds are not allowed to be displayed with your project. Photographs may be used to show results of their use. We highly recommend NOT experimenting with bacteria especially at grades K-8. Experiments with bacteria, fungi, spoiled foods or molds must be approved by our Scientific Review Committee (SRC) before experimentation begins.

6. Entrants may not exhibit any liquids including water.

7. No fresh, prepared or packaged human or animal food, or substance that look like food.

8. Entries will be reviewed by the SRC and must meet their approval. Anything the SRC considers to be unsafe will result in disqualification. SRC decisions are final. Safety is the highest priority, if in doubt check the ISEF rules book at their web site (http://www.scier.org/) or preapprove the project with our SRC.

9. Senior high projects only: high school students may participate at two different levels. All high school projects will compete for category, placement, and special awards. To be eligible for the grand prize award the students local school district or community, acting on behalf of the regional/state fair, must make a commitment to fund the student’s trip to the ISEF, in the event that the student’s project receives the appropriate accolades. All senior high projects must complete Checklist for Adult Sponsor , Research Plan (1A), Approval Form (1B) before research begins. Those senior high projects that qualify for the ISEF must have three certification forms completed or they will not be able to qualify for some awards. After finishing research and experimentation, the students must write a (maximum) 250 word, one page abstract. If work was conducted, or equipment used ant an institutional or industrial setting at any time during the project, Registered Research Institutional/Industrial Setting Form (1C) must be completed. If the projects involve nonhuman vertebrate animals, human subjects, controlled substances, human and animal tissue, pathogenic agents, Recombinant DNA or research, several other forms must be completed. Some of these forms must be completed before research begins and approval by SRC before experimentation begins. Please contact Kim Ring if there are any questions.

10.ONLY one project per student may be entered in the fair.

11.Judges or SRC have authority to reclassify a project if they feel it has been entered in the wrong category.