Delaware Valley Science Fairs Rules

1
Delaware Valley Science Fairs Rules Session
2006-2007

• -- The Steps to Completing Projects with the
  Proper Certification

2
DVSF Rules

• We follow the Intel International Science and
  Engineering Fair 2007 Rules Booklet.
• Questions regarding any of the rules should be
  directed to Mr. Henry Disston, Director of DVSF
  at 215-895-5840 (Drexel University)
• Your fairs rules may differ from DVSF. Check
  with your director for any.

3
DVSF Rules

• The ISEF(DVSF) rules can be found on the web at
  www. Sciserv.org/isef/primer/rules.asp
• A rules wizard is also found at this site for
  ease of knowing which forms need to be filled out
  for any project.
• A list of common problems is also found at this
  site.

4
DVSF Rules

• There are 15 categories for projects
• 1) Behavioral science
• 2) Biochemistry
• 3) Botany
• 4) Chemistry
• 5) Computer Science

5
DVSF Rules

• 6) Earth and Space Sciences
• 7) Engineering
• 8) Environmental Science
• 9) Mathematics
• 10) Medicine and Health
• 11) Microbiology
• 12) Physics
• 13) Zoology
• 14) Consumer Sciences (for gr. 6-8 only)
• 15) Team projects

6
DVSF Rules

• Each project needs to certified that it is being
  done by acceptable means.
• All projects must have Forms 1, 1A (with a
  research plan) and1B. An abstract is also to be
  done after the completion of the project. (An
  explanation of an abstract is found on the center
  page of the rules booklet. The official abstract
  on p. 28 is only for the ISEF participants.
• Abstracts for DVSF are on 8 ½ x 11 white paper
  with a maximum length of 250 words. It should
  contain purpose, key procedures, summary data and
  conclusions.
• There is a separate form for teams to use to
  replace the 1A form. It is labeled as 1A TEAM.
• Form 1A and 1ATEAM require a research plan to be
  completed. The parts of the research plan are
  found in the rules booklet on p. 32.
• Be sure that all signatures are filled in on each
  of the forms
• Form 1-Adult sponsor
• Form 1B- Student, Parent, IRB or SRC signatures
  if needed for project approval.

7
DVSF Rules

• If a student has done their work at a research
  facility (university, medical center or
  industrial setting), Form 1C must be completed
  after experimentation. The purpose of this form
  is to determine what work was done by the
  scientist and what work was done by the student.
  (If project was not done at a research facility,
  no form 1C is needed.)

8
DVSF Rules

• Names and Titles of Individuals/Groups used in
  the rules
• Student researcher- the student
• Adult sponsor- Adult in charge of project
  (ususally a teacher) See page 11 2 in rule book
• Qualified Scientist- possesses an earned
  doctorate in science. A Masters degree person
  may be acceptable if extensive experience is
  apparent and approved by the SRC
• Designated Supervisor- an adult who is directly
  responsible for oversight of the project if the
  adult sponsor is not available

9
DVSF Rules

• Groups referred to
• IRB- Institutional Review Board
• - a committee of 3 people at a school (or
  research setting) that evaluates the potential
  risk that a project contains. At a school is
  should be made up of 1 administrator, 1 science
  teacher (not the sponsor) and a
  doctor/nurse/psychologist that is familiar with
  the type of project being done. The IRB must
  approve all human subject projects before the
  project is started.

10
DVSF Rules

• SRC- Scientific Review Committee
• - DVSF SRC must approve all projects involving
• vertebrate animals
• microorganisms
• tissue, blood and body fluids
• (for some fairs) all human projects- but for
  sure any beyond minimal risk
• as determined by the local IRB.
• The SRC must approve prior to the start of
  investigations for all projects involving human
  subjects (beyond minimal risk), vertebrate
  animals and potentially hazardous biological
  agents.
• We recommend that all human projects are
  reviewed by the regional SRC
• - some fairs have their own SRC committees while
  many use DVSF SRC Committee, if not sure, contact
  Mr. Disston (215-895-5840).

11
DVSF Rules- Human Subjects

• All projects involving human subjects must be
  approved by the IRB in your school prior to the
  start of the project.
• To be considered a human subject project, the
  researcher must have some interaction with the
  subject. (see p.13)
• Product testing of engineering projects, analysis
  of athlete stats, behavioral observation (with no
  interaction with subjects and no environment
  manipulation studies) and anonymous data provided
  by someone else, or publicly available data are
  not considered human subject research and do not
  require an IRB or form 4.

