SCVSEFA

Teacher (or other Adult Sponsor)

Normally, an Adult Sponsor is either a student’s teacher or a professional scientist in whose lab the student is working. This individual must have a solid background in science and should have close contact with the student during the course of the project.

The Adult Sponsor is responsible for working with the student to evaluate any possible risks involved in order to ensure the health and safety of the student conducting the research and the humans and/or animals involved in the study. The Adult Sponsor must review the student’s Student Checklist (1A) and Research Plan to certify that that: a) experimentation is within local, state, and Federal laws and ISEF rules; b) forms are completed by other required adults; and c) criteria for the Qualified Scientist adhere to those set forth below.

The Adult Sponsor must be familiar with the regulations that govern potentially dangerous research as they apply to a specific student project. These may include chemical and equipment usage, experimental techniques, research involving human and/or vertebrate animals, and cell cultures, microorganisms, or animal tissues. Regulations must be discussed with the student when completing the Research Plan. Some experiments involve procedures or materials that are regulated by state, federal or non-U.S. national laws. If not thoroughly familiar with the regulations, the Adult Sponsor should help the student enlist the aid of a Qualified Scientist.

The Adult Sponsor is responsible for ensuring the student’s research is eligible for entry in the Synopsys Championship.

Designated Supervisor

The Designated Supervisor is an adult who is directly responsible for overseeing student experimentation. The Designated Supervisor need not have an advanced degree, but must be thoroughly familiar with the student’s project, and must be trained in the student’s area of research. The Adult Sponsor may act as the Designated Supervisor.

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 above) who has been trained in the techniques to be applied by the student.

Related ISEF web page: Roles and Responsibilities of Students and Adults

The Student Researcher

The student researcher is responsible for all aspects of the research project including enlisting the aid of any required supervisory adults (Adult Sponsor, Qualified Scientist, etc.), obtaining necessary approvals (SRC, IRB, etc.), following the Rules & Guidelines of the Synopsys Championship, and performing the experimentation, engineering, data analysis, etc.

Scientific fraud and misconduct are not condoned at any level of research or competition. This includes plagiarism, forgery, use or presentation of other researcher’s work as one’s own, and fabrication of data. Fraudulent projects will fail to qualify for competition in the Synopsys Championship and ISEF. Both the Society for Science & the Public and SCVSEFA reserve the right to revoke recognition of a project subsequently found to have been fraudulent.  Students who have their projects removed from competition for fraud or misconduct may not enter the Synopsys Championship the following year.

1. Inexpensive display boards and other display aids are available at most office and art supply stores.
2. Use type families and colored backgrounds to associate groups of information throughout your display. Remember that black or dark type is easiest to read and that judges do notice spelling and grammar.
3. Your title should be big, easy to read, and capture the spirit of your research. You can use two titles if you wish, a scientific one on top and one for the lay audience below it.
4. Possible sections for your board might include: Introduction, Background/Research, Hypothesis, Experimental Design, Data, Data Interpretation, Conclusion/Discussion, Further Research.
5. “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Photographs and drawings are good display tools: they help your audience understand your research and are eye-catching aids for your display. Remember you need written consent (Form 4) if you use a photograph of anyone other than yourself.
6. Use the largest possible visuals and type. Important text should be legible from at least three feet away. Use font sizes of at least 24 points on your display board.
7. Use brief statements. Aim to have three to five bulleted statements, each 10 to 20 words per section.
8. Tables of numerical data have a place—but maybe it’s in the notebook rather than on the display board. Use graphs or charts instead of tables wherever possible.
9. Label the units of measurement used on each chart axis (e.g., “Centimeters of Rain,” “Years,” “Number of Ladybugs”). Use metric (SI) measurements and scientific names if possible.
10. Caption your graphs and charts and indicate trends, conclusions drawn, etc.

First and Foremost

ANY PROJECT IN VIOLATION OF SCVSEFA, ISEF OR CALIFORNIA EDUCATION RULES AND REGULATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Avoid Science Fair Projects That Are Unlikely to be Accepted

1. Effect of colored light, music, or talking on plant growth (OK at middle school if variables included)
2. Crystal growth (OK at middle school if variables included)
3. Effect of cola, coffee, etc. on teeth (OK at middle school if variables included)
4. Strength/absorbency of paper towels (discouraged because seen often)
5. Most consumer product testing of the “Which is best?” type (OK grades 6–8 only)
6. Astrology projects
7. Maze running (unless there are variables and controls)
8. Any project that boils down to simple preferences
9. Optical Illusions
10. Planaria worm regeneration (unless project has variables and >10/group)
11. Detergents vs. Stains (OK at middle school if variables included).
12. Basic solar collectors or ovens (OK if engineering design variables included)
13. Acid rain projects (To be considered, thorough research into the composition of acid rain and a scientifically accurate simulation of it would be necessary.)
14. Basic flight testing, e.g., planes, rockets (OK if variables are included)
15. Battery life comparisons (plug-in and run-down type)
16. Any project involving the distillation of alcohol. (NOT PERMITTED)
17. Pyramid power
18. Color choices of goldfish, etc.
19. Basic chromatography (OK at middle school if variables are included)
20. Wing, fin shape comparison (OK if mass is taken into consideration)

Avoid Projects that Lack a Measurable Endpoint

Results should be expressed in units of growth, size, mass, speed, time, volume, frequency, replication rate, chemical product analysis, etc.

Avoid Overly-Common Projects

The following projects may meet all requirements but often do not win awards because they are too commonly encountered by judges. With frequently done projects, acceptance may be granted if they have an original twist with exceptional thoroughness and solid scientific method.

1. Comparison of plant growth in different fertilizers
2. Rusting of nails in different pH solutions
3. Comparison of strength in different bridge designs
4. Strength of paper towels

Projects Taken from the Internet

Projects taken directly from the Internet are considered plagiarism, and may be disqualified. Judges may identify projects similar to examples posted on the Internet and they will be ranked low for creativity. Examples of projects from sites such as www.sciencebuddies.org are good sources of inspiration, but the idea for your project should be original.

Scientific fraud and misconduct are not condoned at any level of research or competition. This includes plagiarism, forgery, use or presentation of other researcher’s work as one’s own and fabrication of data. Fraudulent projects will fail to qualify for competition in the Synopsys Championship and subsequent affiliated fairs. SCVSEFA reserves the right to revoke recognition of a project subsequently found to have been fraudulent. Students who have their projects removed from competition for fraud or misconduct may not enter the Synopsys Championship the following year.

Minimum Quality Requirements (MQR) are detailed on the Minimum Quality Requirements for Project Types web page and MQR instructions sheet.