Explore the most recent High School Manual for requirements, regulations and expectations for the fair.
Please see manual for more details
1.
A project may include no more than 12 months of continuous research and may not include research performed before January of the year prior to the fair.
2.
Individual projects must be entirely the work of the individual student and team projects (up to 3) must be entirely the work of the team.
3.
Required forms must be submitted to the Regional Scientific Review Committee for approval BEFORE starting experimentation.
4.
Students are required to keep a bound or digital notebook with original and dated entries to record each step taking in the development of the project.
5.
Students must have a final lab report, complete with works cited. This should include all the steps of the scientific method or the engineering design process.
6.
Students must have a visual display prepared for presentation at the Fair. Consult the manual for restrictions on materials for the Fair presentation and venue.
Judges (professionals and academics in STEM) volunteer their time to review student projects. Judge scores are based on a student’s understanding of their project, not it’s sophistication. Review the Judges Rubric with your students to help them prepare for the experience.
Students who engage in research in the following categories MUST get prior approval before starting experimentation. This prior approval MUST come from the Regional High School Scientific Review Committee (SRC) for projects that involve
The following forms are required:
For students who have participated in a project in past years, please consider if you need form 7 completed. It’s full title is “Continuation/Research Progression Project”. Sometimes this form is needed even if this year’s project is distinct from last years. This form is designed to clearly outline those differences. It is not saying that you are just continuing to work on the same old project, but rather you have progressed forward with your research which is a valuable experience in STEM. This excerpt from page 8 of the manual says it well,:
“As in the professional world, research projects may build on work performed previously. A valid continuation project is a sound scientific endeavor. … These projects must document that the additional research is a substantive expansion from prior work (e.g., testing a new variable or new line of investigation).”
The two pathways for student participation at the State Fair: Regional Fair Promotion and Direct Entry
All student projects must go through the Regional Fair approval systems before the regional fair is held to participate in either pathway.
Your presentation should tell the story of your project so that it explains your project and shows your understanding and interest in your work. This is a recommended format.
There are several accepted formats for a Final Report, also called a Research Paper or a Lab Report. This is one recommendation:
Science Research
Engineering
Your lab notebook should be worked on throughout the duration of your project. This is the ‘journal’ of your work. These handbooks have helpful sections for components of your project.
You can update your project, but you cannot add any new procedures. You can repeat trials, but not try to test something in a new way. You must stay consistent with your research plan that was reviewed and approved by the SRC committees. Fixing up slides and graphs is fine and even encouraged!
You should not rename your project or change categories for judging after the Regional Fair.
Click HERE for a combined rubric for Science, Engineering and Math Projects
MSEF realizes that there may be conflicts with the scheduling of SAT and AP exams and MSEF events. However, please note that science fair students have the option to schedule these exams without conflict. Please reach out to MSEF at info@scifair.com with questions.
One set of safety guidelines refers to the time during which you are doing your experiment. The other set of safety guidelines refers to what you can bring the day of the science fair as part of your project display. Some of the guidelines overlap, but there are differences, so be sure to look at both sets. Consult the manual for more information. On the day of the science fair, there will be safety checks of all projects before the judging takes place.
ISEF, (International Science and Engineering Fair) is a national competition for top high school winners from the Regional Fairs. MSEF informs students of their selection and provides all necessary information for participation. Due to the timing of the Fairs, it is not possible to qualify for ISEF at the statewide fair.