When

The 2006 District Science Day (DSD) and the 18th Southeastern Ohio Regional Science and Engineering Fair (SEORSEF) will be held simultaneously on Saturday, March 4, 2006.

Where

Ohio University
Athens, Ohio

• Exhibition and judging of student projects: 8 am - 12:30 PM, Clippinger Laboratories Lobbies

• Awards ceremony: 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM, Auditorium 201, Morton Hall

Eligible participants

Students from schools in the following counties in Ohio:

• Athens

• Gallia

• Hocking

• Jackson

• Meigs

• Morgan

• Ross

• Vinton

DSD is for students in grades 5 to 12. Students who will reach age 21 on or before May 1, 2006 are not eligible.

SEORSEF is for student in grades 9 to 12. Students who will reach age 21 on or before May 1, 2006 are not eligible.

What kind of projects?

Research projects of individual student or teams of two students in 13 fields:

1. behavioral science (psychology)

2. biochemistry

3. botany

4. chemistry

5. computer science

6. earth/space sciences

7. engineering

8. environmental science

9. mathematics

10. medicine and health

11. microbiology

12. physics

13. zoology

Students with interdisciplinary projects such as forensic chemistry, gerontology, smoking, nutrition, and material sciences, should pick the closest area of emphasis of their project. Using the information in the abstract and the research plan, we may change the field of judging of a project. The first judges may recommend that a project be re-judged in more than one area.

Science Day Standards

General Standards for Science Day incorporating all actions of the Junior Academy Council as of September 10, 2005, can be viewed by clicking on Science Day Standards. Please refer to the Science Day Standards for information on District and State Science Days not covered in the following descriptions.

Display Presentation

The Rules on Displaying Projects approved by the Ohio Junior Academy Council will apply to all exhibitors during the 2006 DSD, SSD, and SEORSEF.

The finalists chosen to participate in the 2006 Intel ISEF can modify their displays after the State Science Day or prepare a new one for the ISEF which allows a larger display and additional items according to the INTEL ISEF Display and Safety Regulations on p. 5-7 of the 2006 International Rules of Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Click on the highlighted Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) to order, view, or to download the 2006 rule book.

For all students:

• Displays at District and State Science Days are strictly poster format only. Each project shall have only one light-weight, usually tri-fold, single-sided poster for table top display. The display is not to exceed 91 cm (3ft) wide, 75 cm (30inch) deep, and 1.2 m (4ft) high from the table top. Each table furnished by the District or State Science Days will be shared by two projects. Free-standing floor exhibits are not permitted.

• Each poster should only display appropriate information such as the title of the project, the name of the student (two names for a team project), an abstract, data tables, diagrams, charts, photographs, and graphs. "Poster format only" means that no physical objects can be used in the display and in the oral presentation. Physical objects such as samples of materials, model, instruments, and products of your research, etc., can only be shown by photographs or drawings. If you include the actual physical objects in your poster, your research notebook, your research report, or your abstract, or bring any such physical objects into the exhibition space, your project will be disqualified.

• Contact information such as postal, web, and e-mail addresses, and telephone and fax numbers are allowed for the exhibitor only.

• The only photographs or visual depictions of identifiable or recognizable people allowed are photographs of the exhibitor, photographs taken by the exhibitor (with written permission of individuals received), or photographs for which credit is displayed (such as from magazines, newspapers, journals, etc.)

• Project notebooks and a folder containing research reports, research plans and documentation of research protocols (including ISEF forms) are expected to be on the table in front of the poster.

• No 110V AC will be available at 2006 DSD or SSD.

• Battery-powered computers may be used only for simulation, modeling, or animation integral and essential to the project results or data display and not for general Power-Point presentation.

• Absolutely nothing else is allowed at a display.

• Nothing else is allowed in the exhibition hall except personal clothing, billfold or handbag (for money, cards, or keys only), medication you must take, and bottled drinking water. These items should not be on your display table.

• You cannot use anything else not on display or not allowed in a display during the judging.

Suggestion on Photography

Since you are not allowed to bring anythig you have collected, used, or made in your experiment, you have to use photographs of these things in your presentation. Be prepared to photograph your experiment before you start because you may have to use photographs to show when a particular experiment was done or observation was made and how an object/experiment looks like at a given date or time. For example, you are watching the growth of a plant. Include in the photograph the date and time for chronology and a ruler for scale. If you design your own equipment, bring your drawing of your design, photographs during construction and important details, the finished product, and the actual operation of the equipment. Learn to make close-up photographs of small objects. Learn to make photographs on the microscope since you are not allowed to bring the slides.

