1. Science Fair Projects
Your Student Guide

2. Step 1 The Timeline Project Timeline for Duran North’s Science Fair
Media Center
January 25-26, 2018
No models, demonstrations or collection projects – your project must be an experiment.
Projects will be judged on Tuesday, January 25, The Science fair will be open for public viewing on Wednesday, January 26. Category winners will go on to the UAB-CORD Central Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair on Saturday, March 3, Winners at the UAB fair will go on to the state competition in late March or early April.
1: Selection of Topic and Approval
Due12/11/17
50 Points
2. Hypothesis Statement and Planning
Due 1/10/118
3. Experiment – Notebook Check (Keep a running journal of all project activity)
Due 1/17/18

3. Timeline Cont. 4. Research Paper and Abstract Due 1/19/18 100 Points
5. Exhibit – Display Board
Due 1/24/18
6. Judging/Presentation
Due 1/25/18
This is a required, individual project for all Honors Science students. The entire project is worth 450 points.
More information and all necessary forms for entry in Duran’s science fair are located at Central Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair (CARSEF)

4. Timeline Cont.
On December 11th each student is to turn in a single, typed page containing the following information:
Project title – The question you will try to answer
Discussion about the purpose of the experiment – what you hope to find out
Evidence of preliminary research – what is already known about your topic.
Your science teacher will review this information and either approve your project or note required changes.
In addition to this information the Individual Entry Form found in the Forms and Applications section of the CARSEF website must be completed and signed by both the student and parent. Based on the nature of the project specific additional forms must be filled out. These forms will be discussed with each student. A checklist of forms required for each individual project will be given.
On January 10th each student is to submit a typed:
Formal hypothesis statement (If …then … because)
Discussion of how the experiment will be carried out including sections on the Materials List and Procedures, which must be written as numbered steps.
All CARSEF forms must be completed and turned in.
On January 17th each student is to submit a “science notebook” detailing the plan and organization for the experiment. Records of data collected, photographs (no student faces can be in the pictures), and other evidence of progress must be included and will be reviewed. The notebook will be returned to the student at the end of this class period. The science notebook can be a folder, spiral notebook, binder or composition book.
On January 19th each student is to submit a typed research paper and abstract. The form on which the abstract must be typed can be found in the Forms and Applications section of the CARSEF website. A PowerPoint presentation about writing abstracts is located in the Presentation section of my webpage on Duran’s website. The research paper should be approximately 4-6 pages and double spaced with a font size of 12 – 14. A formal bibliography must be included. This paper must contain research information related to the project’s topic and a formal lab report. A scoring rubric for the paper will be posted on your teacher’s webpage in early January.
On January 25th each student is to set up their display board and will be interviewed by the judges. The Science Fair will be held in the Media Center here at Duran. Do not count on having access to an electrical outlet. All projects must be in place by 7:50 a.m. Judging will be held during science and PE class.
On January 26th the Science Fair will be opened to public viewing. By 3:30 pm all display materials must be removed from the Media Center. Winning science fair projects will go on to regional competition.
Additional websites to assist you in your project preparation include Science Fair Project Ideas, Answers, & Tools and The second website contains a student guide to a successful project and includes a section on how to layout the display board. You must follow this layout.

5. Step 2 Topic Research Find an experiment, not a demonstration.
It should be original or a modification of one already done (do not copy someone else’s experiment).
Make sure only one factor is being measured. (time, growth, distance, power, etc.)
List the dependent variable (the one being measured) and the independent variable (does not change) in the report.
Make sure your project is safe and has been approved by parents and faculty.
Do not plagiarize, copy, or cut and paste material without giving credit to the original author.

6. Step 3 Proposal (3 options)

7. Proposal
Due December 11th

8. Student Check List 1A This form is required for ALL projects.
Page 30 International Rules: Guidelines for Science and Engineering Fairs 2017 – 2018, student.societyforscience.org/intel-isef
Student Checklist (1A)
1. a. Student/Team Leader: __________________________ Grade:____ ____________________________ Phone:___________________
2. Title of Project: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. School: __________________________________________School Phone:_____________________
School Address:_______________________________________________________________________
4. Adult Sponsor: ____________________________________Phone/ _________________________________________________________
5. Does this project need SRC/IRB/IACUC or other pre-approval? o Yes or No Tentative start date: ______________
6. Is this a continuation/progression from a previous year? Yes or No
7. This year’s laboratory experiment/data collection:
Actual Start Date: (mm/dd/yy) _____________End Date: (mm/dd/yy)________________
8. Where will you conduct your experimentation? (check all that apply)
o Research Institution o School o Field o Home o Other: ________________________
9. List name and address of all non-home and non-school work site(s):
Name: ______________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________________
Phone/ ____________________________________________________________________
10. Complete a Research Plan/Project Summary following the Research Plan/Project Summary instructions and attach to this form.
11. An abstract is required for all projects after experimentation.

