Science Fair 20092010

1
Science Fair 2009-2010

• SMS Science Fair January 19, 2010
• Everyone MUST complete the Science Fair booklet
  (entire scientific method and experiment
  conducted, and a poster completed).
• GT/pre-AP must make a tri-fold display board.
  They may choose to display only (non competition)
  or compete to move on in the science fair.
• Encourage all to participate in the competition
  level.

2
Science Fair 2009-2010

• 7th/8th grade
• 5 individuals will be chosen by the judges to
  move on to Houston Science Engineering Fair
• 1 team will move on
• 6th grade
• TEKS Topic- Product assessments
• Will be judged separately from 7th/8th grade
• Judging will be based well they adhere to and
  display the scientific method.

3
Choosing a Topic
4
Can I do a human study?

• difficult because they rely on people answering
  surveys (and sometimes theyre not completely
  honest)
• any study using humans requires campus
  Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval
• And may required SRC approval from the district
  Science Fair Board (IRB determines if it needs
  further approval.

5
Can I do DNA studies, etc.?

• Can I use potentially hazardous biological
  agents, microorganisms (including bacteria,
  viruses, viroids, prions, fungi, parasites),
  recombinant DNA technologies, human or animal
  fresh tissues, blood or body fluids
• Yes, but they require district SRC approval
  BEFORE you can begin. Significant paperwork is
  involved
• These also may require a risk assessment.
• Conducting these experiments in a home
  environment is strictly prohibited! You must
  have access to a research facility.

6
Can I do plant studies?

• Plant studies take time and effort (i.e. you
  cant wait to the last minute on a plant study!).
  
• difficult to grow in the winter
• greenhouse or temperate location required
• difficult to maintain the controlled variables in
  these experiments during this time of year.

7
Can I compare batteries in 7th grade?

• Product assessments are for 6th grade ONLY.
• Unless you can show the committee the necessity
  to the general population and convince them that
  the analysis is warranted, you will be asked to
  change your topic.

8
Other ideasor not

• Store bought kits do not qualify for science
  experiments.
• Demonstrations are NOT science fair experiments.
• Reports are NOT science fair experiments.
• ALL topics MUST be approved by your science
  teacher.
• You may not change your topic after it has been
  given final approval (changing your topic at the
  last minute reduces the amount of time you have
  to complete it!).

9
Schedule
10
Schedule

• Each grade level has broken down the requirements
  into mini steps. See your grade level
  teacher/packet for deadlines.

11
Example of Mini deadlines

• Oct 21 - Question Title
• Nov 2 - Hypothesis and Research
• Nov 16 - Variables and Materials list
• Dec 7 - Procedures
• Jan 6- Completed data table, Results/Analysis,
  and Conclusion
• Jan 15 - Poster/Tri-Fold

12
Review of Scientific Method
13
Problem/Purpose

• What is your goal?
• What idea are you trying to test?
• What is the scientific question you are trying to
  answer?

14
Hypothesis

• Tell how you think your project can demonstrate
  your purpose.
• Make a prediction regarding the outcome of your
  experiment.
• State the results you are predicting in
  measurable terms.
• IF ____________ THEN _________.

15
Procedures

• Give a detailed explanation of how the experiment
  will be performed to test your hypothesis.
• Be clear about the variables versus your
  controls.
• Be very specific about how you will measure
  results to prove or disprove your hypothesis. You
  may want to develop a regular timetable for
  measuring results or making observations (i.e.
  every hour, every day, every week).
• Your procedure should be like a recipe--another
  person should be able to perform your experiment
  following your procedure. Test this with a friend
  or parent to be sure you have not forgotten
  anything. This is an important part of doing good
  science.

16
Materials

• List all materials and equipment that will be
  used.
• Your list of materials should include all of the
  ingredients of the procedure recipe.

