SCIENCE FAIR RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR
SCHOOL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT
COMPETITIONS
Please
read all the rules and regulations of the Science Engineering Fair of Houston before
entering student projects in an Administrative District Science Fair. Projects entered in
the School and Administrative District Science Fairs must not violate the Science
Engineering Fair of Houston (SEFH) rules. DO NOT USE ANY FORMS PROVIDED BEFORE
SEPTEMBER 200 0.
1. Prior to starting any
experimental research, every project will require completion of three forms at the school
level: Adult Sponsor/Safety Assessment Form 1, Research Plan 1A, and Approval Form 1B. For
team projects, each member must obtain individual approval of all three forms. Do not
send these forms to the SRC unless the project requires their approval. If the project
requires additional forms, they must be completed prior to SRC approval. Except for
places requiring IRB signature, leave Approval Form 1B sections 2, 3, and 4 blank.
2. Each school must have an
Institutional Review Board (IRB). Projects involving human subjects, including surveys
must be approved by the school IRB or an IRB at an approved research institution prior to
submission to the Scientific Review Committee (SRC).
3. The final application deadline
for projects involving vertebrate animals, human subjects (including surveys of human
subjects), recombinant DNA, tissues, microorganisms, and potentially dangerous chemicals
or equipment is Friday, November 1 6, 2001. All forms are to be turned in to the SRC District Science Fair
Coordinator. The application forms must be printed or typed, in blue or black ink.
Incomplete forms will be returned stamped NOT APPROVED. Forms not placed in the
school mail by Friday, November 16, 2001, should be hand delivered.
4. Final revisions of SRC forms are due Friday,
December 7, 2001.
5. Schools should hold their
science fair between January 14 – February 01, 2002. Administrative Districts should hold
their fairs between February 11 -- February 20, 2002. Project entry forms and entry
fees are due from the administrative district science fair coordinator Monday, February
25, 2002.
6. The size of the exhibit
must not occupy a space in excess of 122 cm wide by 76 cm deep by 274 cm high if floor
mounted. If the project is to be displayed on a tabletop, then the maximum height for the
display itself is approximately 198 cm (6 ft., 6 in.). If the display requires electricity
for demonstration purposes, the entrant must furnish a good quality, 9-foot, properly
grounded electrical cord.
7. The scientific and technical community
throughout the world uses the International System of Units (SI). Because of this,
students are strongly encouraged to use this system of units for projects entered in the
SEFH.
8. All entries in an Administrative District
Science Fair must be submitted through the School Science Fair Coordinator.
9. Only winning projects from a school competition
may be entered in an Administrative District Science Fair competition.
10. Only Administrative District
Science Fair winners (first, second, and third place) may be entered in the SEFH.
11. All schools in an
Administrative District must be judged at the same time at one location. Judging teams may
not tour schools and select winners from each school. This is not classified as an
Administrative District competition and is in violation of the SEFH rules and guidelines.
12. Each Administrative District Coordinator will
establish the number of projects each school can enter in each category of the
Administrative District Science Fair competition.
13. Each Administrative District
with one high school may enter two exhibits per category in the Senior Division; 12
exhibits in the Ninth Grade Division; and 12 individual exhibits in the Junior/Middle
School Division in the SEFH. Each Administrative District with more than one high school
may enter five exhibits per category in the Senior Division; 24 exhibits in the Ninth
Grade Division; and 36 exhibits in the Junior Division in the SEFH.
14. Each Administrative District
may enter two team projects in each of the four categories (Botany/Environmental
Science/Zoology Behavioral
Science/Biochemistry/Medicine and Health;
Engineering/Computers/Mathematics; and
Physical Sciences). Team projects may be entered only in the Junior/Middle School
Division.
15. SEFH entry forms are included
in the SEFH booklet. Entry forms must be typed or handwritten in ink. Please leave
number 10 blank on the team form and individual form. These lines are for the
District Science Fair Coordinator’s signature and name. Only the original entry forms
will be accepted.
16. The completed entry forms and
the non-refundable registration fee ($13/ individual entry; $26/team entry) is due in
District Science Fair Coordinator’s office no later than 4:30 p.m., Monday, February 25, 2002. Checks must be made out to the Science Engineering
Fair of Houston. A copy (not originals) of each form, including the Student
Research Plan, the Adult Project Supervisor Certification #1, and all required
certifications for the project must be stapled to the entry form for that project.
Completed entry forms and registration fees from an Administrative District must be turned
in by the Administrative District Science Fair Coordinator or his/her designee. A
completed SEFH Administrative District Master Winners List must be turned in with entry
forms and registration fees.
17. Entry forms turned in without
copies of all the required forms will be returned to the School Science Fair Coordinator.
The SEFH Fair Office will not accept entry forms without required forms attached.
18. When a student's project is
inspected at the fair Thursday evening, March 2 1, 2002 the originals of
ALL approval forms required for the project MUST be available for review by the Scientific
Review Committee. Students not having the required forms will be DISQUALIFIED and
not allowed to display the project.
19. A list of the projects entered
into the SEFH will be forwarded to the School Science Fair Coordinator. A master list of
entries for an administrative district will be forwarded to the Administrative District
Science Fair Coordinator. Coordinators should check the list immediately and report any
corrections.
20. A special response form has been developed to
be used for forms submitted late or incomplete. A copy of the response form is included on
page 13.
IMPORTANT!!!
THE SRC, SCHOOL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE
DISTRICT SCIENCE FAIR DATES WERE SELECTED BASED ON SEFH DUE DATES, TAAS TESTING DATES, AND
DEC AUDITS. |