Judging

A team of first judges, ideally composed of one K12 teacher and one professional scientist or engineer will judge each project. The professional scientists or engineers are volunteers from Ohio University faculty, governmental agencies, and area industries. We expect each participating school to provide at least one judge for every five students. Special-award judges from Ohio University faculty and some prize-awarding agencies (such as U.S. Air Force, Army, and Navy) and organizations will re-judge superior projects for special prizes.

Entry fee

There is only one entry fee of $16 per student for both DSD and SEORSEF. Students in grades 9 to 12 will enter both DSD and SEORSEF with one fee. Each member of a team pays an $16 fee. Do not send cash. Please send check or money order payable to Ohio University.

Entry procedure

Each student must send a complete entry package. Each member of a team project must send a separate entry package, check the box before "Team Project" and write the name of the teammate in the space following the words "Team Project" on the Entry Form. A Microsoft Word version of the new 2006 Entry Form is available on-line. If you cannot use the on-line Word document, please contact the Director for a hardcopy form, at the address listed below.

All students attending a public or private school must have their entry packages and entry fees sent by one teacher, guidance counselor, talented-and-gifted program (TAG) director, local science fair director, or other responsible school administrator, in one package, to reach the Director of DSD/SEORSEF no later than February 17, 2006, at

Dr. James Y. Tong, Director of DSD/SEORSEF
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
136 Clippinger Laboratories
Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701-2979

If your proposed local fair date is too close to February 17, 2006, please send by e-mail immediately to Dr. Tong, your fair date, the estimated number of projects from your school may enter the DSD / SEORSEF, and when and how you propose to deliver the entry package to Dr. Tong.

The entry fee may be submitted in one check or money order, or in separate checks or money orders.

The school package must include a School Information Form (blue form) which must list names of judges and the contact person and their email addresses. Please send at least one judge for every five entries. No entry will be accepted without the completed blue school information form and judges. A Microsoft Word version of the School Information Form is available on-line. If you cannot use the on-line Word document, please contact the Director for a hardcopy form, at the address listed above.

If the students have participated in a local science fair or academic fair at their schools, we expect the school to send us only students who have received superior ratings at the local fairs. A local fair may include schools in one or more school districts of the county.

Students, who are home-schooled or whose schools do not have a local science fair or academic fair (if the number of such students per school does not exceed five and their teacher promises in writing to judge at the DSD), should send as soon as possible the following materials: A letter from their teacher promising to judge at the DSD, DSD entry form, a "Consent and Release Statement" of the Ohio Academy of Science, form 1, 1A, and 1B, a detailed research plan, and other required ISEF forms, to the Director of DSD/SEORSEF for his recommendations before starting their research. All the forms must be completed and signed and dated according to the instructions under "Entry Package" below. Such students should plan to complete their research early, write a research report, and have their teacher send their research reports, abstracts, and entry fees (in individual checks) in one package to reach the Director no later than February 8, 2006. The entries will be evaluated by a committee of Ohio University faculty members for their acceptability to the DSD. If an entry is accepted, the student and the teacher must both come to the DSD on Saturday, March 4, 2006, the student to exhibit the project for judging and the teacher to judge projects from other schools at the DSD.

Entry Package

All students in grades 5 to 12 are required to have the following items arranged in the order given. Send photocopies of all signed forms, research plan, and abstract and keep the originals to bring in a folder on the day of the District Science Day, the State Science Day, the International Science & Engineering Fair, and the Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge:

• A fee of $16.

• A 2006 Entry Form of the Southeast District completed in black ink with legible printed names and signatures of the student and a parent or a guardian. Do not use the 2005 or older entry form. Choose a project title carefuly. Avoid vague or cute project titles and trick names. The project title should be succinct and descriptive of the project, and reflect the research objective or question. The project title should enable the reader to determine what was studied in the project. Often colonated titles work well for student research projects. Colonated titles use one to five short, attractive words first, followed by a colon and an added descriptive phrase. Do not exceed a total of 60 letters and spaces for your title.

• A "Consent and Release Agreement" of the Ohio Academy of Science completed and signed by the student and by the parent or guardian of the student. A Microsoft Word version of the Consent and Release Agreement Form is available on-line. If you cannot use the on-line Word document, please contact the Director for a hardcopy form, at the address listed above.

• A "Checklist for Adult Sponsor/Safety Assessment Form 1" completed, signed, and dated before experimentation begins.

• A form 1A and a form 1B completed, signed, and dated before experimentation begins. Items 1 to 7 of form 1A must be completed including checking appropriate boxes in items 4 and 6. Pay attention to item 6: Certain vertebrate animal projects must be conducted only at a regulated research institute (not at home, school, farm, ranch, in the field, etc.). Read "Research Sites" on page 15 and 16 of the 2006 International Rules. Experimentation with potentially hazardous Biological Agents (previously classified as pathogenic and potentially pathogenic agents, recombinant DNA, and human and vertebrate animal tissues) is prohibited in a home environment. However, specimens are allowed to be collected at home as long as they are immediately transported to a laboratory with the appropriate level of biosafety containment. Read pages 19-22 of the International Rules thoroughly in planning for a project involving potentially harzardous biological agents.