9. Research Plan A complete Research Plan/Project Summary is required for ALL projects and must accompany Student Checklist (1A).
All projects must have a Research Plan/Project Summary
a. Written prior to experimentation following the instructions below to detail the rationale, research question(s), methodology, and risk assessment of the proposed research.
b. If changes are made during the research, such changes can be added to the original research plan as an addendum, recognizing that some changes may require returning to the IRB or SRC for appropriate review and approvals. If no additional approvals are required, this addendum serves as a project summary to explain research that was conducted.
c. If no changes are made from the original research plan, no project summary is required.
Some studies, such as an engineering design or mathematics projects, will be less detailed in the initial project plan and will change through the course of research. If such changes occur, a project summary that explains what was done is required and can be appended to the original research plan.
The Research Plan/Project Summary should include the following:
a. RATIONALE: Include a brief synopsis of the background that supports your research problem and explain why this research is important and if applicable, explain any societal impact of your research.
b. RESEARCH QUESTION(S), HYPOTHESIS(ES), ENGINEERING GOAL(S), EXPECTED OUTCOMES: How is this based on the rationale described above?
c. Describe the following in detail: Procedures: Detail all procedures and experimental design including methods for data collection. Describe only your project. Do not include work done by mentor or others.
Risk and Safety: Identify any potential risks and safety precautions needed.
Data Analysis: Describe the procedures you will use to analyze the data/results.
d. BIBLIOGRAPHY: List major references (e.g. science journal articles, books, internet sites) from your literature review. If you plan

10. Research Plan
Items 1–4 below are subject-specific guidelines for additional items to be included in your research plan/project summary as applicable.
Human participants research:
a. Participants: Describe age range, gender, racial/ethnic composition of participants. Identify vulnerable populations (minors, pregnant women, prisoners, mentally disabled or economically disadvantaged).
b. Recruitment: Where will you find your participants? How will they be invited to participate?
c. Methods: What will participants be asked to do? Will you use any surveys, questionnaires or tests? What is the frequency and length of time involved for each subject?
d. Risk Assessment: What are the risks or potential discomforts (physical, psychological, time involved, social, legal, etc.) to participants? How will you minimize risks? List any benefits to society or participants.
e. Protection of Privacy: Will identifiable information (e.g., names, telephone numbers, birth dates, addresses) be collected? Will data be confidential/anonymous? If anonymous, describe how the data will be collected. If not anonymous, what procedures are in place for safeguarding confidentiality? Where will data be stored? Who will have access to the data? What will you do with the data after the study?
f. Informed Consent Process: Describe how you will inform participants about the purpose of the study, what they will be asked to do, that their participation is voluntary and they have the right to stop at any time.

11. Research Plan Vertebrate animal research:
a. Discuss potential ALTERNATIVES to vertebrate animal use and present justification for use of vertebrates.
b. Explain potential impact or contribution of this research.
c. Detail all procedures to be used, including methods used to minimize potential discomfort, distress, pain and injury to the animals and detailed chemical concentrations and drug dosages.
d. Detail animal numbers, species, strain, sex, age, source, etc., include justification of the numbers planned.
e. Describe housing and oversight of daily care
f. Discuss disposition of the animals at the termination of the study.
Potentially hazardous biological agents research: a. Give source of the organism and describe BSL assessment process and BSL determination.
b. Detail safety precautions and discuss methods of disposal.
Hazardous chemicals, activities & devices:
• Describe Risk Assessment process, supervision, safety precautions and methods of disposal.0

12. Project Board Due Jan. 24th

13. What Is an Abstract?
A brief, written explanation of the research project, consisting of a succinct description of the project’s purpose, the procedures followed, the data collected, and the conclusions reached.
A clear and simple summary statement of the main points of the experiment
A self-contained statement that must make sense all by itself.

