1. Onslow County Schools 2013-2014 Science Fair

2. Elementary Science Fair
The Onslow County Schools Elementary Science Fair (OCSESF) will be held Thursday, January 16, 2014 at BCE.  Students will complete at the school level and the top three students from each grade level will progress to the county level.  Each elementary school will also be eligible to send one additional honorary mentioned student to the county level.  This will give a potential of ten students from each participating school.  Ten students from the OCSESF will progress to the Southeastern Regional Science Fair at UNCW in February (1 or 8), (numbers are subject to change based on level of participation)

3. Elementary Science Fair Information
(Grades 3-5)
School-Level Winner Names are due Friday, January 10, 2014
Blue Creek Elementary School, Multipurpose Rooms
Wednesday, January 15, 2014 (set-up)
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Event
Date
Time
Student Project Set-up
Tri-boards, research paper, abstract
Copies of forms 1, 1A, 1B, 3 (all projects must have these forms)
Teachers or parents can drop off projects and forms
**some projects will require additional forms
** All projects must be at the site by 5:30pm
Wed, Jan 15th
2:30pm – 5:30pm
Judging of Projects
No students, parents or teachers
Thurs, Jan 16th
1:00pm – 5:00pm
Student Interviews
Students must be present
Parents cannot be present during the interview process; a room will be available
5:30pm – 7:00pm
Public Viewing of Projects
Students, parents, teachers and other guest
7:00pm – 7:45pm
Presentation of Awards
10 projects will receive awards; these projects will progress to the regional level fair
7:45pm – 8:00pm

4. Required for All Projects
RESEARCH PLAN (Directions on 2nd page of form 1A)
This is not on a form but needs to be included with all paperwork. This is used for the SRC to assess if all ISEF rules and regulations were followed.
Is to be done prior to experimentation
Should only be one to two pages in length
Please note that data is not to be included
Bibliography – minimal 3 references for Elementary and 5 references for Junior and Senior
Your research plan should reflect what was actually done for your project and the details should match what is written in your abstract.
Must include:
Question or problem being addressed
Hypothesis/Engineering Goals
Detailed description of methods or procedures

5. Required for All Projects -Continued
Checklist for Adult Sponsor (Form 1)
Student Checklist (Form 1A)
Approval Form (Form 1B)
Risk Assessment (Form 3)
Official Abstract (must be on official form and typed; completed once project is finished)
These must accompany all projects, some projects may require additional forms

6. ISEF Forms For….. Parents, Teachers, and Fair Organizers

7. What are ISEF Forms Requiring ISEF Forms protects students and school.
Forms must be reviewed BEFORE Experimentation
OCS Elementary and Secondary Science Fairs require all students to have Forms 1, 1A, 1B and 3. Research plans, abstracts, and other forms need to be in hard copy.
Other forms may be required depending on the student project.
Students who win and go on to the next level will need hard copies of all forms.

8. Forms required for all projects
Checklist for Adult Sponsor (1)
Student Checklist (1A)
Approval Form (1B)
Risk Assessment Form (3)
Official Abstract
Research Plan (this is the first thing students do)
3 references elementary
5 references secondary
****A RESEARCH PLAN is required that must incorporate all of the relevant topics listed in the Research Plan Instructions. Additionally an Abstract on the official form must be submitted.****

9. Research Plan
Provide a typed research plan and attach to Student Checklist 1A. Please include your name on each page. The Research Plan is done prior to experimentation.
The research plan for ALL projects is to include the following:
Question or Problem being addressed
Goals/Expected Outcomes/Hypothesis
Description in detail of method or procedures
Procedures: Detail of procedures and experimental design to be used for data collection
Data Analysis: Describe the procedures you will use to analyze the data/results that answer research questions or hypothesis
Bibliography: List at least (3- Elementary or 5- Secondary) major references(e.g. science journal articles, books, internet sites) from your literature review. If you plan to use vertebrate animals, one of these references must be an animal care reference.