17
Observations/Data/Results

• Keep a detailed journal (laboratory notebook) of
  observations, data and/or results. They can be
  data measurements and written notes about what
  you are sensing (hearing, seeing, or touching)
  about your experiment. Utilize the International
  System of Units where appropriate.
• Where appropriate, have both Control and
  Experimental groups.
• When possible, collect enough data for a
  statistical analysis.
• Photograph your project results or phases of the
  project if appropriate to help your analysis and
  possibly to demonstrate your experiment on your
  exhibit board. Note the section in the HSEF
  guidelines pertaining to photographs and other
  visual depictions in the Display Rules and Safety
  Regulations.
• Use charts, graphs and tables to summarize your
  data. You may want to use a portable electronic
  device to illustrate some portions of your
  project.

18
Analysis

• Explain your observations, data and/or results.
  This is a summary of what your data has shown
  you.
• List the main points of what you've learned.
• Why did the results occur? What did your
  experiment prove?
• Was your hypothesis correct? Did your experiment
  prove or disprove your hypothesis?

19
Conclusion

• Answer your problem/purpose statement.
• What does it all add up to? What is the value of
  your project?
• What further study do you recommend given the
  results of your experiment? What would be the
  next question to ask?
• If you repeated your project, what would you
  change?

20
How much help should we help my student with
his/her project?

• Be a guideline or sounding board.
• The student should do all the work UNLESS it is a
  safety issue.
• They must come to their own conclusions
• The student must be able to explain their project
  and answer questions to the judges.

21
END of SMS INFO

• Begin Houston Science Engineering Fair Rule
  Guidelines
• http//hunstem.uhd.edu/SEFH/sefh.html

22
INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR

• Rules and Guidelines

23
Adult Roles and Responsibilities

• Adult Sponsor
• Designated Supervisor
• Qualified Scientist
• IRB
• SRC

24
Adult Sponsor

• Oversees project
• Completes Form 1 Checklist for Adult Sponsor

25
(No Transcript)
26
Designated Supervisor

• Supervises project when Qualified Scientist
  cannot directly supervise
• Animal Care Supervisor for animal projects
• Supervises projects using Hazardous Chemicals,
  Activities or Devices

27
Qualified Scientist

• Required for some projects
• Possesses doctoral or professional degree related
  to student research
• Completes Form 2 QS Form

28
(No Transcript)
29
IRB (Institutional Review Board)

• Reviews human subject studies
• Membership
• science educator
• school administrator
• someone knowledgeable about evaluating risk MD,
  PA, RN, psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed
  social worker or licensed clinical professional
  counselor

30
SRC (Scientific Review Committee)

• Reviews some projects before experimentation
• Reviews all projects just prior to competition
• Membership
• biomedical scientist (Ph.D., M.D., D.V.M.,
  D.D.S., D.O.)
• science educator
• At least one other member

31
HUMAN SUBJECTS
32
What are human subjects studies?

• Human Subjects studies involve living individuals
  where there is
• Intervention or interaction with subjects
• and/or
• Collection of identifiable private information

33
What types of projects not human subjects
research?

• Product testing
• No health hazards
• No personal data collected
• Feedback directly related to product
• Pre-existing data/record review studies
• Behavioral observations of unrestricted public
  settings
• No interaction
• No manipulation of environment
• No recording of any personal identifiers

34
Human Subjects Studies

• Require IRB review and approval of research plan
  before experimentation begins
• IRB evaluates and determines
• Risk level
• Requirement for informed consent
• Requirement for Qualified Scientist

35
Requirements for projects with pre-existing data
sets

• Publicly available data no IRB review
• Data not de-identified require IRB approval and
  may require informed consent
• Data de-identified/anonymous will not require IRB
  approval if
• Data provider certifies de-identification and
  compliance with HIPAA
• Final SRC review confirms above

36
Risk Evaluation for Human Subjects Research
37
Risk Groups (vulnerable to coercion or undue
influence)

• Naturally at risk because of disease (AIDS,
  psychiatric disorders, cardiac disorders, etc.)
• Members of vulnerable groups covered by federal
  regulations
• Children/minors
• Prisoners
• Pregnant women

