PLEASE NOTE that we now require all students to sign up & register for our fairs via our online system known as SEFOS (Science & Engineering Fair Online System), rather than manually completing forms below.
SEFOS will be PERMANENTLY shut down starting on August 15, 2020.
We will be switching over to a new system for the 2021 MSEF.
If you have data on the SEFOS system that you would like to save for future access,
please download that data immediately.
Questions? To contact your REGIONAL Committee, information is located here or contact MSEF directly at sefos@scifair.com.
Once they are available for the upcoming fair season, all of the forms necessary to enter the next Massachusetts High School Science & Engineering Fair will be downloadable via the links below. To ensure cross-platform compatibility and to make downloading as fast as possible all of the forms are available as Adobe PDF files. When printing please chose NONE for the Print Scaling Option (on the Print Settings Window).
Form selection & usage
Refer to the Massachusetts Science & Engineering Fair Student Checklist (1A), Research Plan, Consent Form Checklist, and Manual for proper and appropriate use of these forms. It is the responsibility of participating schools, teachers and students to make additional copies of these forms as needed.
Documents for download
High School Fair Manual
General Instructions for MSEF Forms
MSEF Ethics Statement
Consent Form Checklist
Research Plan Instructions
Forms required for ALL projects:
Form 1A Ind - Individual Student Checklist Every individual student project must fill out this entire form and attach a Research Plan before beginning project experimentation.
Form 1A Team - Team Student Checklist Every team project must fill out this entire form and attach a Research Plan before beginning project experimentation.
Form 1 - Checklist for Teacher/Adult Sponsor This completed form is required for ALL projects and must be completed before experimentation.
Form 1B - Approval Form A completed form is required for each student, including all team members.
Additional Forms (see Consent Form Checklist and Manual for specific requirements):
Form 1C - Registered Research Institutional/Industrial Setting Form This form must be completed after experimentation by the adult supervising the student research conducted in a regulated research institution, industrial setting or any other work site other than home, school or field.
Form 2 - Qualified Scientist Form May be required for research involving human subjects, vertebrate animals, potentially hazardous biological agents, and DEA-controlled Substances. Must be completed and signed before the start of student experimentation.
Form 3 - Risk Assessment Form Required for projects using hazardous chemicals, activities or devices. Must be completed before experimentation.
Form 4 - Human Subjects Form & Informed Consent Form Required for all research involving humans. SRC/IRB approval required before experimentation.
Form 5A - Vertebrate Animal Form Required for all research involving vertebrate animals that is conducted in a Non-Regulated Research Site. SRC approval required before experimentation.
Form 5B - Vertebrate Animal Form Required for all research involving vertebrate animals that is conducted in a Regulated Research Institution. SRC/IACUC approval required before experimentation.
Form 6A - Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Form Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Form Required for all research involving microorganisms, rDNA and fresh/frozen tissue, blood and body fluids. SRC/IACUC/IBC approval required before experimentation.
Form 6B - Human and Vertebrate Animal Tissue Form Required for all projects using fresh tissue, primary cell cultures, blood, blood products and body fluids. If the research involves living organisms, please ensure that the proper human or animal forms are completed. All projects using any tissue listed above, must also complete Form 6A.
Form 7 - Continuation Projects Form Required for projects that are a continuation in the same field of study from a previous project. This form should be accompanied by the previous year's abstract, Form (1A) and Research Plan.
How to submit
Submit COPIES of the Student Checklist (1A), Research Plan, Approval Form (1B) and Checklist for Teacher/Adult Sponsor (1) and other consent forms as necessary to SEFOS. Check with your Regional Fair SRC for exact dates and deadlines or visit the Regional Fair page. Contact the MSEF Scientific Review & Safety Committee Representatives for further assistance.
Important notes
Note: Students are expected to participate in all events of the two-day high school Massachusetts Science & Engineering Fair at MIT. Students are encouraged to schedule their SAT & AP exams to avoid any conflicts with the Fair schedule (read policy here). If this is not possible, students should take these exams in the Cambridge/Boston area so they may arrive at the Fair on time. High school guidance counselors can advise students about how to arrange to take these exams away from students’ respective schools. All students must be present for the public showcase of projects at 12:30 P.M. on the Saturday of the Fair.
Additional information
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR OTHER INQUIRIES: src@scifair.com
MSEF Scientific Review Committee 955 Massachusetts Avenue, #350 Cambridge, MA 02139
