Getting Started: Do’s and Don’ts Adapted from Indian River County Science Fair Website

Monroe County School Science Fairs are affiliated with the MRSEF, and Florida SSEF. MRSEF: This abbreviation stands for Monroe Regional Science and Engineering Fair, which is the name of the regional science fair. SSEF: This is the abbreviation used by the State Science and Engineering Fair of Florida. This is the highest level of competition to which students can advance to compete. Defined Groups:

Local Decision Making Model SRC: This is the abbreviation for the district level science fair decision making committee. The SRC (Science Research Committee) is required as affiliates of SSEF. IRB: The is the abbreviation for the school level science research approval committee. The IRB (Instructional Research Board— Teacher, Nurse/Guidance Counselor, and Administrator) is required as affiliates of SSEF. (created for each school)

Student Entries Required: (all students at all levels) Science Research Plan Science Research Log or Journal Checklist for Adult Sponsor(1) Student Checklist(1A) Approval Form (1B) Risk Assessment Form (3) *Link to all forms: forms/

Project results should have meaning, benefit, application, and/or purpose. Solve a real-world problem. Address a current issue in your community. Improve something’s design to make our life easier. Student entry is not “typical” or commonly- done projects with obvious outcomes. Models and demonstrations, while educational, are not “boxed” Science Fair projects!

Student projects must allow for measurable (quantifiable) results, such as time, distance, capacity, temperature, or changes in rates. Product testing is not permitted unless you test the chemistry or physics of specific ingredients or components using a controlled experiment. Student projects must address why there may be a difference in the effectiveness between products based on chemical or physical differences.

Metric is the language of science: meter, liter, gram, Celsius. Do NOT use cups, gallons, ounces, pounds, inches, feet, miles, Fahrenheit (unless included in parentheses in addition to the metric units). Time is the same in metric and in the English system: seconds, minutes, hours.

Approved Research Plan A typed, detailed Research Paper Bibliography Abstract Log or Journal (student provided composition book) All SSEF forms MUST be signed, completed, submitted, and approved BEFORE any experimentation can begin!!! ISEF Regulation Display

Select A Topic!!! Topic selection requires imagination, thoughtfulness, independence, courage, focus, diligence, logic, responsibility and determination. Try to solve a problem, invent something, improve something, or make something more efficient.

EVERYTHING should be recorded in your log or journal (not just your experiment). Date every entry – extremely important!!! Use non-erasable pen, not pencil. Do NOT tear out pages, or use white out, or scribble out mistakes. Draw ONE line (mistack) through any mistakes. Logs or journals should document the process of selecting a topic, your topic research, rough drafts of your Research Plan, your data – EVERYTHING!

Students may NOT start experimenting until AFTER all required ISEF forms AND Research Plan are signed and approved by the teacher and the IRB (when necessary). When can I experiment?

ALL projects require: Form 1: Checklist for Adult Sponsor Form 1A: Student Checklist Research Plan (Not really a form; it’s a separate typed document) Form 1B: Approval Form. Form 3: Risk Assessment Form Forms must be typed or filled in using blue ink. Leave the following portions blank: Adult Sponsor Signature and Date (bottom of Form 1). ACTUAL start and end date (Form 1A, #6). SRC/IRB Approval Boxes (Form 1B, Parts 2 and 3). Which official forms are required?

The parent or mentor is the DESIGNATED SUPERVISOR— the adult person who will be with when you are doing your experiment. They DO NOT sign this form The teacher is the ADULT SPONSOR. The teacher will sign the bottom of this form when all of the forms are in order!  Students fill in the top two lines!

Don’t fill out ACTUAL start and end dates until later! Students fill in this page! Make sure students decide on a project TITLE soon—it has to go on all forms and match what goes on the display board!

Part 1: Student and parent must sign here. This form must be dated BEFORE the ACTUAL start date recorded in the log/journal and on Form 1A. Part 2: This section will be completed by the MRSEF if your project requires prior approval. This section must be dated BEFORE the ACTUAL start date recorded in the log/journal book and on Form 1A.

Before a student receives approval, the student must determine any potential risks and describe them on this form. This is the most difficult of all the forms. A student cannot fill out the Risk Assessment (Form 3) until he/she knows the procedures they plan to use, so complete the Research Plan FIRST. The Research Plan Guidelines packet will help you with this form. If using any special chemicals, the student must describe all necessary safety precautions, cite the MSDS for each chemical, and attach the bibliography and MSDS to this form. If students are using any organisms, you must describe all safety precautions, describe and cite all care and disposal methods and attach a bibliography. If students are using any hazardous devices, they must describe all safety precautions in detail.

You will need to conduct background research in order to answer and summarize the following: What problem are you investigating? What are your independent and dependent variables? What materials will you need and how much will they cost? Write a DETAILED procedure describing HOW you plan to conduct your experiment. What safety and ethical concerns do you need to consider? You must include an annotated bibliography. Animal projects require at least one source be a species-specific animal care guide (book).

If students want to do a project that involves: Humans and vertebrates. Bacteria, fungi, pathogenic microbes. Certain chemicals, activities, or devices that might be considered dangerous. …then additional forms MAY be required depending on the nature of your project. Projects that require these extra forms are called “Special Considerations” projects.

Working with vertebrate animals? Either Form 5A or Form 5B. Humans involved in your project? Form 4 (2 pages). Conducting your experiment in a company lab or university lab? Form 1C. Working with a professional scientist as a mentor? Form 2. Working with potentially dangerous chemicals, activities, or devices? Form 3 (assessment required by all students). Working with microbes? Form 6.

Most “special considerations” projects not only require additional forms, but also must be approved by the SRC/IRB review board BEFORE experimentation can begin! All projects involving humans, vertebrates, and microbes require PRIOR APPROVAL! Projects with only minor risk will not need to go before the board, but will require a Risk Assessment (Form 3).

Have students type Research Plan and begin working on their Research Summary. Have students obtain and complete necessary ISEF forms. Review and approve SSEF forms and student Research Plan. Have students submit final draft of Research Plan and forms to IRC/SRB review board if necessary. Wait for IRC/SRB approval, if necessary. Students can begin projects and type and submit their Research Summary/Research Paper to the teacher.