38
Risk activities (more than minimal risk)

• Exercise
• Ingestion, tasting, smelling, or application of a
  substance of a potentially hazardous material
• Emotional stress survey, stimuli
• Invasion of privacy
• Breech of confidentiality

39
Informed consent required

• When more than minimal risk
• If IRB determines that potentially there could be
  emotional stress
• When subjects belong to risk group
• IRB can waive informed consent

40
IRB can waive requirement of informed consent if

• study with minimal risk and,
• anonymous data collection and,
• one of the following
• Study of normal educational practices
• Behavior study where no manipulation
• Surveys of perception, cognition, game theory
• Physical activity with no more than minimal risk
  (daily activity, routine physical activities)

41

• IRB decisions and documentation of informed
  consent are noted on Form 4

42
(No Transcript)
43
VERTEBRATE ANIMALS
44
What is a vertebrate animal?

• Live, nonhuman vertebrate mammalian embryos or
  fetus
• Bird and reptile eggs within 3 days of hatching
• All other nonhuman vertebrates at hatching or
  birth

45
Prohibited studies

• Induced toxicity studies involving a poison or
  toxin that could impair health or destroy life
• Behavioral experiments with
• Operant conditioning with aversive stimuli
• Mother/infant separation
• Induced/learned helplessness
• Studies of pain
• Predator/vertebrate prey experiments

46
Additional prohibitions

• A weight loss or growth retardation of 15 or
  more in any group or subgroup is not permitted
• A death rate of 30 or greater in any group or
  subgroup is not permitted

47
Behavioral observations are exempt from prior SRC
review if

• No interaction with animals being observed
• and
• No manipulations of environment
• and
• All federal/state fish, game, and wildlife
  regulations are followed.

48
Non-regulated vs. regulated sites

• Examples of non-regulated sites
• Home
• School
• Farm
• Ranch
• Field

• Examples of regulated sites (Have an IACUC Review
  and Approval process)
• Universities
• Government research agencies
• Private research laboratories

49
Additional non-regulated research sites may
include those studies using

• Animals in their natural environment
• Animals in zoological parks
• Livestock that employ standard agricultural
  practices

50
Requirements for studies at non-regulated sites

• Agricultural, behavioral, observational or
  supplemental nutritional studies
• and
• Non-invasive and non-intrusive with no negative
  effect on animals health or well-being
• and
• Require SRC review and approval

51
Adult Supervisors

• SRC determines requirement of any or all of the
  following adults
• Designated Supervisor
• Veterinarian
• Qualified Scientist
• Form 5A required

52
(No Transcript)
53
Requirements for studies at regulated sites

• Must be approved by IACUC (Institutional Animal
  Care and Use Committee)
• Local SRC should review project before
  experimentation
• Experimentation must follow ISEF guidelines and
  adhere to restrictions regarding pain
• Qualified Scientist completes Form 5B which
  includes documentation of IACUC approval

54
(No Transcript)
55
POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS BIOLOGICAL AGENTS
56
Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents

• Microorganisms (including bacteria, viruses,
  fungi, etc.)
• Recombinant DNA technologies
• Human or animal fresh/frozen tissues, blood or
  body fluids
• All above studies require a risk assessment

57
Risk Assessment

• Defines potential level of harm, injury or
  disease to plants, animals or humans
• Involves
• Assignment of bio. agent to risk group
• Determination of level of biological containment
• Assessment of expertise of adult(s)
• Assignment of final biosafety level

58
Overview

• BSL 1 studies can usually be conducted in a high
  school or college teaching laboratory.
• BSL 2 studies are usually conducted in a
  regulated research institution
• BSL 3 and BSL 4 studies are prohibited for ISEF
  projects
• Form 6A (potentially biological agents form)
  required for all projects involving
  microorganisms, rDNA and fresh/frozen tissue

59
(No Transcript)
60
All Studies Involving Potentially Hazardous
Biological Agents