• ISEF forms 1C, 2, 3, 4, 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, or 7, required for certain projects.

• A research plan on 8.5 x 11 inch plain white paper, single spaced, typed in black ink, computer printed in black in legible fonts no larger than 12 points (fonts such as Times New Roman, New Courier, etc., no bold, fancy, italic, or script fonts), or legibly handwritten in black. Do not attach to the Form 1A. Do not photocopy on the back of Form 1A or either sides of the Research Attachment Form.

  The research plan must include the following, with only one blank line after each of the listed item:

  • Title of your entry, your full name, your school and city, state (on three lines, no blank line in between).

  • Problem or question being addressed.

  • Hypothesis or engineering goals.

  • Description in detail of method or procedures (including chemical concentrations and drug dosages. For research involving human subjects, include survey or questionnaire if used, and critically evaluate the risk. See instructions on pages 12-14 of 2006 International Rules. For nonhuman vertebrate animal research, you must (1) explore and briefly discuss potential alternatives, (2) present a detailed justification of use of nonhuman vertebrate animals, and (3) give an additional animal care reference for the species you are using. See instructions on p. 15-18 of 2006 International Rules. For research involving Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents, see instructions on p. 19-22 of 2006 International Rules. For research involving controlled substances, see instructions on p. 23. For research with Hazardous Substances and Devices, see page 24 of 2006 International Rules. For team projects, team members should address the role and responsibility of each member within this detailed procedure. All students, teachers, and adult supervisors should pay attention to the "Changes and Modifications for 2005-May 2006 on page 3 of the 2006 Internatinal Rule.

  • Bibliography: list at least five major references (e.g. science journal articles, books) with complete citations (author, title, publisher, year of publication, and page numbers of appropriate pages for books. authors, name of journal in standard abbreviations, volume, number, pages, and title of article for journal articles) from your library search. If you plan to use animals, give an additional reference on animal care. Web versions of peer-reviewed scientific journals and websites of professional scientific societies with complete citations are acceptable. Other websites with complete citations (complete URL, title, authors and the date of the site) may be acceptable. Personal communication is not acceptable as a reference. A research plans with inadequate references will be considered a clear indication of a poor application of the scientific method that may prevent a project to receive a superior rating.

• If the research plan is significantly changed, attach an amendment of the research plan signed and dated before the start of the change in plan.

• An abstract of 250 words or less (not counting the title, your name, and your school name and city), single spaced, on one sheet of 8.5 x 11 in plain white paper, typed in black ink or computer printed in black in legible fonts no larger than 12 points (fonts such as Times New Roman, New Courier, etc., no bold, fancy, italic, or script fonts), or legibly handwritten in black. The abstract should begin in 3 separate lines: (1) the title of your project, (2) your full name, and (3) your school, city, and state. Follow the above by the 250 words or less text that includes

  • the purpose of the experiment

  • procedure or method used

  • data and any calculation and analysis

  • conclusions

  • (not required) any possible research applications

  The abstract should focus on work done by the student, during the current fair-year (research done over a maximum, continuous 12 months period between January, 2004 and March, 2006). The abstract should not include acknowledgements, or description of work and procedures done by others, including this project's mentor. Only minimal reference to previous work may be included.

All numbered forms from 1 to 7 mentioned above and below are 2006 ISEF forms. Do not use older forms. More detailed descriptions can be found in the 2006 International Rules booklet of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Click on the highlighted Intel International Science and Engineering Fair to order, view, or download the 2006 rule book or the required forms. Hard copies of the 2006 International Rules booklet can be ordered at $1.25 per copy from Science Service, 1719 N Street, NW, Washington DC 20036, phone (202) 785-2255, FAX (202) 785-1243, email: sciedu@sciserv.org

Additional forms required for certain projects (additional to forms 1, 1A, and 1B that is required of all projects): A brief summary of such forms are given in item (8) of form 1A. All projects involving Human Subjects, Non-Human Vertebrate Animals, Potentially Hazardous Biological Agets (previously classified as pathogenic and potentially pathogenic agents, recombinant DNA, and human and vertebrate animal tissues), Controlled Substances, and Hazardous Substances or Devices must follow the 2006 ISEF International Rules on prior approval by IRB and/or SRC, the forms required, and the types of experiment not allowed. See the pages of the 2006 International Rules given in each of the following categories. Projects that do not follow the 2006 International Rules will be disqualified.

