Middle School Fairs

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the project categories for student projects in Middle School?

  See the full list and description of project categories for Middle School projects here.

• What is pre-approval?

  Students who engage in research in the following categories MUST get prior approval before starting experimentation. This prior approval MUST come from the Statewide Middle School Review Committee for projects that involve

  • Human participants/subjects
  • Hazardous or toxic chemicals
  • Remote Vertebrate Animal projects
  • Potentially hazardous biological agents (e.coli K-12)
  • Research performed in an industrial/institutional setting

  Teachers can request training in order to approve non-restricted projects for experimentation. Email [email protected] to schedule.

  Projects that are NOT in restricted areas do not need approval from the SRC before experimentation. If teachers are unsure of the rules, they should contact MSEF for preliminary review.

• What are the forms I may need to submit for review and approval?

  The following forms must be uploaded to the student’s Middle School Regional zFairs account. In 2024-2025, all of these forms are now available in a combined Paperwork Packet.

  • Forms 1A and 1B : Research Plans and permissions are required for ALL PROJECTS
  • Form C: Human Informed Consent Form that will be given to subjects before experimentation, if applicable
    • Form must be uploaded to zFairs with supervisor approval
    • Human subject signatures should be collected and brought to the fair for proof of consent
  • Form D: Designated Supervisor Form, if applicable

  Student must keep a copy of any/all forms. This will make it easier if any corrections or adjustments are needed.

• What are the pathways to MSEF?

  The two pathways for student participation at the State Fair: Regional Fair Promotion and Direct Entry

  All student projects must go through the Statewide SRC approval system (https://mams.zfairs.com/) before the regional fair is held to participate in either pathway.

  1. Regional Fair Promotion: Through competition at a Regional Fair, top scoring projects are awarded eligibility to enter the statewide Massachusetts Science & Engineering Fair (MSEF).

  • • This is the primary pathway for State Fair participation. Through the Regional Science Fairs, students have the advantage of gaining feedback from expert judges on how to improve their projects and presentation, enabling students to refine their work before the statewide Science Fair.
    • Students will be promoted to MSEF (https://msefms.zfairs.com/) within 5 days of receiving the award at the regional fair.

  2. Direct Entry:In addition to projects awarded entry in the statewide fair, each school may send up to two additional student projects (either individual or team projects).

  • • To qualify for direct entry, a student must already have their project approved by the Statewide SRC before the regional fair is held. This includes any pre-approvals that were required BEFORE experimentation if the project involved any of the restricted areas of research.  If these steps were not taken, the project is not eligible for statewide fair participation.
    • Students must be signed up through their schoolto participate. Direct entry names/projects must be provided and confirmed by the school to MSEF at [email protected] within 5 school days after the date of your regional fair award ceremony. Please specify Middle School. Review these dates at the regional zFairs site. Links can be found here.
• What are the deadlines for submitting projects and registering for the fair(s)?

  Final deadline for ALL projects to be approved for regional or state fair participation is ONE MONTH before your Regional Fair. Paperwork submitted close to this deadline will take longer to review so submit early. Paperwork that is submitted at the deadline and/or is incomplete may not be approved in time for experimentation.

  • Paperwork can be submitted on a rolling basis for review and approval. Submit when you are ready and before experimentation.
  • If your project requires Forms C or D your paperwork must be submitted BEFORE you begin experimentation. Determine a personal deadline that allows for review and experimentation.

  Fair Registration Deadline: Submitting paperwork for approval is not the same as registering for the Fair event, however projects need to be submitted to be eligible to participate. Regional Fairs will reach out to teachers with students in the zFairs platform to ask for the list of participating student. This registration list is due 10 days before your regional fairs.

• What are the materials required to be judged at MSEF?

  

  • Research Plan must be submitted for approval before beginning
  • Project Notebook should be kept up to date throughout the project and displayed at the Fair
  • Project Report with work cited describes the project including methods, analysis, and conclusion. Please include a short project description (2-3 sentences) in your project report and project zFairs profile. Include keywords.
  • Project Display is the visual presentation of your work – typically a trifold but could be a display board and easel
  • Oral presentation that is 5-7 minutes long, plus Q&A with judges

  More information about requirements and related resources can be found in this slideshow.

• Why are there two sets of safety guidelines?

  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.

• Do I have to be at the fair the full day?

  Student Attendance & Award Eligibility

  Students are required to remain at the Fair for the entire event, including the awards ceremony, which is expected to conclude at approximately 3:30 PM.

  Excused vs. Unexcused Absences: 

  • Excused Absences: If a student has an extenuating circumstance and needs to leave early, they must request approval by emailing [email protected] no later than May 8th. Include your teacher on your communication. Approved early dismissals will not be granted before 2 PM, as judging may still be in progress.
  • Unexcused Absences: Students who leave early without prior approval will be marked as having an unexcused absence and will forfeit all awards.

  
  Award Eligibility:

  • Attendance at the awards ceremony is mandatory to receive sponsored awards, as these must be accepted on stage. Students who do not attend the award ceremony will forfeit these awards.
  • Students who have an excused absence may still be eligible for placement awards.
  • Students with an unexcused absence will be ineligible for all awards.

   

  Team Projects:

  If one of your team members is not able to make it to the State Fair, you may still compete, but you will not be eligible for major awards. Please note, YOU MUST EMAIL [email protected] as soon as you know this will be an issue, to inform MSEF.

  What if one of my project members is sick?

  • You may still compete, but you will not be eligible for major awards. Please note, YOU MUST EMAIL [email protected] as soon as you know this is an issue, to inform MSEF.
  • In both cases, if you arrive on the morning of the fair without having informed MSEF in advance, you may not be allowed to compete.

   

  If you have any questions or need to request an early dismissal, please email [email protected] by May 8th.

  Remember to include your teacher in any communication with MSEF.

  Students should not leave the Fair venue without checking out with a Fair staff or volunteer at the designated exit.

• What is Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (JIC)?

  The Thermo Fisher JIC (Junior Innovators Challenge) is a national competition for the top 10% of winners from all middle school regional and state fairs. Students with qualified projects receive a certificate and information about submitting their projects online. It is the student’s responsibility to submit their project by the deadline.

• How do I find my regional zFairs page?

  These pages will have details about the regional fair event. Go to www.scifair.com/fairs to use the map to find your region.

  Region 1: msreg1.zfairs.com	Region 4: msreg4.zfairs.com
  Region 2: msreg2.zfairs.com	Region 5: msreg5.zfairs.com
  Region 3: mareg3.zfairs.com	Region 6: mareg6.zfairs.com

• Where can I find results from past years?

  Results for the 2024 Middle School State Fair Awards can be found here.