SCISA STATE SCIENCE FAIR RULES
1. Projects must be contructed by the students entering them. Teachers, other professionals, and technically trained people may only act as advisors.
2. INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM PROJECT: A team may consist of up to three members within the age/grade division. A team project at its home school fair may not then drop the team members and submit a team project as an individual project of the State Science Fair. A team is not permitted to have more than three members at a local (school) science fair and then eliminate members in order to qualify for the State Science Fair. Projects must adhere to all of the same rules as individual projects. The final work should reflect the coordinated efforts of all team members and will be evaluated using the same rules and judging criteria as in the other categories. SEE RULE 13 FOR ADDITIONAL INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM PROJECT INFORMATION.
3. Projects must be self-supporting and constructed durably. Maximum size of Project is:
30 inches (76 centimeters) deep
48 inches (122 centimeters) wide
108 inches (274 centimeters) high (from floor to top of project)
Notify SCISA (via FAX 803-535-4840) IF YOUR PROJECT IS SELF-CONTAINED (NO TABLE NECESSARY).
4. All wiring, switches, and metal parts that carry large electrical charges must be located out of reach of observers.
5. Open knife switches or door bell push buttons may not be used in 110 volt circuits. All electrical apparatus mUst be constructed according to standard electrical safety laws. If in doubt, consult an electrician.
6. EACH PARTICIPANT MUST SUPPLY HIS OWN UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES APPROVED ELECTRICAL CORDS, EXTENSION CORDS, AND ALL OTHER EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES NEEDED TO DISPLAY, PRESENT, AND DESCRIBE SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS.
7. NO LIQUIDS OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING WATER, MAY BE USED IN THE PROJECT DISPLAY. No dangerous or flammable chemicals including caustics and acids may be used in a project display. No open or concealed flames will be allowed. Inert substances may be used in place of disallowed solid substances.
8. No live animals will be permitted in project displays under any circumstances. Appropriate veterinary approval, in writing, must accompany projects in which vertebrate animals have been used as research subjects. In cases where humans are the study subjects, approval must be obtained in writing from a physician or supervising scientist.
9. No organic materials of any kind may be displayed. This includes but is not limited to, live disease causing organisms which are pathogenic to man or other organism, microbacterial cultures, fungi, live or dead, including unknown specimens, plants, soil, insects, food items, and animal parts. This includes taxidermy animals or parts preserved vertebrate or invertebrate animals. Projects using recombinant DNA must use simulations for the display. Photographs, charts, graphs, journals, and research data should be substituted for disallowed display items.
10. The use of human blood, blood products, syringes, pipettes or similar devices is prohibited in displays. If blood is the subject of study, proper documentation and certification from a mentor physician or supervising scientist must be included.
11. Every student who exhibits a project in the SCISA Science Fair must be present and remain until dismissed by the Director.
12. No one will be allowed in the judging area during the actual judging except the exhibitors. One adult representative from each school must remain on campus to be available in case of an emergency.
13. A student may enter only one project (either an individual project or as a team participant) and this project may be entered in only one category. A school may enter no more than a total of seven projects in any combination of team or individual.
14. A school submitting projects for the first time is required to send a designated sponsor to the SCISA SCIENCE FAIR WORKSHOP. The workshop will be held annually at the SCISA State Teacher's Conference in November.
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