Science Fair Projects

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Science Fair Projects

• Susann Doyle-Portillo, Ph.D.
• Chair, SRC/IRB GCSEF

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Why have students do a science fair project?

• Science projects can help build
• Creativity
• Motivation
• Critical thinking skills
• Research skills
• Writing skills
• Mathematical skills
• Communication skills
• Social skills (team projects)

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• Science fair projects also give students a chance
  to learn in a hands-on fashion, which may reach
  some students that are not reached by more
  traditional methods.

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• At the GCSEF students have an opportunity to
  compete for prizes and a chance to go to state
• Prizes for 2006 have not been determined, but
  past prizes have included medals, ribbons,
  savings bonds, full scholarships to Gainesville
  College, magazine subscriptions, t-shirts, etc.

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Science Fair Hierarchy

• ISEF
• GSEF
• GCSEF
• Your Schools Fair

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Getting Started

• Commit to the idea of having students do projects
• Have students volunteer
• Make projects mandatory
• You can have projects or parts of projects
  function as assignments. Some schools use
  projects as cross-disciplinary projects (e.g.,
  language arts and science).

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Read the Rule Book!

• State Science Fair rules are rather complex, but
  once you get a handle on them, its not so bad.
• As soon as you receive a card from us in the
  fall, log on and download a copy of the rule
  book. (www.uga.edu.oasp)
• Reading the book will familiarize you with the
  various paperwork requirements for different
  types of projects.

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Required Forms

• All of this is subject to change when the state
  revises the rule book for 2006.
• But..
• All projects require
• A Sponsor
• An Application
• An Official Abstract Form
• Form 1- Adult Sponsor Check Sheet
• Form 1A or Team 1A- Research Plan Attachment
• Form 1B- Approval Form

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Some Projects Require Additional Forms

• Any project involving human subjects
• Any project involving vertebrates
• Any project involving blood/tissues
• Any project involving pathogens (all molds are
  considered pathogens)
• Any project involving hazardous materials or
  devices (e.g., chemicals, including some
  household radiation, welders, etc.)

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Continued

• Any project conducted in a laboratory outside of
  the school
• Any project that is a continuation from the
  previous year

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These Projects May Require

• Paperwork specific to the project type (e.g.,
  Forms 1C 7)
• Qualified Scientists or designated supervisors
• SRC/IRB Approval

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These Projects Require SRC/IRB Approval PRIOR to
Experimentation

• Any project involving human subjects
• Any project involving vertebrates
• Any project involving blood/tissues
• Any project involving pathogens (all molds are
  considered pathogens)

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SRC/IRB Membership

• IRB A science teacher, school administrator, a
  human subjects specialist (MD, RN, psychologist,
  psychiatrist, PA, or MSW)
• SRC biomedical scientist (Ph.D., DVM, MD, DO, or
  DDS), science teacher, and one other member
• You can combine committees
• For example Psychologist, School administrator,
  science teacher, DVM

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FAQs About SRC/IRB

• Do We Have to Have an IRB/SRC?
• Only if your students will do projects that
  require SRC/IRB approval.
• My school doesnt require SRC/IRB for our local
  fair. Can we go back and approve projects after
  they have been completed?
• No
• Why do we have to go through SRC/IRB approval?
• State regulations require it. It protects
  everyone involved- the student, subjects, and the
  school. Its good training for students.

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How Can I Get Through This with a Minimum of
Stress?

• Read the rule book BEFORE you begin having
  students work on projects.
• Possibly set up an SRC/IRB at the system or GYSTC
  level
• Make some contacts with professionals in the
  community to serve as qualified scientists
  perhaps your local PTO/PTA can help with this.

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Continued

• Direct students to do projects that require less
  approval and less paper work-
• i.e., no tissues, animals, humans, pathogens, or
  hazardous materials/equipment.
• Get parents involved. Send copies of the rule
  book home.
• Have students work in teams to reduce the number
  of projects you sponsor

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Where Can Students Get Ideas for Projects?

• From material covered in courses (e.g., science
  or social science classes)
• From their own curiosity (my favorite)
• Do brainstorming exercises with students
• From their own research
• From a science fair web site (my least favorite
  because it stifles creativity and critical
  thinking)

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Project Components

• 3-sided Poster (be sure to follow display rules
  listed in rule book)
• Project Notebook (Contains originals of all forms
  and the research report)
• Log Book (Contains all notes on the project and
  raw data)
• Official Abstract Form

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