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Rules and Guidelines

2024 RULE CHANGES, MODIFICATIONS, AND REMINDERS

The Science and Engineering Fair of Houston is aligned with the Texas Science and Engineering Fair of Houston as well as the International Science and Engineering Fair to ensure a smooth vertical transition between fair competitions. Please view the International Rules & Guidelines as well as the additional documents. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.

SEFH Changes/Reminders:

Individual and team projects

• Students may conduct a science project individually or in teams (max 3 students/team.) Students participating on a team must compete in their appropriate division, either senior (9-12) or junior (6-8).
• Team members must all compete within the same division and shall not be separated to compete in different divisions.
• Students from different school districts may not join to form teams.
• Team membership cannot be changed during a given research year unless there are extenuating circumstances and the local SRC reviews and approves the change, including converting a team project to an individual project or vice versa.

ISEF Rule Changes and Updates

ALL Projects

Regulated Research Institutions (RRI)/ Review Committees (page 7)

Added a section to address “private” laboratories and how to manage approvals.

Independent or private laboratories, such as those established to support student researchers do not meet the requirements of oversight or committee infrastructure to be considered Regulated Research Institutions (RRI). Therefore, such laboratories should be considered the same as high school laboratories as it pertains to the International Rules and the types of projects able to be conducted in this setting. For purposes of documentation, such facilities may complete the Regulated Research Institution/Industrial Setting Form 1C to address the adult supervision and conditions of research.

Human Participant Rules (pages 8-10)

Rule 6 modified to address diagnostic applications in the prohibition of practicing medicine.

1. 6. Students are prohibited from independently diagnosing disease, administering medication, and/or performing medical procedures on human participants.

1. 1. 1. A student may observe and collect data for analysis of medical procedures, medication/treatment efficacy, and diagnosis of illness, only under the direct supervision of a licensed health care provider/professional.
      2. This Healthcare provider/professional must be named in the research plan/ protocol approved by the IRB. The IRB must also confirm that the student is not violating the appropriate practice act (medical, nursing, pharmacy, etc.) of the state or country in which he/she is conducting the research.
      3. Students are prohibited from providing diagnostic or medical information to participants without direct supervision and involvement of a medical professional. This includes publishing diagnostic apps on public websites or app stores without appropriate FDA approvals.

Rule 9 modified to better clarify online survey procedures.

1. 9. Studies that involve the collection of data via use of the internet (e.g., email, web-based surveys) are allowed, but researchers should be aware that they can pose challenges in collecting anonymous data, obtaining informed consent, and ensuring that participants are of the appropriate age to give informed consent.

1. 1. 1. Studies that involve the use of minors in conducting online surveys must have Informed Consent and the parent/guardian of the minor must provide written parental permission before the survey may be given to the minor. The procedures used to obtain parental permission must be described in the Research Plan.
      2. In order to protect the confidentiality of the participants, it is extremely important that IP addresses, as well as the data provided, be safeguarded. Precautions must be delineated in the Research Plan.

Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents (PHBA) Rules (page 15-17)

Exempt Studies (no SRC pre-approval required) page 17 Clarified two exemptions involving microbial fuel cells and baker’s yeast.

1. 1. 1. The following types of studies are exempt from prior SRC review, but require a Risk Assessment Form 3:
         1. Studies involving protists and archaea
         2. Research using manure for composting, fuel production, or other non-culturing experiment
         3. Commercially available color change coliform detection test kits; these kits must remain sealed and must be properly disposed
         4. Studies involving decomposition of vertebrate organisms (such as in forensic projects)
         5. Studies with microbial fuel cells in which the device is sealed during experimentation and disposed of properly at the conclusion of the study

1. 1. 2. The following types of studies involve BSL-1 organisms and are exempt from prior SRC review and require no additional forms:
         1. Studies involving fermentation of baker’s yeast and brewer’s yeast, except in rDNA studies
         2. Studies involving Lactobacillus, Bacillus thuringiensis, nitrogen-fixing, oil-eating, and algae-eating bacteria introduced into their natural environment (not exempt if cultured in a petri dish environment)
         3. Studies involving water or soil microbes not concentrated in media conducive to their microbial growth
         4. Studies of mold growth on food items if the experiment is terminated at the first evidence of mold
         5. Studies of slime molds and edible mushrooms
         6. Studies involving E. coli k–12 (and other strains of E. coli used solely as a food source for C. elegans) that are performed at school and are not subject to additional rules for recombinant DNA studies or use of antibiotic resistant organisms

Hazardous Chemicals, Activities or Devices Rules (page 19- 20)

Rules for ALL Projects Involving Hazardous Chemicals, Activities and Devices page 19

Prescription Drugs section rewritten to more tightly control the use of prescription drugs per current law.

