Project Forms
In order for student projects to be eligible for regional, state, and national competitions, the ISEF or North Carolina Science Fair forms must be used. The following information has been taken from the ISEF website and explain each form in detail. Elementary and middle school students must use the NC Elementary and Middle School SRC and Approval Form or ISEF Forms. All high school students must have ISEF Forms 1, 1A with the Research Plan, 1B, and an abstract. Students may use the NC Abstract form or the ISEF Abstract form. Students can also use the ISEF Student Checklist and ISEF Rules Wizard to assist in determining which forms are needed for their project.
The forms are used to verify that the student’s work has been planned prior to starting experimentation and supervised by someone with knowledge of safety issues and regulations.
Forms and Dates (taken from the ISEF web site)
Download all of the forms for 2008 in pdf format.
The Intel ISEF forms constitute written documentation of what will occur in a research project. They are designed to provide the information that is needed to review the project to ensure compliance with the Intel ISEF rules and with laws and regulations that apply to the project. The forms should be filled out and signed before any research takes place. (Only Forms 1C, 7, and the abstract are done after the research.) The dates of the signatures reflect when the approval or consent is given. Use the ISEF Rules Wizard to assist in determining which forms are needed for their project.
Checklist for Adult Sponsor (1)
The checklist is provided so that the adult sponsor can review what information (and therefore which forms) must be provided. The date signed is the date that the sponsor first reviews the project plan.
Student Checklist (1A)
On this page, the student outlines what the project is about. Items that especially need to be clear are the following:
#5 Any project conducted in a similar area of research as previous projects should be considered a continuation. If the project is a continuation, explain on Form 7 as completely as possible how the project will differ from previous experimentation because ONLY a new and different research project is allowed. (If based on previous research, the current year project must demonstrate significant progress.)
#6 Explain when the actual experimental procedure (not the background literature review) will begin and end because ONLY a 12-month project that occurred within the last 18 months before this Intel ISEF is allowed.
#7 Explain where the experimental research will be done: home, university, field. Pathogens may NOT be cultured at home. Research animals must be housed in school or institutional settings only. Universities, research facilities, and industrial settings will require the additional documentation of Form 1C to explain what was done at each facility.
#9 Attach a research plan (next form).
Student Research Plan
Explain clearly and in detail what will be done in the research project.
Approval Form (1B)
These statements attest that each of these people (or committees) approves or consents to this project. The dates should be signed as described below:
1a) Student
Date they attest that they understand the possible risks and that they will read and follow the rules. Student states that all of the work presented is their own.
1b) Parent/Guardian
Date they consent to their child doing this project and are aware of the rules.
2a) SRC Approval BEFORE
Date that the committee reviews this project BEFORE the experimentation. Projects that must be preapproved are research in these areas: human subjects, nonhuman vertebrate animals, pathogenic agents, controlled substances, recombinant DNA, and human or animal tissue.
2b) SRC Approval AFTER
This applies only to projects that needed preapproval by the SRC but were done at a research institution and were preapproved by that institution instead of the SRC. Date signed indicates when the affiliated SRC approved this project after it was completed. Attach all documentation from the research institution showing approval of the project.
3) Final SRC Approval
All projects must be reviewed by the SRC after the experimentation is complete and shortly BEFORE they compete in the affiliated fair. The date signed shows the date that SRC gives final approval to this project.
Regulated Research Institution (1C)
This form explains what the student researcher actually did and is signed after the project is completed. This form is only needed if the research was done at a research institution (university lab, for example) or in an industrial setting.
Qualified Scientist (2)
On this page, the scientist explains what will be done to oversee this project. The date signed indicates the date that they approve this project (before experimentation takes place).
Risk Assessment Form (3)
Required for projects using hazardous chemicals, activities or devices or regulated substances. Must be completed prior to student experimentation.
Human Subject and Informed Consent (4)
This page is filled out by the student researcher to explain to the IRB how the safety and well being of the test subjects will be ensured. The IRB reviews the project, checks the risk level and each member signs with the date they approve this project. This review and the date signed must be BEFORE any experimentation takes place.
Copies of this form are used (for informed consent) to explain very completely to the research subject and their parent(guardian) exactly what will happen to the subject in the project. Questionnaires, sample tests, and so on MUST be given to the IRB and to the parent/guardian. If they approve, they sign with the date that they approve. (Before the experiment begins). If a photo is to be displayed, the participant signs and dates it when they give permission.
Vertebrate Animal Form (5)
This form is filled out by the student researcher and describes the housing and care for the animals. The bottom of the form is filled out by the supervisor or scientist and is signed and dated when they approve this project with these housing conditions. (Before experimentation begins.)
Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents (6A)
This form is filled out by the student researcher and is required for all research involving microorganisms, rDNA and fresh tissue, blood and body fluids. SRC/IACUC/IBC/RAC approval required before experimentation. There is a section to be completed by the designated supervisor and others to be completed by the fair's SRC.
Human & Vertebrate Animal Tissue (6B)
This form is filled out by the student researcher and explains the source of the tissue. The designated supervisor must sign to show approval the use of this tissue and the date (before experimentation) that they approve.
Continuation Projects Form (7)
Any project conducted by the student or team in a similar area of research as previous projects should be considered a continuation. Explain as completely as possible how the project is different from previous experimentation because ONLY a new and different research project is allowed. (It can be based on previous research, but must be new and different research.) Date signed is the date the student researcher is certifying that this information is correct.
Abstract
ISEF finalists must use the on-line system. Regional and local fairs use the Adobe® Acrobat® file from ISEF linked above or the NC 2008 Abstract Form [PDF format for printing or RTF format for completing in a word processing program].
The abstract is a summary written after experimentation that explains the project. The date signed is the date the student researcher certifies that the statements are correct.
For questions pertaining to North Carolina forms, please email judy_day@ncsu.edu. For specific questions as to ISEF Rules and their interpretation for forms, please email SRC@sciserv.org
Updated 2/3/08