14. ISEF Abstract Rules
Intel ISEF rules require each Finalist to write an abstract of no more than 250 words to be displayed with the project.
An abstract gives the essence of the project in a brief but complete form to judges and the public viewing the Finalist’s project.
Once approved, SRC provides the Finalist with two embossed copies of the abstract, one to display vertically at the project and the other to make copies to handout to judges and the public on visitors’ day.

15. The abstract must focus on the current year's research and give only minimal reference to previous work.
Details and discussions should not be included in the abstract, but may be put in the longer, written research paper (if required), or given on the project exhibit board.
Finalists at the Intel ISEF are required to use the on-line system for submitting their abstract. Regional and local fairs use the Official Abstract Form (not necessary for most local fairs).
In addition, abstracts must not include acknowledgments (such as referencing mentor or university laboratory).

16. Review of Abstract’s Purpose
Provides SRC a quick study of your project as it is an overview of the purpose, means, and result of research.
Helps judges (both special and category) discern quickly whether the project qualifies for specific awards and whether the research is significant in its specific area.
Informs visitors to ISEF (students, teachers, and the public at large) of the nature of the research.

17. Steps in Developing Abstract
Begin with a Research Project Prospectus to outline the research project. A prospectus helps the researcher identify the nature and scope of the investigation, research methods, and anticipated conclusions and/or applications. An example of such a prospectus follows:

18. Sample Research Project Prospectus
Possible Title:
Name:
School:
Purpose of project / experiment
In a sentence of 25 words or fewer, explain the reason for your research project or a hypothesis you have selected to test.
Methods of research
Explain in a sentence or two how you plan to research your topic. What methods will you use? What resources will you need?
Data/Observations
Determine what data do you need to collect and what difficulties you may encounter as you research.
Conclusions/Applications
Explain in a sentence or two what results you anticipate your research will produce. What conclusions or applications do you hope to be able to explain?

19. Once the research is completed and you are ready to show your project, use an Abstract Template to write a draft of the abstract. The following example was created using a table format in a Word document.

20. Sample Abstract Template Due January 19th
Title
Name
School
Purpose of project / experiment:
An introductory statement of the reason for investigating the topic of the project.
A statement of the problem or hypothesis being studied.
Summarize procedures, emphasizing the key points or steps:
A summarization of the key points and an overview of how the investigation was conducted.
Omit details about the materials used unless it greatly influenced the procedure or had to be developed to do the investigation.
An abstract should only include procedures done by the student. Work done by a mentor (such as surgical procedures) or work done prior to student involvement must not be included.
Detail succinctly observations/data/results:
This section should provide key results that lead directly to the conclusions you have drawn.
It should not give too many details about the results nor include charts or graphs.
State conclusions/applications.

21. Explanation of Parts Purpose of the Experiment
An introductory statement of the reason for investigating the topic of the project.
A statement of the problem or hypothesis being studied.
Procedures Used
A summarization of the key points and an overview of how the investigation was conducted.
An abstract does not give details about the materials used unless it greatly influenced the procedure or had to be developed to do the investigation.
An abstract should only include procedures done by the student. Work done by a mentor (such as surgical procedures) or work done prior to student involvement must not be included.
Observation/Data/Results
This section should provide key results that lead directly to the conclusions you have drawn.
It should not give too many details about the results nor include tables or graphs.
Conclusions
Conclusions from the investigation should be described briefly.
The summary paragraph should reflect on the process and possibly state some applications and extensions of the investigation.
An abstract does not include a bibliography unless specifically required by your local fair. The Intel ISEF requires the bibliography as part of the research plan to be provided on Form 1A.

22. Revise and edit the abstract in the template
Revise and edit the abstract in the template. Once you have filled in each section, you can easily copy and paste the final version into the abstract form online. Such a procedure avoids the need to retype the entire abstract, thereby reducing the chance of errors in the final version.

23. Purpose Methods Data Observations Conclusions Applications
Sample Abstract
Effects of Marine Engine Exhaust Water on Algae
Mary E. Jones Hometown High School, Hometown, PA
This project in its present form is the result of bioassay experimentation on the effects of two-cycle marine engine exhaust water on certain green algae. The initial idea was to determine the toxicity of outboard engine lubricant. Some success with lubricants eventually led to the formulation of "synthetic" exhaust water which, in turn, led to the use of actual two-cycle engine exhaust water as the test substance.
Toxicity was determined by means of the standard bottle or "batch" bioassay technique. Scenedesmus quadricauda and Ankistrodesmus sp. were used as the test organisms. Toxicity was measured in terms of a decrease in the maximum standing crop. The effective concentration - 50% (EC 50) for Scenedesmus quadricauda was found to be 3.75% exhaust water; for Ankistrodesmus sp. 3.1% exhaust water using the bottle technique.
Anomalies in growth curves raised the suspicion that evaporation was affecting the results; therefore, a flow-through system was improvised utilizing the characteristics of a device called a Biomonitor. Use of the Biomonitor lessened the influence of evaporation, and the EC 50 was found to be 1.4% exhaust water using Ankistrodesmus sp. as the test organism. Mixed populations of various algae gave an EC 50 of 1.28% exhaust water.
The contributions of this project are twofold. First, the toxicity of two-cycle marine engine exhaust was found to be considerably greater than reported in the literature (1.4% vs. 4.2%). Secondly, the benefits of a flow-through bioassay technique utilizing the Biomonitor was demonstrated.
Purpose
Methods
Data
Observations
Conclusions
Applications

24. Research Paper / Full Lab Report Due Jan. 19th
1. The abstract will be the first page seen.
Summary of the project . Example on slide 23. Do not color code it. This was done for the writer.
2. The Title Section will be a page of its own.
Example shown on slide 26.
3. The Introduction will start off the paper.
The Purpose (This experiment demonstrates…)
The Hypothesis (If ___, then____ because___)
Give background information and use citations from your research here. See the example on slide 27.

25. The paper Cont. 4. The Material List 5. The Procedure 6. The Results
What materials were used
How much of each material was used (in metric)
5. The Procedure
Numbered steps taken to complete the project. 3rd person only.
6. The Results
Charts
Graphs
Pictures
Observations
7. The Conclusion
What happened
What was learned
How does it compare with past research.
Include lots of citations from your research here.
8. The References
Example on slide 28
In alphabetical order
Use Easybib.com for formats

26. The Paper Use MLA format: 12pt Times New Roman
Last Name in the top right corner (except on the abstract and title page).

27. Pages
Double Space 12 point font Times New Roman No Bold

28. References How to Format the Works Cited page:
Page Format:Use the heading “Works Cited” centered one inch below the top edge of a new page. Do not bold or underline this heading.Page Number:Begin the list on a new page and number each page, continuing the page numbers of the research paper.
For example, if the text of your research paper ends on page 10, the works-cited list begins on page 11. The page number appears in the upper right-hand corner, half an inch from the top and flush with the right margin.
Indentation:Do not indent the first line of each entry. If an entry runs more than one line, indent the subsequent line or lines 1/2 inch from the left margin.Spacing:Double-space the entire list, both between and within entries. Continue the list on as many pages as necessary.Alphabetizing:Alphabetize entries in your list of works cited by the author’s last name, using the letter-by- letter system. In this system, the order of names is determined by the letters before the commas that separate last names and first names. Spaces and other punctuation marks are ignored. The letters following the commas are considered only when two or more last names are identical. A, An and The are ignored.Hints:List in your Works Cited only the entries which were actually cited within your text.
Titles of books, periodicals, films, etc. are italicized (was underlined in the MLA 6th Edition.)
All entries in the list of Works Cited, the Publication Medium (i.e. Print, Web, DVD, Television, etc.) must be included.
Dates are written in MLA format, Day Month Year, with the longer months abbreviated. For example: 7 Feb
Indicate When Data is Missing: Many sources do not have a date, publisher or pagination. MLA advises, where applicable, to write n. pag. for those sources without page numbers, n.d. for no date, and n.p. if name of the publisher or place of publication is omitted.
The URLs for web sources are now optional. MLA suggests not using them but recognizes that some educators might still require them. Therefore, ask your teacher if he/she requires URLs for your web sources.

29. MLA Help Sites
format-works-cited/
writing-lab/common-formatting/mla- format/format-in-detail.php
Easybib.com