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. 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 BEFORE experimentation begins. |
| Form (3) | Risk Assessment | Required for any project using hazardous chemicals, activities or devices, and microorganisms that are exempt from pre-approval. Submit BEFORE experimentation begins. |
| Form (4) | Human Participants | Required for SRC/IRB pre-approval of any project involving human participants. Submit BEFORE experimentation begins. |
| Sample | Human Informed Consent | Sample consent form is required for ANY project involving humans |
| Form (5A) | Vertebrate Animal (For research at school, home, or at a field site) | Required for SRC pre-approval of any project involving animals with bones. Supervisor must sign before experimentation. Submit BEFORE experimentation begins. |
| Form (5B) | Vertebrate Animal (For research at a Regulated Research Institution) | Required for SRC pre-approval of any project involving animals with bones. Obtain IACUC approval document before experimentation and supervisor signature afterwards. |
| Form (6A) | Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Risk Assessment | Required for SRC pre-approval of any project involving microorganisms, rDNA, tissue, blood, or body fluids; submit BEFORE experimentation begins. |
| Form (6B) | Human and Vertebrate Animal Tissue | Required for SRC pre-approval of any project involving tissue, blood, or body fluids; submit BEFORE experimentation begins. |
| Form (7) | Continuation/Research Progression Projects | Required for SRC pre-approval of any project that continues in the same field of study as a previous project. |
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. 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 (if your project requires it)
Printed Forms for Fair Check-In Day
- Project abstract (1 copy)
- Project Notebook (optional for Middle School)
- Form 1C Regulated Research Institutional / Industrial Setting Form (if your project requires it)
- Form 4 Human Participants Form (if your project requires it)
- Form 7 Continuation Projects Form (if your project requires it)
- Have signed Human Informed Consent Forms (of your project requires them) (Fair Check-In Day ONLY)
- Compliance-Checklist
- Forms 1B from your application
- Forms 6A and 6B from your application (if your project requires it)
- Research Plan
- Signed Ethics Statement
