NC State Science Fair

ALL participating students must complete the following forms as they plan and develop their project and submit them with their State Entry Form:

NC Elementary and Middle School Science Fairs Scientific Review Committee (SRC) Research Plan & Approval Form
OR
ISEF Checklist for Adult Sponsor/Safety Assessment Form (1)
ISEF Student Checklist and Research Plan Form (1A)
ISEF Approval Form (1B)

The North Carolina State Science Fair is now affiliated with the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) for ninth through twelfth grade students.

We will send four individual winners and two team winners at the high school level to compete at ISEF in May 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia.

In order for our students to be eligible for these competitions, we will follow the international rules. Please visit their pages to learn more about these competitions and the awards available for students and their teachers. Project information and assistance is available on their website.

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 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS MUST SUBMIT COPIES OF FORMS 1, 1A, and 1B. ALL ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS MUST USE THE NC PERMISSION AND APPROVAL FORM OR THE ISEF FORMS. The NC State Science Fair will use the categories of Earth/Environmental Science, Biological Science, Physical Science, Technology/Engineering, and Senior Team for the research projects. Elementary projects are not divided into categories.

Display and Safety Regulations (PDF)

Senior team projects will be accepted at the high school level. A maximum of two or three students may work on a single project. These projects will be judged as a group and not in individual categories. Elementary and junior divisions may have one, two, or three students per project, but are reviewed with all projects within their category.

Please review the rules on the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair website http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/about/rules_regulations.asp
The rules can be downloaded and printed out for distribution.

The State Fair will be using the same forms as the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. By using the "Rules Wizard" located on the ISEF web site, students will be able to identify which forms are required for their projects. Specific rules questions can be submitted to the International committee by email at SRC@sciserv.org.

ALL participating students must complete the following forms as they plan and develop their project and submit them with their State Entry Form:

Checklist for Adult Sponsor/Safety Assessment Form (1)
Student Checklist and Research Plan Form (1A)
Approval Form (1B)

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.

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.
Copies of the required forms listed above, an abstract of the research, and a check or money order for $5.00 made out to State Science Fair of NC should accompany each registration.
ALL REGISTRATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2007 TO BE INCLUDED IN THE STATE SCIENCE FAIR OF NC COMPETITION.
Exhibitors should arrive early enough to check-in, pick-up exhibit space number, and set up their exhibits. Time is allowed from 4:00-8:00 pm on Friday and 7:30-9:00 am on Saturday to set up. The elementary awards ceremony will be held from 3:00-4:00 pm and Junior and Senior Awards from 4:00 to 5:30 pm with pictures of winning exhibits and students made after the award ceremony.
Any exhibit/exhibitor that does not follow the Official ISEF Rules and Forms will be disqualified and the exhibit will not be judged.
Only research projects will be judged.
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 three students on the same project. In the Junior Division, no more than three students may enter a particular project. In the Elementary Division, no more than three students may work together on a project.
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.
The State Science Fair officials may refuse permission to exhibit for reasons of safety, sanitation, or best interest of the Fair.
Decisions of the judges are final.
Jr. and Sr. Division entries must be correctly categorized as Earth/Environmental Science, Biological Science, Physical Science, or Technology/Engineering. Team High School entries should be listed as Team. No changes will be made the day of the fair.
All projects should display the abstract. The abstract may be mounted on the board or prominently displayed on the table.
A research paper is encouraged to accompany the display to provide details for the judges.

Special Notice Regarding Science Fair Projects

There has been a concern in recent years that students living near universities had an advantage over other students in being able to receive assistance from or actually conduct research with professional scientists, and by having access to sophisticated research tools. Neither the Regional nor the State Fair Planning Committee wishes to discourage students from the exceptional opportunities afforded by mentor relationships with scientists. Such relationships, however, should not, and will not, afford those fortunate students any competitive advantage at either the Regional or State Science Fair. Please be advised of the following points:

Regional and State Science Fair judges will be instructed to overlook the use of esoteric or sophisticated equipment and instrumentation and judge the merits of each project based on the degree of student involvement in the research as well as the degree to which the student actually was responsible for the idea and design of the study.
The judges will interview all students. Those who are using research tools not normally in use in the public schools will be questioned concerning the students’ level of understanding of such tools.
Students are encouraged to rely on their own creativity. There are unlimited possibilities for exceptional research projects that can be conducted using inexpensive or even homemade equipment and instruments.
Students using special techniques or tools will not receive either preference or penalty.

