Welcome to the Science Fair Congress!

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Welcome to theScience Fair Congress!
Northern Indiana Regional Science and Engineering
Fair Committee
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The Northern Indiana RegionalScience and
Engineering Fair(NIRSEF)

• is affiliated with the Intel International
  Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)

We are one of many regions who send senior
students to compete internationally one of 12 in
Indiana
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Elementary (Gr. 4-6) Junior (Gr. 7 8) Senior
(Gr. 9 12)
REGIONAL FAIR
Junior (Gr. 7 8) Senior (Gr. 9 12)
STATE FAIR
Top Projects
Top Projects
INTERNATIONAL FAIR
Senior (Gr. 9 12)
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PROJECT TYPESIn what ways can we learn?

• Team (up to 3)
• Engineering (test a product or a process apply
  principles)
• Solve an equation or design a model (math)

OR

• Individual
• Science (answer a testable question)
• Create or improve a new algorithm (computers)

OR
OR
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Researching a Project

• How to get it done!

• Pick an idea related to your interests
• Ask questions about what goes on around you
• Talk to friends/family and find out their
  interests/questions
• Do an Internet search on your ideas
• Go to the library and look for ideas
• Dont copy an idea or experiment directly from a
  source.
• Modify it a bit to make it your own research.
• Change a variable Take it in a new direction

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The Project Display Board

• Tips Hints

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Title

• Problem Data Discussion
• (tables, graphs,
• Hypothesis photos) Conclusion/
• Future Action
• Materials
• Results Abstract
• Procedure Bibliography

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Design

• Make sure that the science is the focus of the
  display.
• The center of the board should draw the observers
  attention. Place photographs and graphics here.
• Information should flow from start to finish,
  going from left to right, top to bottom.

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Decorating a Board

• Be careful with over-fancy lettering and
  multi-color letters/backgrounds
• Make sure information contrasts with background
• Make sure everything can be easily read from a
  distance
• Use a large font
• Any borders/colors/decorations should enhance the
  science, not detract from it

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PROJECT JUDGING

• Judges Are
• Industry or academic professionals or
• Graduate/undergraduate students
• Science, math, social science, or engineering
  knowledgeable
• Volunteers who enjoy working with students and
  learning new things!

• Judges Do
• Talk with students at depth about their projects
• Work in teams to get multiple perspectives of
  student work
• Assess what was learned and assign ranking
• Share their knowledge or experiences (clarify
  misconceptions or give a broader picture)

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PROJECT JUDGING

• Criteria
• Creative Ability

the approach to solving the problem the analysis
of the data the interpretation of the data the
use of equipment the construction or design of
new equipment
A creative contribution promotes an efficient and
reliable method for solving a problem. When
evaluating projects, it is important to
distinguish between gadgeteering and ingenuity.
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PROJECT JUDGING

• Criteria

A. Scientific Thought 1. Clear and
unambiguous problem? 2. Too broad or too
narrow? 3. Procedural plan stated? 4. Variables
clearly recognized and defined? 5. If controls
were necessary, were they recognized and
correctly used? 6. Adequate data to support the
conclusions? 7. Datas limitations? 8. Ties to
related research? 9. Any further research
needed? 10. Is scientific literature cited?
B. Engineering Goals 1. Clear objective? 2. Is
the objective relevant to the potential
users needs? 3. Is the solution workable?
acceptable? economically feasible? 4. Utilized
in design/ construction of an end product? 5.
Significant improvement over previous
alternatives? 6. Tested for performance under
the conditions of use?
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PROJECT JUDGING

• Criteria
• Thoroughness

1. Was the purpose carried out to completion
within the scope of the original intent? 2. How
completely was the problem covered? 3. Are the
conclusions based on a single experiment or
replication? 4. How complete are the project
notes? 5. Is the finalist/team aware of other
approaches or theories? 6. How much time did the
finalist or team spend on the project?
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PROJECT JUDGING

• Criteria
• Skill

1. Does finalist/team have required support and
skills to obtain data? 2. Where was project done?
What assistance was given? 3. Was there adults
supervision or did student/team work alone? 4.
Where did equipment come from? Was it built or
loaned? Part of a research lab?
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PROJECT JUDGING

• Criteria
• Clarity

1. Explanation of purpose, procedure and
conclusions clear? Was it memorized without
comprehension of principles? 2. Does written
material reflect student/team understanding? 3.
Are project phases presented in orderly
manner? 4. How clear is data and presented
results? 5. How well does project display present
the project? 6. Was presentation forthright
without tricks, gadgets or incentives? 7. Did
finalist/team perform all project work, or did
someone help?
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PROJECT JUDGING

• Criteria
• Teamwork (for Team Projects)