12
DVSF Rules- Human Subjects

• Informed consent forms(Form 4) are usually
  required for most human projects.
• Project dealing with risks will require informed
  consents.
• Internet surveys can be done but must follow
  strict guidelines (p.14-10)

13
DVSF Rules- Human Subjects

• How do you determine the level of risk?
• -Risk groups- see p.14- (Risk Assessment)
• Risk activities
• Exercise, other than normally encountered
• in daily life
• Ingestion of any substance or exposure to
• potentially hazardous materials
• -Psychological risk-
• cause emotional stress or breach privacy

14
DVSF Rules- Human Subjects Final

• The forms that must be completed for human
  projects are
• Form 1
• Form 1A
• Form 1B
• Form 4
• Form 2(Qualified Scientist)-(If more than
  minimal risk)
• Informed Consents on Form 4 for approval

15
DVSF Rules- Vertebrate Projects

• Try to do the project with invertebrate animals-
  this will avoid the hassle of more paper work
  other than the basic forms.
• All vertebrate projects must be approved by the
  SRC prior to start of the project.
• Projects that involve death, pain or suffering to
  animals are prohibited. (see p. 17-3 4)

16
DVSF Rules- Vertebrate Projects

• Forms needed for vertebrate projects
• Form 1
• Form 1A(with research plan)
• Form 1B
• Form 5A(Vertebrate Animal Form)
• If work is done is a research facility
• Form 5B and Qualified Scientist Form 2 and Form
  1C
• See p. 18-19 for appropriate vertebrate protocol

17
DVSF Rules- Potentially Hazardous Biological
Agents

• These include projects with
• -microorganisms - ie. Bacteria, virus, prions,
  fungi, and parasites
• -Recombinant DNA
• - human/animal fresh tissues, blood or body
• fluids

18
DVSF Rules- Potentially Hazardous Biological
Agents

• First, conduct a Risk Assessment (p.23)
• Forms must be approved by the SRC prior to the
  start of the experiment.
• No bacteria project may be done in the home.
  Specimens may be collected from the home.
• Exempt from these rules is bakers yeast and
  brewers yeast composting or fuel production
  with manures

19
DVSF Rules- Potentially Hazardous Biological
Agents

• Forms needed for this type of project are
• -Form 1
• -Form 1A(with research plan)
• -Form 1B
• -Form 1C- if applicable
• -Form 2 (Qualified Scientist)
• -Form 6A (Hazardous Risk Assessment)
• - Form 6B (if using tissues or body fluids)

20
DVSF Rules- Potentially Hazardous Biological
Agents

• See p. 22 for the exceptions to the definition of
  what Hazardous Biological Agents such as meat
  purchased from a store, plant tissue, hair,
  sterilized teeth, fossils and prepared slides of
  tissues.
• Must receive SRC prior approval of project.

21
DVSF Rules- Hazardous Chemicals, Activities and
Devices

• A risk assessment must be completed.
• See p. 26 for definition of Hazardous Chemicals
• Forms needed
• - Form 1, 1A(with research plan), 1B
• - Form 1C if done in a research lab
• - Form 2 (Qualified Scientist)- if applicable
• - Form 3 (Risk Assessment Form)

22
DVSF Rules- Continued Projects

• All projects that are a continuation of a project
  from a previous year must complete Form 7 to
  demonstrate how there is significant progress
  done.
• See p. 10 for other criteria regarding the
  definition of a continuation project.
• Includes previous abstracts and research plans/
  Form 1A.

23
DVSF Rules

• The Presentation of the Project
• Maximum Board size 108High(floor to top), 48
  side to side, 30 deep- contact your fair to
  verify these for your fair
• An abstract of the project must be displayed on
  the board or in front(See p. 28. ISEF Official
  Abstract form not required at the regional level.
  

24
DVSF Rules

• Items prohibited from display
• Living organisms including plants
• Animal preserved parts
• Any food type(animal or human)
• All chemicals including water
• Any hazardous substance/device
• Sharp objects
• Flames
• Batteries with open tops

25
DVSF Rules

• Prohibited items
• Previous awards
• Offensive photos
• Photos of dissections, etc
• Glass objects including test tubes
• All photos must have credit as to who took photo.
  Informed consents must be obtained for anyone
  other than the student researcher for their
  picture to be displayed.
• A log book and research paper are highly
  recommended. Your regional fair may differ and
  will require these.

26
DVSF Rules

• If you have any questions regarding
  certification, contact your fair director or Mr.
  Henry Disston at 215-895-5840.
• WWW.dvsf.org