10. Student Checklist, Form 1A
This form is required for all projects. It must be completed prior to beginning the experiment/project.
Information form to include contact information ( addresses will be used to contact you about the status of your project), name of project, adult sponsor name and address where research took place.
Fill out ALL information
#6 Dates of actual experimental procedure - 12-month project that occurred within the last 18 months before fair date is allowed.
#7 Explain where the experimental research will be conducted. Universities, research facilities, and industrial settings require Form 1C.  (Note: Pathogens may NOT be cultured at home; Grades 3-8 cannot culture)
#9 Attach a research plan

11. Checklist for Adult Sponsor, Form 1
This form is required for all projects. It must be completed prior to beginning the experiment/project.
Provided so that the adult sponsor can review what information (and therefore which forms) must be provided.
Check only the boxes pertaining to YOUR project
For #6 be sure to read through this section, check any appropriate boxes, if applicable, AND fill out and attach any additional forms required.
Adult sponsor signature and date required BEFORE experimentation

12. Approval Form, 1B
This form is required for all projects. It must be completed prior to beginning the experiment/project.
Signature form to sign acknowledging that all rules have been read and plan to be followed. Additionally these statements attest that each of these people (or committees) approves or consents to this project.
Student and parent (this is NOT to be signed by teacher or designated supervisor) must sign BEFORE the start of experiment.
#2 deals with Scientific Review Committee (SRC) signatures.
2a is SRC approval BEFORE experimentation and is required for projects involving human participates, vertebrate animals and potentially hazardous biological agents (see forms below).
2b refers to research involving the previous mentioned topics but was conducted at a regulated research institute where the institute’s board reviewed the project BEFORE experimentation. In this case the SRC does not need to review prior to experimentation but a signature is needed for competition.
#3 is SRC signatures before competition at the regional and state levels. ALL projects require this signature.

13. Risk Assessment, Form 3
This form is required for all projects. It must be completed prior to beginning the experiment/project.
Filled out  BEFORE 
experimentation by the student in collaboration with the designated supervisor/qualified scientist.

14. Additional Forms that maybe required:
Regulated Research Institutional/Industrial Setting Form (1C)
Human Subjects:
Human Subjects Form (4)
Consent Form
Vertebrate Animals:
Vertebrate Animals Form (5A)
Vertebrate Animals Form (5B)
Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents:
Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Risk Form (6A)
Human and Vertebrate Animal Tissue Form (6B)
Continuation Projects Form (7)
Project based on prior research in the same field of study
Continuation aspect should be pointed out in the abstract
Requires submission of previous year’s abstract and research plan

15. Regulated Research Institution/Industrial Settings Form (1C)

16. Human Subjects

17. Vertebrate Animals

18. POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS BIOLOGICAL AGENTS

19. Continuation Projects
Project based on prior research in the same field of study
The continuation aspect should be pointed out in the abstract
Longitudinal studies are permitted
Multi-year study
Studies time-based change
Requires form 7
Requires submission of previous year’s abstract and research plan

20. Adult roles and Responsibilities
Adult Sponsor
Oversees project
Parent, teacher, youth leader, scientist
Qualified Scientist–
Required for some projects (Form 2)
Projects involving
BSL-2 biological agents
DEA-controlled substances
human participants (dependent on project)
vertebrate animal studies
Designated Supervisor
Important for projects involving vertebrate animal; hazardous chemicals, activities or devices; or when a qualified scientist is required but cannot directly supervise

21. ISEF Rules Wizard
ISEF rules wizard can be useful to determine forms needed

22. Science Fair Projects

23. Before Experimenting!
Have research plan reviewed by teacher(mentor) and get any approvals needed by ISEF rules or other groups’ regulations before beginning project!
In , all NC students must use the ISEF Forms 1, 1A, 1B, (and form 3 for OCS) plus any required ISEF special forms. Please review NCSEF web site for additional information:

24. Steps to Finalizing a Student Project
For the Science Fair
Complete Research Plan
Complete all required forms (1, 1A, 1B and 3)
Begin Experiment
Analyze Results
Draw Conclusions
Present Finds

25. Begin the experiment
Keep detailed notes of every step and experiment in your journal/research log.
Use data tables or charts as you proceed to help you see trends in data.
Have quantitative data, but also record observational data.

26. Analyze Results After experiments, examine and organize findings
Use graphs to show data
Identify patterns in data
Look for experimental error and where they could occur.
Look at statistical relationships in data.

27. Draw Conclusions
Did the variables that you tested show or cause a change?
Were you able to see relationships?
Did you collect enough data?
Was your hypothesis supported?
How did your data fit previous information that you found in your background research?
What are practical applications or inferences that you can make?
How would you change the experiment or future research area?