1. Were team member tasks and contributions
clearly stated? 2. Were team members fully
involved? 3. Is each team member familiar with
all aspects of the work? 4. Does final work
reflect coordinated team effort?
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PROJECT JUDGING

• Ribbon Rankings

• Projects are judged for First, Second, Third or
  Participant ribbons relative to the ISEF judging
  criteria, taking into consideration the grade
  level of the student.
• Each project is judged relative to itself and the
  criteria
• A project which deserves a first place ribbon is
  one in which all criteria are well satisfied. A
  second place might be awarded to a project
  somewhat deficient in one or more categories. A
  third place might be awarded to a project which
  is seriously deficient in one or more categories,
  but which displays a significant effort or
  learning experience (e.g., a "good try").
  Projects which fail to meet any of the above
  would be awarded a Participants Ribbon.
• Judges constructive comments and/or
  encouragement should be offered

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PROJECT JUDGING

• Special Awards

• The NIRSEF offers nearly 130 Special Awards
  sponsored by various groups at all levels
  Elementary, Junior and Senior
• Special Awards may be provided through our
  affiliation with Intel ISEF or by local
  universities, departments, special interest
  groups or local business and industry. In
  addition to awards, many of these groups also
  support the cost of running the fair.
• Special Awards are judged by teams.
  Group-sponsored awards are frequently judged by
  members of the sponsoring group.
• Awards may be certificates, national recognition
  and/or cash prizes!

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CONSIDERING SAFETY AND FAIR PROJECTS
Hazardous Materials

• What to Look for, What to Do

Vertebrate Animals
Biological Problems
Human Subjects
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Potential Research Opportunities

• Want a better vision of research? Heres a
  chance!!

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Additional Science Fair Opportunities

• Intel International Science Engineering Fair
• This is the one we are affiliated with. We send
  some of our competitors directly to this fair,
  and additional competitors are sent to the state
  level competition, which also sends competitors
  to this fair.
• Website http//www.sciserv.org/isef/
• Categories Grades 9-12, primarily individual but
  also some teams
• Format Board presentation, research paper not
  -mandatory- but highly recommended
• Dates Regional competition in mid-March., state
  competition in early April, international in
  mid-May.
• Top Award 50,000 scholarship, trip to the Nobel
  Prize ceremonies in Sweden.

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Additional Science Fair Opportunities

• Intel Science Talent Search
• This is a national level only competition, and is
  restricted to 12th grade individual projects.
  Originally the Westinghouse STS, this is
  considered the most prestigious of all science
  fair competitions. It is also the most
  challenging, with over 1600 research papers
  submitted each year.
• Website http//www.sciserv.org/sts/
• Categories Grade 12, individual only
• Format Written research paper.
• Dates Written paper submitted mid-November, top
  40 have board-type presentation in March.
• Top Award 100,000 scholarship.

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Additional Science Fair Opportunities

• Siemens Westinghouse Science and Technology
  Competition
• Created by Siemens after they bought out
  Westinghouse, dropped sponsorship of the STS, and
  realized what they had lost. This is a combined
  national/regional competition. Submission is
  national by research paper, and those making this
  first cut compete at the regional level in
  board-type presentations. It has both individual
  and team projects competing in separate
  categories, with both 11th and 12th grade
  students eligible.
• Website http//www.siemens-foundation.org/competi
  tion/
• Categories Grades 11 12, team and individual
• Format Written research paper followed by board
  type presentations.
• Dates Research papers due nationally on 10/1,
  regional competition in mid-November, national in
  early December.
• Top Award 100,000 scholarship.

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Additional Science Fair Opportunities

• Junior Sciences Humanities Symposium
• This is an independent oral-presentation based
  competition funded by DOD Qualification for the
  national event is achieved through the Indiana
  regional competition. It is for individual
  projects, grades 9-12, with research papers
  submitted to the Indiana JSHS. The top 15-20 of
  these will give an oral presentation at the state
  competition at Indiana State University in Terre
  Haute, and the top projects among these will go
  on to the national competition.
• Website http//www.jshs.org/
• Categories Grades 9-12, individual only
• Format Written research paper followed by oral
  presentation.
• Dates Research paper due regionally early
  February, regional presentation in mid-March
  (watch for conflicts with NIRSEF), national
  competition in May
• Top Award 16,000 scholarship and trip to IJSHS
  in London.

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Putting It All Together

• What Are the Next Steps?

• Your Local Fair
• Which? When? Who?
• Registering Your School orOrganization
• Informs us you are coming
• Allows us to assign space

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Next Steps (can we help?)

• Gaining Enthusiasm at Your School
• Administration
• Parents/Guardians
• Students
• Holding Your Local Fair
• Send your winners to Notre Dame!

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Questions?

• Any Questions for the Committee?
• Give Aways