1. 1. 1. Prescription Drugs

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration tightly regulates the issuance of prescriptions and thus they are controlled substances. State laws further regulate the use of prescription drugs and it is unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally to possess a controlled substance unless it was obtained directly from a valid prescription or order of a practitioner while acting in the course of their professional practice. It is also unlawful to use the prescription for persons or purposes outside of the original prescription. All applicable federal, state and country laws must be followed.

1. 1. 1. Students are prohibited from the use of prescription drugs in their study outside of the authority of a practitioner or researcher that has obtained the controlled substance with appropriate approvals and is using the substance for the purpose for which it was prescribed.
         1. Such studies must be conducted with a Qualified Scientist and a Risk Assessment Form 3 is required documentation
         2. Students are further prohibited from providing prescription drugs to human participants
      2. In the case of prescription drugs administered to vertebrate animals, this may only be done under a veterinarian’s supervision and with prescriptions provided for this specific purpose.

Forms

Changes to the forms were minimal and reflected the change of many projects not being conducted in a laboratory environment directly.

Regulated Research Institutional/Industrial Setting Form (1C)

Adjusted the ordering of Question 1 a. and b. sections to allow more room for a response in those situations in which “no” is the response requiring additional descriptions.

Risk Assessment Form (3)

Reordered the terminology of the title box.

Text now reads: Must be completed before experimentation. Required  for projects involving hazardous chemicals, activities or devices and may be needed by other projects.

Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Risk Assessment Form (6A)

Section 3 box to be completed by the Qualified Scientist or Designated Supervisor, first checkbox has been edited to clarify that a copy of the checklist

Experimentation on the microorganisms/cell lines/tissues to be used in this study will NOT be conducted at a Regulated Research Institution, but will be conducted at a (check one) ___BSL-1 or ___BSL-2 laboratory (include a copy of the checklist for BSL2). [This study has been reviewed by the local SRC and the procedures have been approved prior to experimentation.]

To view all ISEF rules and regulations, please visit the Rules and Guidelines: https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/international-rules/ page.

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Project Deadlines

• All entries must be separately completed online for each project.
• Schools only register once.
• Register online through STEM Wizard.
• All entries MUST BE Finalized by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 26, 2024.
• Late entries will not be accepted.

SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT: January 26, 2024, 5:00 PM

For Schools and Teachers

Project Quotas
The Project Entry Quota represents the amount of exhibits (science fair projects may they be individual or team) that may advance to the Science and Engineering Fair of Houston per the criteria presented.

	Private* and parochial schools and districts with one – two high schools	Districts with three – four high schools and / or academies	Districts** with more than four high schools and / or academies
SENIOR DIVISION (grade 9-12)	81 exhibits	120 exhibits	148 exhibits
JUNIOR DIVISION (grade 6-8)	62 exhibits	79 exhibits	96 exhibits

STEM Wizard

1. Access STEM Wizard
2. STEM Wizard: Teacher Guide
3. STEM Wizard: Student Registration Guide
4. STEM Wizard: Understanding File Upload App
5. STEM Wizard: Understanding Files and Forms
6. STEM Wizard: Milestones
7. STEM Wizard: Registration and Messages

If you have questions regarding STEM Wizard such as how to add your school, add students to your class, or add teachers, please get in touch with the SEFH office at info@sefhouston.org.