• Must have prior approval by SRC/IACUC
• All studies are prohibited in a home environment
• Studies intended to produce or genetically
  engineer bacteria with multiple antibiotic
  resistance are prohibited
• Biosafety level 3 and 4 studies are prohibited

61
Exempt from prior SRC review no additional
forms required

• Studies using bakers and brewers yeast (except
  for rDNA studies)
• Coliform water test kits
• Studies using Lactobacillus, B. thurgensis,
  nitrogen-fixing bacteria, oil-eating bacteria
  and algae-eating bacteria in natural environment

62
Exempt from prior SRC review requires Risk
Assessment Form 3

• Studies involving protists, archae and similar
  microorganisms
• Research involving manure for composting or other
  non-culturing experiments and fuel production

63
Unknown microorganisms

• BSL 1 if
• Organisms cultured in plastic petri dish or
  petrifilm
• Culture dish remains sealed throughout experiment
• Culture dish disposed of in appropriate manner
• BSL 2 if petri dish is opened

64
rDNA technologies

• Experiments with BSL 1 organisms can be done in
  BSL 1 lab with a Qualified Scientist or trained
  Designated Supervisor
• Experiments with BSL 2 organisms must be done in
  a regulated research institution with a Qualified
  Scientist

65
Tissues

• If animal euthanized solely for student project
  vertebrate animal study
• If animal euthanized for a purpose other than
  student project tissue study

66

• Classification as BSL 1 or 2 based on source and
  possibility of containing infectious agents
• All studies with human or wild animal blood BSL
  2. Domestic animal blood BSL 1
• Human body fluids identified with individual must
  have IRB approval

67

• Exempt
• Plant tissues
• Established cell and tissue cultures
• Meat and meat by-products grocery stores,
  restaurants, packing houses
• Hair
• Sterilized teeth
• Fossilized tissue/archeological specimens
• Prepared fixed tissue slides

68
Form 6B

• Required for all projects using
• Fresh/frozen tissue
• Primary cell cultures
• Blood and blood products
• Body fluids

69
(No Transcript)
70
HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS, ACTIVITIES OR DEVICES
71
Hazardous Chemicals, Activities or Devices

• Includes
• Chemicals
• Equipment
• DEA-Controlled Substances
• Prescription Drugs
• Alcohol and Tobacco
• Firearms and Explosives
• Radiation

72
General Rules

• Do not require prior SRC review and approval
• All studies require a Risk Assessment documented
  on Form 3
• DEA- controlled substances require a Qualified
  Scientist
• All other studies require a Designated Supervisor

73

• DEA-Controlled Sustances
• Consult DEA list of controlled substances
• All studies require Qualified Scientist
• Schedule 1 requires DEA protocol review
• Prescription Drugs
• Cannot administer to human subjects
• Animal administation must follow ISEF animal
  guidelines

74

• Alcohol and Tobacco
• Must follow local laws for purchase, possession
  and consumption
• Home production of ethyl alcohol must follow U.S.
  Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)
  regulations
• Alcohol distillation for fuel production can be
  conducted at school with TTB permit obtained by
  school officials

75

• Firearms and Explosives
• Must check local training and certification
  requirements
• Hazardous Chemicals
• Refer to MSDS Sheets for safety and handling
  guidelines

76

• Hazardous Devices
• Involve level of risk beyond that encountered in
  students everyday life
• Radiation
• Non-ionizing
• Ionizing

77
Form 3

• Required for all projects involving
• DEA-Controlled Substances
• Prescription Drugs
• Alcohol and Tobacco
• Hazardous Chemicals
• Hazardous Devices
• Radiation

78
(No Transcript)
79
Forms required for all projects
80
(No Transcript)
81
(No Transcript)
82
(No Transcript)
83
(No Transcript)
84

• Studies conducted at research institution/industri
  al setting or any work site other than home,
  school or field require Form 1C

85
(No Transcript)
86
Continuation studies

• Project based on prior research in the same field
  of study
• Longitudinal studies are permitted
• Multi-year study
• Studies time-based change
• Require form 7

87
(No Transcript)