Polk Region Science and Engineering Fair 2011-2012

1. Polk Region Science and Engineering Fair 2011-2012 • Kim Rex – Director • Polk’s Nature Discovery Center • Kim.rex@polk-fl.net 863-668-4673 ext 207 Angela Chapman – Co-Director • Live Breathe Science • 863-701-5951 Milt Huling– Coordinator • Instructional Services • Milton.huling@polk-fl.net • 863-647-4769

2. Polk Region Science and Engineering FairImportant Dates Paperwork Due Dates and SRC meeting October 14th, 2011 Affiliation Agreement, SRC and IRB December 14th, 2011 Electronic Registration completed January 6th, 2012 Student Entry Packets Due January 14th, 2012 SRC meeting – PNDC January 25th, 2012 Paperwork Corrections due to Kim Rex

3. Polk Region Science and Engineering FairImportant Dates Regional Science Fair Polk State College Gymnasium, Winter Haven Tentative Schedule February 2nd, 2012 Project Set Up 3:30 pm. to 7:00 pm.  February 3rd, 2012 Judging 9:30 am. to 12:00 pm February 3rd, 2012 Public Viewing 3:30pm to 7:00 pm February 3rd, 2012 Project Tear Down 7:00 pm. to 7:30 pm. February 4th, 2012 Awards Ceremony 5:30 pm. to 7:00pm Jim Miles PDC

4. The Florida State Science and Engineering Fair is April 3rd-5that the Lakeland Center I will need 10 volunteers to do Display and Safety! The International Science and Engineering Fair is May 13th - May 18th In Pittsburg, Pennsylvania

5. Science Fair Useful Acronyms • ISEF – International Science and Engineering Fair Website: Society for Science & the Public - Intel ISEF - Home Page • FFFS – Florida Foundation for Future Scientists (Governing Board for the Florida State Science and Engineering Fair) Website: http://www.floridassef.net • PRSEF – Polk Region Science and Engineering Fair • SRC – Scientific Review Committee: Reviews all projects. Some have to be reviewed before experimentation and some after. Must include a veterinarian if animal projects are done. • D & S – Display and Safety Committee: Responsible for the set up of fair and projects in addition to ensuring safety of students during judging and public viewing.

6. Affiliation Agreement • The affiliation agreement is due by October 14, 2011 • Schools that affiliate must have a school director attend both the fall meeting and the January SRC. • School Directors will receive a stipend based on attending the meetings and having students participate in regional fair.

7. SRC Each school participating in the PSEF must have a Scientific Review Committee (SRC) composed of a minimum of three persons, including at least: • a biomedical scientist (PhD, MD, DDS, DO, or DVM), • a science teacher • one other member (a second science teacher or administrator) One of the members must be familiar with animal care procedures, when animal experimentation is involved. One member must be named Chairman. A teacher CAN NOT sign as SRC chair for his/her own student. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you have two teachers on your SRC Due October 14th, 2011 to Kim Rex

8. IRB • Each school participating in the PSEF must have an Institutional Review Board (IRB) to review projects involving human subjects in advance of research to evaluate for potential risks. • The IRB requires a minimum of three persons which must include: • a science teacher • a school administrator • A medical doctor, registered nurse, psychologist, or psychiatrist. • Note: A psychologist must be included when the project concerns behavioral research. • One member must be named Chairman. • A teacher CAN NOT sign as SRC chair for his/her own student. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you have two teachers on your SRC • Due October 14th , 2011 to Kim Rex

9. Adult Sponsor • The Adult Sponsor may be a teacher, parent, university professor or scientist in whose lab the student is working. In most cases this will be the teacher. • The Adult Sponsor 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 or animals involved in the study.

10. Basic Information ForAll PSEF Projects Please review this form on Moodle. Important Points: • Ethics • Eligibility • Requirements – pay attention to forms • Continuation/Longitudinal projects • Team Projects

11. Rules and Guidelines This section discusses all the areas of concern • SRC and IRB • Human Projects • Vertebrate Animals • Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents • Hazardous Substances and Devices • Registered Research Institutes • Collection of Specimens • Abstracts

12. Caution Items • Please read this document carefully as these are the little things that can cause a project to be disqualified. • Please refer to the following presentation from ISEF to review all areas of concern: ISEF SRC guidelines

13. AREAS OF CONCERNhttp://www.societyforscience.org/document.doc?id=312 • Human Projects: all projects must have a form 4. If it is checked that there is minimal risk and that informed consent is not needed, there must be a reason given. It is highly recommended that if the project deals with students under age 18, that informed consent be required. Please see Risk assessment on page 14 in rule book. • Non – human vertebrates: must have form 5A andmust have a mortality report. Behavioral observations can be done at home. Note – Change in ISEF rules page 17 # 11 allows for observational studies to be exempt from prior SRC under certain conditions.

14. Areas of Concern • Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents (Microbiology Projects)– a detailed description of aseptic techniques utilized and disposal methods for media and cultures must be included in the Research Plan. Growth of the bacteria has to be done at a research institute or qualified lab. Does not necessarily need a qualified scientist. A new form to determine if a lab meets Biosafety Level 2 requirements can be found on the state website. • Hazardous Chemicals and Devices – need a designated supervisor at the minimum.

15. Research Log Book All students are required to have a Research Log book. The Log should • be a bound or spiral notebook • have Name , School Name, and Teacher written on front cover • be written in ink and not pencil • have every entry dated with place, time and exactly what the student did Please see Log Book guidelinesfor more details.

16. Display and Safety Use the Display and Safety Checklist to make sure that all projects comply before bringing them to Regional Fair. • Make sure that all photos and graphics are credited. • The abstract must be displayed vertically. • If the abstract is marked that the project took place at a registered Research Institute Form 3 must be displayed. • If the abstract is marked that the project is a continuation, Form 7 must be displayed vertically. • If the student uses a picture frame, make sure there is no glass. • No non-functional apparatus may be displayed. • Do not use tacks or staples to put project together.

17. Entry Packets • Submit entries electronically using excel spreadsheet included on Moodle. • Each physical entry packet must include the following: • Project Certification Form – make copies from Moodle. • Typed Entry Form (properly signed and dated) This must be the original. This may be found on www.floridassef.net under student forms. • Copies of all properly signed and dated approval forms DO NOT SEND ORIGINALS. • Six typed abstracts on the State form (one original and 5 copies). http://www.floridassef.net

18. Samples from ISEF and Jewett • Student Handbook and Rubric • Background Research Outline and Rubric • Science Fair Topic Approval • Special Forms and Conditions • Borrowed Equipment • Self Evaluation of Science Fair Project • Roles and Responsibilities of Student Researchers • Judging Tips for Students • Running a School Science Fair • SF jobs (example for School Fair) • Testable Question Worksheet