Forms

1. Student Research Plan Template
2. Safety and Consent Form (Middle School Projects Only)
   • Direction guide to completing this form
3. ISEF Forms (High School Projects)
   1. Checklist for Adult Sponsor (1)
   2. Student Checklist (1A)
   3. Approval Form (1B)
   4. Regulated Research Institutional Setting Form (1C)
   5. Qualified Scientist Form (2)
   6. Risk Assessment Form (3)
   7. Human Participants Form (4)
   8. Human Informed Consent Form
   9. Vertebrate Animal Form (5A)
   10. Vertebrate Animal Form (5B)
   11. Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Risk Assessment Form (6A)
   12. Human and Vertebrate Animal Tissue Form (6B)
   13. Continuation/Research Progression Projects Form (7)
4. ISEF Form Completion Guide
   • Signature help guide and organizer
5. Participation Agreement (High School Projects Only)

RESOURCES:

1. ISEF – Student Science
2. Showboard – A good source for SEFH display boards
3. National Science Teachers Association
4. MadSci – Scientific Reagents and Supplies
5. Education Planet – Science Fair Teacher Resources
6. Science Page – Science Fair Projects and Science Fairs

PROJECT IDEAS:

1. Science Fair Projects on the web
2. Science Bob – Science Fair Ideas

OTHER:

1. ScienceDaily
2. Environmental News Network
3. New Scientist
4. Amateur Science
5. HomeworkSpot – Science Fair Project Center
6. CHEM4KIDS

Doing a Scientific Inquiry Investigation

1. Finding a Topic
   1. Introduction, Pointers and Checklist
   2. Topic Information Sheet
   3. Finding Topic Resources
2. Setting up the Log Book
3. Research-The Next Step
4. Scientific Inquiry Investigation Design Diagram
5. How to Write a Scientific Research Paper
6. The Display
7. Peer Review
8. The Oral Presentation

A Project Scenario

1. Ann’s Abstract
2. Ann’s Topic Information Sheet
3. Ann’s Four Question Topic Selection Strategy
4. Ann’s Design Diagram
5. Ann’s Project
6. How Ann Analyzed the Data

Mentoring Students in Scientific Inquiry Investigation

Doing a Scientific Inquiry Investigation

1. Brainstorming Guidelines
2. Guideline for Engineering Project Proposal
3. How to Write an Abstract

Lessons

1. Comparing Science and Engineering
2. Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process
3. Cereal Slayer Worksheet
4. Science and Engineering Practices
5. Comparing Science and Engineering Practices Worksheet
6. Comparing Science and Engineering Practices Answer Key
7. Experimental Design Diagram
8. Investigatory Project Research topic Approval Form
9. The Starting Point for Scientists
10. Engineering Project Approval Form
11. The Starting Point (For Engineers)
12. Choosing An Engineering Project: Decision Matrix Worksheet
13. The Engineering Notebook
14. Engineering Design – Defining the Problem (An Activity)
15. Exploring a Design Process (The Steps)
16. The Engineering Design Process Graphic Organizer
17. Brainstorming Guidelines
18. Brainstorming
19. Design a Bridge Project
20. Design Challenge Evaluation Rubric
21. How to Compile a Bibliography
22. Sample Bibliographic Formats
23. Guidelines for Engineering Project Proposals
24. The Engineering Project Proposal (A Complete Guide)
25. Oral Presentation Rubric
26. PACING GUIDE
27. Peer Evaluation Group Work Form Sample
28. Science and Engineering Fair Curriculum Checklist
29. Project Assignment and Timeline

The 9th Annual SEFH Seminar – September 10, 2022

1. 9th Annual SEFH Seminar – Welcome
2. SRC Training Resources
3. Engineering Design
4. Experimental Design in Life Sciences
5. Judging Matters
6. Roundtable Discussion
   1. Science Fair Project Development Guide
   2. STEM Investigation Resources
   3. Inquiry Guide
   4. Authentic Science Investigation in the Classroom
   5. Testable Questions

The 8th Annual SEFH Seminar – September 11, 2021

1. 8th Annual SEFH Seminar
2. SRC Training
3. The Road To Results
4. Launching AJ-STEM
5. Judging Matters

Project Deadlines

• All entries must be submitted online by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 26, 2024.
• Each entry must be accompanied by a project competing in the current SEFH season.
• Late entries will not be accepted.

Project Deadlines

• All entries must be submitted to the SEFH, either hand-delivered or postmarked by the due date.
• The submission deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 26, 2024.
• Late entries will not be accepted.
• Office Physical Address:

University of Houston
STEM Center
Lamar Fleming Jr. Building
3585 Cullen Blvd, Room 138
Houston, Texas 77204-5008