2012 Info

The complete international rules can be found here, and all 2012 international science fair forms can be found in the Intel ISEF Document Library.

 

Application

Your application to the science fair should include these steps. You should work closely with your ADULT SPONSOR (usually your teacher) to make sure your application process is done correctly.  Please follow these directions closely.

Step One: Select a Topic

You should have a good idea of what your project is all about before starting the application process. You should print out and follow Intel’s Student Handbook for guidance throughout your project.



Step Two: Do You Need Pre-Approval?

Determine if your project needs pre-approval by using this simple flowchart. If you answered yes to any of the questions in the flowchart, your project MUST get pre-approval from our Scientific Review Committee (SRC) BEFORE you begin experimentation.  The SRC will be determining if your plan is safe and is in accordance with ISEF regulations so make sure that you describe every procedure that involves possible risk thoroughly.  If the SRC doesn’t have enough information to deem your project in compliance with ISEF Safety Regulations, it will be returned for corrections.   If your project needs to be pre-approved, you should submit your paperwork as early as possible because of the turn-around time with our SRC.  Projects that need pre-approval must be submitted NO LATER than October 31, 2011 but preferably earlier.



Step Three: What Forms Do I Need?

High School Projects (Grades 9-12)

Use the ISEF Forms Wizard to determine the ISEF forms required for your project. You may need help from your Adult Sponsor for this step.  Be sure to read each pop-up and to print out the last page along with all the forms you'll need. All projects are required to complete and submit the forms packaged as the General Application.

If your project research involves Hazardous Materials, Microorganisms, Human Behavior or Human DNA, Tissues, Blood or Body Fluids or Vertebrate Animals or Vertebrate Animal DNA, Tissues, Blood, or Body Fluids you are required to complete the appropriate ISEF Form and submit for Pre Approval by October 31, 2011.

If the project is a TEAM PROJECT, all paperwork for all members must be submitted together. Remember, only three students per team. You will need to designate one person as the “Team Leader”. This person will be in charge of submitting the application packet and serve as the contact person for the rest of the team.

Each team member must submit an Approval Form (1B) the CCC Student Photo Permission, and Hold Harmless Agreement. However, team members must jointly submit the Checklist for Adult Sponsor (1), one abstract, a Student Checklist (1A), a Research Plan and other required forms. Full names of all team members must appear on the forms.

Form 1B, Student Photo Permission and Hold Harmless Agreement

Please use the Forms and Instructions section at the bottom of this page for more specific help with each form. After you've filled out each form completely, you'll need to print out each one and get original signatures before submitting.  We recommend that you make a copy of your completed application packet before you submit it.

 

Middle School Projects (Grades 7-8)

All projects are required to complete and submit the forms packaged as the General Application. You may need help from your Adult Sponsor for this step. To determine if you will need any additional forms, please complete the Risk Assessment for Middle School. Follow the Risk Assessment Instructions and complete the Risk Assessment Form and Nonchemical Hazards Form for Middle School.  These forms require a signature by an adult; either your adult sponsor, teacher or parent.

If your project has Risks that are identified as medium to high risk or your research involves Microorganisms, Human Behavior or Human DNA, Tissues, Blood or Body Fluids or Vertebrate Animals or Vertebrate Animal DNA, Tissues, Blood, or Body Fluids you are required to complete the appropriate ISEF Form and submit for Pre Approval by October 31, 2011.

If the project is a TEAM PROJECT, all paperwork for all members must be submitted to together. Remember, only three students per team. You will need to designate one person as the “Team Leader”. This person will be in charge of submitting the application packet and serve as the contact person for the rest of the team.

Each team member must submit an Approval Form (Form 1B), the CCCSEF Forms Student Photo Permission, and Hold Harmless Agreement.  Submit only one Checklist for Adult Sponsor (Form 1), one abstract, a Student Checklist (Form 1A), a Research Plan and other required forms for each project. Full names of all team members must appear on the forms.

Form 1B, Student Photo Permission and Hold Harmless Agreement

Please use the Forms and Instructions section at the bottom of this page for more specific help with each form. After you've filled out each form completely, you'll need to print out each one and get original signatures before submitting.  Make a copy of your completed application packet before you submit it.

 

Step Four: Online Registration

Please register for the fair online using this link. Please do this step ONLY ONCE!

 

Before entering online registration, have all the following information written out and ready to enter:



Step Five: Mail completed applications (with original signatures) along with your $25 application fee per project to:

Liz Ritchie, CCCSEF Co-Director, Contra Costa Economic Partnership
1355 Willow Way - Suite 253
Concord, CA 94520

Applications are to be Postmarked no later than October 31, 2011 for projects that need pre-approval.  All other projects are to be Postmarked no later than January 20, 2012. Remember that it's best to be early. Projects received postmarked after the deadline will not be accepted. Adult Sponsors responsible for a number of projects may send them in as one packet. Please make checks payable to Contra Costa County Science & Engineering Fair or CCCSEF.

A limited number of fees are waived by scholarships that are available. Please indicate your request for a fee scholarship using the online application.

 

Forms and Instructions

Forms MUST be legible and signed in ink only.

Form 1 - Checklist for Adult Sponsor

Form 1 is for you to go over with your Adult Sponsor (usually your teacher). It's the responsibility of your Adult Sponsor to make sure that you are being safe and that your paperwork is complete. Make sure they sign and complete this, especially the bottom.



Form 1A - Student Checklist and Research Plan Instructions

Form 1A provides us with your contact information and other general information about your project. The second page gives you detailed instructions for writing your Research Plan.