28. Present Findings Write an abstract of your project.
Prepare a scientific/research paper, PowerPoint, or poster/display board to present your findings.
Have journal/log available.
Present your project to class, school, or organization.

29. Display Boards Size: (we do not enforce at county-level)
Depth (front to back): 30 inches or 76 centimeters
Width (side to side): 48 inches or 122 centimeters
Height (floor to top): 108 inches or 274 centimeters
Not Allowed at Project or Booth:
County Fairs: Display Boards only
State Regional Fairs
No living/dead organisms, including plants
Soil, sand, rock, and/or waste samples, even if permanently encased in a slab of acrylic
No sharp objects
No water,
No glass,
No chemicals
Taxidermy specimens or parts
Preserved vertebrate or invertebrate animals
Human or animal food
Human/animal parts or body fluids (for example, blood, urine)
No hazardous substances or devices

30. Display Boards - continued
Photographs/images must be cited; labeled with credits for photographer/creator and permission of subjects other than student
Graphs/charts must be cited; labeled with credit for person who made/generated
Pictures off web must be cited
Abstract is not posted on display board, but is displayed vertically
1C form must be displayed vertically (if form is required)
Data/log books along with research paper in front of display
See ISEF rules for complete regulations.

31. Resources for Science Projects
Science Buddies: information for students, teachers, and parents
Science Project Ideas, information and support for Science Fair:
Science Fair Projects - Project Ideas Demonstrations and Instructions:
ISEF Science Primer:
Agricultural Ideas for Science Fair Projects:
Cool Science Fair Project Ideas and Science Fair Projects:
Nexus Research Group - Science Fair Main page:
Science Projects:
Research Project Ideas: Applying Science to Sustainability:
Neuroscience For Kids - science fairs:

32. What is an SRC/IRB Scientific Review Committee
Institutional Review Board
Reviews research plans before competitions.
Local, Regional, State, National/International

33. SRC (Scientific Review Committee)
Reviews some projects before experimentation
Reviews all projects just prior to competition
Membership must include:
a biomedical scientist (Ph.D., M.D., Pharmacist, D.V.M., D.D.S., D.O.)
an educator
one other member

34. Science Review Community (SRC)
NC State level SRC through website
The question will be reviewed and answered by several SRC members
We encourage questions even if this is prior to experimentation
ISEF SRC is helpful
If we can’t answer the question we will forward it to ISEF

35. SRC Sort projects by extra forms required.
Quick review of projects with no extra forms
Form committees by form
Become expert in a section of rules
Use specialists as needed
IRB for all human subjects projects
a veterinarian and/or an animal care provider/expert with training and/or experience in the species being studied for all vertebrate animals projects

36. SRC check for No microorganisms for elementary students
No home culturing of microorganisms
Extra forms needed – use checklist
Research plan
Does plan match checklist?
Bibliographies – 3 for elementary 5 for Junior and Senior projects
Acceptable risk differs – better safe than sorry…
Disposal plan for chemicals
Final project – did it follow the research plan?
Plan reviewed and approved before experimentation.

37. Recruiting your local SRC
Educate yourself – read the rules
Recruit parents, community college, university, ag extension, professional society, retired professionals.
Train the team

38. The Qualified Scientist
A Qualified Scientist should have earned a doctoral/professional degree in a scientific discipline that relates to the student’s area of research. A PhD, MD or a master’s degree with additional experience and expertise in the student’s area of research is acceptable when approved by a Scientific Review Committee (SRC). The Qualified Scientist must be thoroughly familiar with local, state, and federal regulations that govern the student’s area of research. 
The Qualified Scientist and the Adult Sponsor may be the same person, if that person is qualified as described above. A student may work with a Qualified Scientist in a city, state or country that is not where the student resides. In this case, the student must work locally with a Designated Supervisor (see below) who has been trained in the techniques to be applied by the student.

39. Judging Criteria

40. Forms Due Back by November 7, 2013
Elementary School-Level Participation
Secondary School-Level Participation
These forms can as an attachment with the original
Forms can be faxed to

41. Contact Information
Michele Halley
, ext
Erika Sypsomos
, ext
Fax: