NC State Science Fair
Judy Day

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The State Science Fair is bigger and better than ever!  From the March 18, 2005 State Science Fair, we will be nominating 5th through 8th grade exemplary projects and winners for the national Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge and two individual high school students and one high school team will attend the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)  in Phoenix, AZ in May with all expenses paid.  We will also send two high school students from last year's competition to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).  The State Fair and participation in ISEF are funded totally by contributions.  We encourage you to ask businesses and individuals if they would like to sponsor a student or competition.  Please have them contact Judy Day at Judy_Day@ncsu.edu if they are interested in supporting our youth.

We are encouraging students and teachers to participate in science fair projects.  Science projects provide students with the opportunity to apply the science and math concepts to questions in which they are interested.  A true science project is an investigation of a question involving research, planning, and application of scientific methods to seek an answer to the question. This meets both the State and National Science Standards for inquiry, analysis of data, and developing conclusions.  We hope that by this time of the year, students are completing projects, schools have planned their local science fairs, and regional competitions are getting ready! We look forward to seeing the projects that our youth have developed.

In order for our students to be eligible for the National and International Competitions, we will follow the international rules.  Teachers and students can visit their web pages to learn more about these competitions and the awards available for students and their teachers (http://www.sciserv.org/dysc/ and http://www.sciserv.org/isef/). Teacher guidance and information for all levels is available on their web site (http://www.sciserv.org/isef/teachers/index.asp).  All students are suggested to use the "Rules Wizard" found on the ISEF web site for guidance in forms and rules that will pertain to their projects. ALL STUDENTS MUST SUBMIT COPIES OF FORMS 1, 1A, and 1B.   Some projects will also require additional permission forms if they are working with human subjects, animals, or dangerous substances to ensure that they are taking the necessary precautions.  Projects using human subjects must have an informed consent form for each participant of the study.  State Science Fair participants MUST be winners from one of the regional science fair

In the ELEMENTARY DIVISION (3rd through 5th grades), projects are not divided into categories. Elementary Projects will be judged with outstanding projects receiving an "Exemplary Project" plaque. A maximum of eight projects from each of the eight regional fairs may be entered at the elementary level. In the Elementary Division, students may participate as an individual or teams of 2 or 3 students.

In the JUNIOR DIVISION (6th through 8th grades), projects are divided into 4 categories: Biological Science, Earth and Environmental Science, Physical Science, and Technology.  In the Junior Division, students may compete as individuals or in teams of two students. Two entries from each of the four categories will be allowed in the State Fair from each Regional Science Fair.

In the SENIOR DIVISION (9th through 12th grades), there will be two separate competitions, the usual individual division divided into the four categories listed above and the new TEAM Division.  The High School TEAM Division is a multi-category division for teams of two students that is separate from the Individual Senior Division.  Each Regional may submit two individual winners from each category and two high school teams.

5th through 8th grade students that present Exemplary Projects or win 1st or 2nd place will be nominated for the Young Discovery Challenge Competition.  Each student will have to complete the application by the deadline to be considered for that competition.  Two high school individual winners and one team will be selected to attend the International Science and Engineering Competition in Phoenix, AZ during May 8-14, 2005.

Please review the rules on the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair web site  http://www.sciserv.org/isef/students/rules/rules3.asp The rules can be downloaded and printed out for distribution.

Some projects may require SRC (Scientific Review Committee) approval and/or additional forms.  Teams of teachers, administrators, and local scientists can be formed at the school level to give students SRC approval.  This requirement is to assure that students working with human subjects, animals, or dangerous substances are taking the necessary precautions.  Projects using human subjects must have an informed consent form for each participant of the study.

    1. Each student exhibitor must be registered using the Official State Entry Form. The entry form must contain endorsing signatures of the student exhibitor(s) and the regional science fair director and be completed in full in order to compete. 
    2. Copies of the required forms listed above, an abstract of the research, and a check or money order for $5.00 made out to NCSTA should accompany each registration.
    3. ALL REGISTRATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2005 TO BE INCLUDED IN THE NC STATE SCIENCE FAIR COMPETITION.
    4. Exhibitors should arrive early enough to check-in, pick-up exhibit space number, and set up their exhibits. Time is allowed from 8:00-9:30 a.m. to set up. The awards ceremony will be held from 4:00- 5:00 pm with pictures of winning exhibits and students made after the award ceremony.
    5. Any exhibit/exhibitor that does not follow the Official ISEF Rules and Forms will be disqualified and the exhibit will not be judged.
    6. Only research projects will be judged.
    7. In the Senior Division, there will be the usual one student project for each category and a general team project category with a maximum of two students on the same project.  In the Junior Division, no more than two students may enter a particular project. In the Elementary Division, no more than three students may work together on a project.
    8. Only students enrolled in grades 3, 4, or 5 may compete in the Elementary Division. Only students enrolled in grades 6, 7, or 8 may compete in the Junior Division. Only students enrolled in grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 may compete in the Senior Division.
    9. The State Science Fair Co-Directors may refuse permission to exhibit for reasons of safety, sanitation, or best interest of the Fair.
    10. Decisions of the judges are final.
    11. Jr. and Sr. Division entries must be correctly categorized as Earth Science, Biological Science, Physical Science, or Technology. Team High School entries should be listed as Team.  No changes will be made the day of the fair.
    12. A research paper must accompany the display to provide details for the judges.

Please visit our web site, http://www.ncsta.org/sciencefair/, for information on regional fairs and the State Science Fair.  Contact Judy Day at Judy_Day@ncsu.edu, Linda James at jamesl@mail.ecu.edu, or Misty Anderson at mistianderson@earthlink.net for questions or additional information,.

 

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The Science Reflector
Newsletter of the North Carolina Science Teachers Association
PO Box 1783, Salisbury, NC 28145
Elizabeth Snoke Harris, Editor