If your project needs pre-approval, leave the start date blank. You must have SRC approval to begin experimentation.  Fill out the date when you actually start your experiment.

The Research Plan must be complete so please follow the guidelines presented on page 2 of your Student Checklist (1A). The SRC needs to know that you are being completely safe and following the safety rules of ISEF. Brief and incomplete procedures will result in you having to rewrite and resubmit your Research Plan. This will significantly slow down the SRC approval process.



Form 1B - Approval Form

Form 1B is the form where your project receives its pre-approvals (if required) and then Final Approval. You complete section #1. Section #2 is to be completed by the SRC.



Form 1C - Regulated Research Institute

Form 1C is used only if the research is conducted in a professional setting where research is conducted by paid professionals (not your school, home or field).

If needed, complete the top portion information of Student and Project Title to submit with your application packet, the remainder must be completed by the time of the fair.

The deadline for submitting SRC forms for pre-approval is October 31, 2011.



Human Subjects Projects:

1. Must have SRC pre-approval before you begin experimentation. This may slow down your project time-line, so apply early! And be sure to include your Form 4 and a sample of your Informed Consent (see second page of Form 4).

2. On Form 4, only fill out the 5 questions. The rest of that page is for the SRC to complete.

3. All students and their Adult Sponsor should print out and read the ISEF Rules and Regulations regarding Human Subjects.

4. When the SRC reviews your project, they will be determining the level of possible risk to your subjects and will fill out and sign the bottom portion of your Form 4. It's important that you be very clear as to what exactly you are going to be doing, or your application will be returned for clarification or waivers will not be granted. Include your Informed Consent Form with your application submission.



Nonhuman Vertebrate Projects:

1. All students and their Adult Sponsors with projects involving non-human vertebrate (with a backbone) animals need to print and read the ISEF Rules and Regulations on Vertebrate Animals.

2. You are not allowed to cause more than momentary pain or suffering to vertebrate animals, nor design an experiment that puts them at risk of dying.

3. All projects involving vertebrate animals will require pre-approval from the SRC before you begin your experimentation. In completing your forms and research plan, you will need to have detailed descriptions of experiments. Care, feeding and handling of the animals is VERY important and should be documented carefully.

4. If your project is completely non-invasive and involves animals in their natural setting such as pets or animals in the wild (see Section A Rules for Non-Regulated Sites), then it may done at home, school, farm or field. You will need to fill out a Vertebrate Animal Form (5a) (1st page) and possibly a Qualified Scientist Form (2) if the SRC determines that you need a veterinarian or other professional to oversee your work.

5. If your project does not fit the criterion for a Non-Regulated Site as described in Section A, it must be done at a Regulated Site (see description in Section B). This will require a Vertebrate Animal Form (5b) (2nd page). In addition, you'll need to fill out with the adult professional that you are working with, a Regulated Research Institution Form (1c) and a Qualified Scientist Form.



Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents:

1. Most projects in this category will require prior SRC approval before you begin experimentation, so get your application in early!

2. You and your Adult Sponsor need to print out and read the ISEF Rules and Regulations regarding Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents.

3. A PHBA Risk Assessment Form(6A) is required for almost all projects in these research areas to determine the BioSafety Level of the organisma and the level of biological containment necessary for a safe experiment.

4. Essentially, biosafety Level 1 (non-pathogenic organisms) research may be conducted in a high school with a trained Designated Supervisor. Generally speaking, any microbial project involving culturing microbes in a Petri dish cannot be done at Home.

5. The handling procedures should be recorded in the student's own words. Disposal/clean-up methods must be documented.

6. In addition to Form 6A, projects involving tissues, including blood and blood projects require a Form 6B- Human And Vertebrate Animal Tissue Form. If the tissue is obtained from a source within a research institution, be prepared provide information regarding the vertebrate study from which the tissue was obtained. Attach a copy of the IACUC certification with the name of the research institution, the title of the study, the IACUC approval number and date of IACUC approval.

7. Projects involving Unknown Microorganisms (i.e., those collected from the environment) may be gathered from home or the environment but must be cultured in a BSL-1 laboratory environment.



Hazardous Substances and Devices:

1. Be sure to print out and read the ISEF Rules and Regulations regarding Hazardous Substances and Devices.

2. Need to have detailed descriptions of experiments in your Research Plan.

3. Hazardous Substances (chemicals) must include MSDS's.

4. If you're using Hazardous Devices, include description of the device and how it is used.

5. A Risk Assessment (Form 3) is required for all projects involving potentially hazardous substances and devices.



Links to the ISEF:

For detailed explanations of rules and links to the required forms for all projects, please visit the ISEF website.

Official ISEF Documents Webpage



Contra Costa Fair Required Forms

Student Photo Permission and Hold Harmless Agreement



2012 ISEF Forms Library

Form 1: Checklist for Adult Sponsor / Safety Assessment Form
Form 1A: Student Checklist / Research Plan
Form 1B: Approval Form
Form 1C: Regulated Research Institutional / Industrial Setting Form
Form 2: Qualified Scientist Form
Form 3: Risk Assessment Form
Form 4: Human Subjects and Informed Consent Form
Sample Informed Consent Statement
Form 5: Vertebrate Animal Form (5A and 5B)
Form 6A: Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Form
Form 6B: Human and Vertebrate Animal Tissue Form
Form 7: Continuation Projects Form
Abstract Form Required with Intel Finalist project registration