Other Useful Links

ISEF Judging Guidelines and Information
http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/judges/index.asp

ISEF Scientific Review and Institutional Review Boards
http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/aff_fairs/aff_review.pdf

ISEF Risk Assessment Guide
http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/aff_fairs/aff_riskguide.pdf

ISEF Display and Safety Regulations
http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/aff_fairs/aff_regulations.asp



Dates & Deadlines Forms Rules & Regulations Categories Project Help Awards Winners Home School Information	Rules and Regulations updated 2/25/2008 ALL participating students must complete the following forms as they plan and develop their project and submit them with their State Entry Form: NC Elementary and Middle School Science Fairs Scientific Review Committee (SRC) Research Plan & Approval Form OR ISEF Checklist for Adult Sponsor/Safety Assessment Form (1) ISEF Student Checklist and Research Plan Form (1A) ISEF Approval Form (1B) The North Carolina State Science Fair is now affiliated with the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) for ninth through twelfth grade students. We will send four individual winners and two team winners at the high school level to compete at ISEF in May 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia. In order for our students to be eligible for these competitions, we will follow the international rules. Please visit their pages to learn more about these competitions and the awards available for students and their teachers. Project information and assistance is available on their website. 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 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS MUST SUBMIT COPIES OF FORMS 1, 1A, and 1B. ALL ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS MUST USE THE NC PERMISSION AND APPROVAL FORM OR THE ISEF FORMS. The NC State Science Fair will use the categories of Earth/Environmental Science, Biological Science, Physical Science, Technology/Engineering, and Senior Team for the research projects. Elementary projects are not divided into categories. Display and Safety Regulations (PDF) Senior team projects will be accepted at the high school level. A maximum of two or three students may work on a single project. These projects will be judged as a group and not in individual categories. Elementary and junior divisions may have one, two, or three students per project, but are reviewed with all projects within their category. Please review the rules on the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair website http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/about/rules_regulations.asp The rules can be downloaded and printed out for distribution. The State Fair will be using the same forms as the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. By using the "Rules Wizard" located on the ISEF web site, students will be able to identify which forms are required for their projects. Specific rules questions can be submitted to the International committee by email at SRC@sciserv.org. ALL participating students must complete the following forms as they plan and develop their project and submit them with their State Entry Form: Checklist for Adult Sponsor/Safety Assessment Form (1) Student Checklist and Research Plan Form (1A) Approval Form (1B) 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. 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. Copies of the required forms listed above, an abstract of the research, and a check or money order for $5.00 made out to State Science Fair of NC should accompany each registration. ALL REGISTRATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2007 TO BE INCLUDED IN THE STATE SCIENCE FAIR OF NC COMPETITION. Exhibitors should arrive early enough to check-in, pick-up exhibit space number, and set up their exhibits. Time is allowed from 4:00-8:00 pm on Friday and 7:30-9:00 am on Saturday to set up. The elementary awards ceremony will be held from 3:00-4:00 pm and Junior and Senior Awards from 4:00 to 5:30 pm with pictures of winning exhibits and students made after the award ceremony. Any exhibit/exhibitor that does not follow the Official ISEF Rules and Forms will be disqualified and the exhibit will not be judged. Only research projects will be judged. 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 three students on the same project. In the Junior Division, no more than three students may enter a particular project. In the Elementary Division, no more than three students may work together on a project. 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. The State Science Fair officials may refuse permission to exhibit for reasons of safety, sanitation, or best interest of the Fair. Decisions of the judges are final. Jr. and Sr. Division entries must be correctly categorized as Earth/Environmental Science, Biological Science, Physical Science, or Technology/Engineering. Team High School entries should be listed as Team. No changes will be made the day of the fair. All projects should display the abstract. The abstract may be mounted on the board or prominently displayed on the table. A research paper is encouraged to accompany the display to provide details for the judges. *Special Notice Regarding Science Fair Projects* There has been a concern in recent years that students living near universities had an advantage over other students in being able to receive assistance from or actually conduct research with professional scientists, and by having access to sophisticated research tools. Neither the Regional nor the State Fair Planning Committee wishes to discourage students from the exceptional opportunities afforded by mentor relationships with scientists. Such relationships, however, should not, and will not, afford those fortunate students any competitive advantage at either the Regional or State Science Fair. Please be advised of the following points: Regional and State Science Fair judges will be instructed to overlook the use of esoteric or sophisticated equipment and instrumentation and judge the merits of each project based on the degree of student involvement in the research as well as the degree to which the student actually was responsible for the idea and design of the study. The judges will interview all students. Those who are using research tools not normally in use in the public schools will be questioned concerning the students’ level of understanding of such tools. Students are encouraged to rely on their own creativity. There are unlimited possibilities for exceptional research projects that can be conducted using inexpensive or even homemade equipment and instruments. Students using special techniques or tools will not receive either preference or penalty. Other Useful Links ISEF Judging Guidelines and Information http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/judges/index.asp ISEF Scientific Review and Institutional Review Boards http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/aff_fairs/aff_review.pdf ISEF Risk Assessment Guide http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/aff_fairs/aff_riskguide.pdf ISEF Display and Safety Regulations http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/aff_fairs/aff_regulations.asp
Contact Us \| NCSTA \| Site Map Updated 7/25/08