Additional Forms
- The ISEF Rules Wizard can help determine which additional forms you may need.
- Digital signatures with time stamps are an option if you are using Acrobat Reader or a similar software.
- Pay attention to signature dates – some must precede experimentation.
- If a form requires multiple signatures, you may submit multiple, signed copies. Incorporate the signer’s initials in the file name to distinguish it.
- Download, complete and save your forms as PDFs. You will upload them to your Forms Folder in Step 4 on your Project Page.
- When your application is reviewed by the Science Review Committee, they will notify you if any changes or other forms are needed.
Form 4 and Human Informed Consent Forms
If humans will test your engineering design, a sample Informed Consent Form (ICF) should be submitted with Form 4. After IRB approval, you will use copies of this form to obtain informed consent from each participating subject before you start testing.
- Form 4 – fill out the top one third portion only.
- ICF – The benefit to the participant should be ” None” and no incentives should be offered or given for participation.
- ICF – Consider and explain how confidentiality will be maintained.
You should expect to produce the signed ICFs for the SRC immediately prior to competition. Do NOT load the signed ICFs into the Judging Folder.
Any application that involves humans (even if just for a survey or to test your project) needs to also include the Human-Participants Research Plan. For further details please visit the ISEF Rules for Human Participants. If your field of study includes the word “engineering” use the Engineering Research Plan.
Table of ISEF Forms
| Form 1C | Regulated Research Institutional / Industrial Setting | To be completed by the Supervising Adult AFTER an RRI project is complete. |
| Form (2) | Qualified Scientist | Required for any project involving humans, vertebrate animals, potentially hazardous biological agents (BSL2 level projects) and controlled substances. Submit for SRC pre-approval BEFORE experimentation begins. |
| Form (3) | Risk Assessment | Required for projects using chemicals, hazardous activities or devices, drones or exempt micro-organisms. Submit for SRC pre-approval BEFORE experimentation begins. |
| Form (4) | Human Participants | Required for projects involving human participants including those testing apps or engineering projects. Note that a Sample Informed Consent form will be required. Submit for SRC/IRB pre-approval BEFORE experimentation begins. |
| Form (5B) | Vertebrate Animal (For research at a Regulated Research Institution) | Only RRI projects may experiment with vertebrate animals therefore 5b and an IACUC approval document from the institution must be submitted for SRC pre-approval BEFORE experimentation begins. |
| Form (6A) | Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Risk Assessment | Required for projects involving microorganisms, rDNA, tissue, blood, or body fluids; submit for SRC pre-approval BEFORE experimentation begins. |
| Form (6B) | Human and Vertebrate Animal Tissue | Required for projects involving tissue, blood, primary cell lines, or body fluids; submit for SRC pre-approval BEFORE experimentation begins. |
| Form (7) | Continuation/Research Progression Projects | Required for all students who submitted either individual or team projects in the previous year as well as students who submitted in earlier years in the same project field of study. MUST be submitted for SRC pre-approval. |
Forms Uploaded to Judging Folder
- Project abstract (interactive PDF or Word document). Download, complete and save as a PDF. No videos or links to other documents.
- Form 1C: Regulated Research Institutional / Industrial Setting Form (linked above). High School students with a professional mentor (RRI projects) must upload Form 1C, which is completed after the research is done (if your project requires it).
- Form 7: Continuation Projects Form (linked above) (if your project requires it)
