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BASEF

BASEF. Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair http://basef.mcmaster.ca. Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation. Ethics, Safety and the Law: Developing Awareness, Understanding & Compliance Tom Crawford BASEF 2003 Judge in Chief. Contents. Background Rules & Reasons Changes

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BASEF

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  1. BASEF Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair http://basef.mcmaster.ca Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation Ethics, Safety and the Law: Developing Awareness, Understanding & ComplianceTom CrawfordBASEF 2003 Judge in Chief Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  2. Contents • Background • Rules & Reasons • Changes • Results to Date • Why This is Difficult • What Works • Next Steps Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  3. BASEF Background • Regional Science Fair for Hamilton & Halton • a 4 day event; rotate among 3 Host sites • 43 consecutive years of operation • A non-profit charitable association • Participation ~ 450 students, 300+ projects • Annual Budget $100,000 (60% for awards) • Honourary Co-Chairs Mayor Wade, Chairman Savoline; Title Sponsor; many others Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  4. Speaker Experience • Active with BASEF Regional Science Fair since 1995 • Delegate or Alternate to CWSF 2000, 2003 • Chaperone to Team Canada at IISEF 2001, 2002 • Involved as judge, Secretary, Chair, Judge-in-Chief • BASEF J-in-C has Safety Responsibilities (SRC, Display) • Electrical / automation engineer, Dofasco Inc. • Many technical and management assignments • Health & Safety is a top priority at Dofasco Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  5. Background • RSFs are required to ensure compliance of projects with a number of rules and regulations: • YSF Rules (2001 Policy Manual) • Provincial & National Legislation • Generally accepted standards (Tri-Council Policy) • IISEF Rules • Wanted to get out of the mode of “Backwards Compliance”, and surprises • Wanted to offer an educational opportunity Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  6. What Rules? • Human Research (ingestion, psychological risk, physical activities) • Hazardous Materials, Apparatus (chemicals, medicines, lasers, microbiologicals) • Vertebrate animals (inhumane treatment) Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  7. Why Bother? • Safety (participants, experimenters, others) • Ethics (risk vs benefit; humane treatment; equality issues) • Law (injury, damage, civil or criminal actions) • Public Relations (participation, sponsorship, volunteers) Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  8. Introduce Scientific Review Form Requirements Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  9. How to Implement Changes • Document Rules Compliance (Forms) • Change in Registration Process • Initial Review by RSF Judge in Chief • Scientific Review (SRC) Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  10. HS Registration & SRC Forms • Forms required for ALL HS participants: • BASEF Parent / School Approval and Release Form • Checklist for Adult Sponsor / Safety Assessment Form (Form 1) • Research Plan and Research Plan Attachment (Form 1A) • ISEF Approval Form (Form 1B) • Other forms: • Registered Research Institutional/Industrial Setting Form ( 1C) • Qualified Scientist Form (Form 2) • Designated Supervisor Form (Form 3) • Human Subjects / *Informed Consent Forms (Form 4A / B) • Non-human Vertebrate Animal Form (Form 5) • Human and Animal Tissue Form (Form 6) • Continuation Project (Form 7) Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  11. Grades 7 & 8 Forms • BASEF Forms for ALL Grades 7 & 8: • Parent / School Approval and Release Form • Project Abstract • Other forms: • Contribution from a Recognized Institution (YSF1; App. L) • Designated Supervisor Form (YSF3; App K, Pg 4-12) • Application for Review of Research with Human Participants (YSF4A; App J, Pg 4-17) • Informed Consent Form (YSF4B; Pg 4-18) • Non-Human Vertebrate Animal Form (YSF5; Pg 4-18) • Continuation Projects Form (YSF7; Pg 4-4) Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  12. Registration Changes Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  13. Initial Review Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  14. Scientific Review Team • A group of adults knowledgeable about regulations concerning experimentation in restricted areas. • not an IRB or school level Ethics Review Committee • Members: • Ethics Consultant; ERB experience • Veterinarian • High School Science Teacher • 2 Elementary School Principals • BASEF Judge in Chief Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  15. Scientific Review Process • Inputs: • All Project abstracts, SRC form expectations • Initial Review results from J in C • Recommended projects to review, with full SRC paperwork (all animal; HR with risk; microbiologicals, etc.) • May request material on other projects Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  16. Scientific Review Process • Results: • Advice on OK / OK with Warning / Reject • Use email, phone discussions extensively • Judge in Chief communicates exceptions to Teachers, Parents • Generally effective; not a priority for improvement. Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  17. Results – High School Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  18. HS Rules Progress • After 4 years, is almost routine. • Still needs some follow-up calls on details. • Small drop-out rate. • Minor differences with YSF Rules (e.g. drugs). • ISEF Rule set is very prescriptive. Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  19. Results – Grades 7 & 8 Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  20. Grade 7 & 8 Rules Progress • Very promising progress. Teachers becoming comfortable with need and process. Boards getting actively involved. • Quality of documents acceptable; lots of variation. • Hazards very acceptable to professionals; less so to others. • Lack of awareness & understanding of rules still common. Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  21. Why This is Difficult • Awareness • Understanding • Credibility (Are You Serious?) Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  22. Awareness • Communicate in many forms: • Post on Website (Rules, etc.) • Articles in Newsletters • Include in Teachers SF Manual • Include in Presentations • Judges Compliments • (Many people don’t read the Rules) Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  23. Understanding • Rules & Details New, Complex: • YSF: 2001 Policy • Tri-Council Policy: ~1998 • Not an issue in the classroom or with the school board. • Not an issue at home. • (Not easy for Me either). Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  24. Credibility • What happens if you don’t do it? • Current state: • Phone Calls, emails, notes, “nuisance” • Opportunity to further communicate • Must be prepared for progressive re-enforcement as part of managing this change. • (This is not fun). Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  25. What Works? • Our SRC team and process. • Good practical advice. • Recognize as change management, continuous process. • Lots of communications. • Support, advice from within School Boards Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  26. Best Advice • Find an Ethics professional. • Proportionate Review. • Consistent. • lots of explanations, discussion; Know Why. • Must be prepared to enforce rules. • Involve School Boards. Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  27. Communications • Website (Rules, News) • Teachers manuals • Newsletters • phone calls, emails Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  28. Board Support • Science curriculum advisors • Research Officers • School Ethics Review Committees • Principal + Teacher(s) • Board Research Officer as Resource • Supportive teachers, Principals Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  29. Next Steps • Must communicate rules to teachers and parents far more effectively and proactively, what the rules (really) are, and what we expect of them. • Communicate results of past fair to targets (teachers, parents, students). • find a reward mechanism. • Need to clarify our own safety decisions (e.g. microbiologicals), as we try to manage the beliefs and experiences of our “target audience”. • Less Paper! Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  30. More on Rules… • YSF Rules are a good starting point • Some confusing parts, omissions, poor wording… • We clarified, structured, rewrote, and added some rules. • get prescriptive; look to ISEF model. Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

  31. Is Safety Important? Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation

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