• Student research conducted completely or in part in a registered research institution (e.g., universities, medical centers, NIH, correctional facilities, etc.) or industrial setting, a form 1C must be completed by the scientist supervising the student research (not the Adult Sponsor or the student) after the experimentation. This is the only form signed and dated after the completion of the experimentation. This form must be displayed with your project.

• Projects experimenting with hazardous substances or devices require a Designated Supervisor who is experienced in working with such substances and devices and is well trained in the safe handling of such substances or devices. The Designated Supervisor must complete, sign, and date Form 3 before experimentation. See page 24 of 2006 Internationl Rules.

• Projects experimenting with human subjects require prior approval of an Institutional Review Board (IRB) which must sign and date Forms 1B and 4 before experimentation begins. If IRB decides that informed consent is required, (a) the adult subjects or (b) minor subjects and their parents or guardian, must sign form 4 before experimentation begins; If IRB decides that a Qualified Scientist is required, the Qualified Scientist must complete, sign and date form 2 before experimentation begins. See pages 12-14 of 2006 International Rules.

• Projects experimenting with the following material or subjects require prior approval of a Scientific Review Committee (SRC) on form 1B before experimentation begins. The SRC must also decide if (a) a qualified scientist (and form 2) and/or (b) a designated supervisor (and form 3), is/are required. Forms 2 and 3 must be signed and dated before experimentation begins.
  • Nonhuman Vertebrate Animals (pages 15-18 of 2006 International Rules). Additional forms required: (a) form 5A for projects conducted in a non-regulated site, or form 5B for projects conducted in a regulated research institution, (b) forms 2 and/or 3 if applicable.
  • Potentially Hazardous Biologic Agents (pages 19-22 of 2006 International Rules). Additional forms required: (a) form 6A Hazardous Risk Assessment form, (b) form 2 and form 3 if applicable, (c) form 6B if human and vertebrate animal tissues and/or body fluids are involved.
  • Controlled Substances (page 23 of 2006 International Rules). Additional forms required: forms 2 and/or 3 if applicable.

All forms except 1C must be completed, signed, and dated before experimentation begins.

Your local IRB or SRC must consist of a minimum of three persons, none of whom is the adult sponsor, the qualified scientist, the designated supervisor of your project, or your parents. Additional members are recommended to avoid conflict of interest. The members of your local IRB and SRC should have a copy of the 2006 International Rules and be familiar with their roles described on pages 10 to 11 and the rules and resources on pages 12 to 24.

• The IRB should include a science teacher, a school administrator (preferably a principal or a vice principal), and one of the following who is knowledgeable and capable of evaluating the physical and/or psychological risk involved in a given study: a medical doctor, physician's assistant, registered nurse, psychiatrist, pshchologist, or a licensed social worker.

• The SRC should include a biomedical scientist (Ph.D., M.D., D.V.M., D.D.S., or D.O.), a science teacher, and at least one other member. If animal research is involved, at least one member must be familiar with proper animal care procedures.

Please contact the Director for assistance if you have not worked with an IRB or SRC or if your school does not have an IRB or SRC. Prior Approval means approval of the research, with signatures and dates before experimentation begins.

Recognition and Prizes

Tentative List

For students in grades 5 to 8

• Ten percent of participants whose projects are judged Superior will be nominated to participate in the 2006 Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge competition.

For students in grades 5 to 12

• Each participant whose project is judged will receive a certificate.

• All participants receiving a superior rating will be re-judged for special prizes.

• Departmental prizes in the 13 fields, plus Forensic Chemistry, Nutrition, and Team Project prizes. Prizes may consist of cash or savings bonds from $10 to $100, books, certificates, plaques, and/or subscriptions, etc.

• American Chemical Society-Upper Ohio Valley Section awards: magazine subscriptions and certificates.

• American Water Works Association (AWWA) awards on water purification: savings bond and certificate.

• Ohio Water Environment Association (OWEA) awards on water pollution abatement: savings bond and certificate.

• Ohio Governor's Award for Excellence in Student Research. One certificate in each of the following areas:
  1. Agriculture and Food Sciences Research
  2. Biotechnology Research
  3. Energy Research
  4. Environmental Sciences Research
  5. Litter Prevention and Recycling Research
  6. Manufacturing Sciences Research
  7. Material Science Research
  8. Water Resources Research
  9. Information Science & Technology Research
  .

• Best Biological Science Project Award: trophy, cash, and certificate. The winner, if he or she will graduate in June, 2006 and has been admited to attend Ohio University, Athens campus, beginning in September, 2006, may receive a scholarship.

• Best Physical Science Project Award: trophy, cash, and certificate. The winner, if he/she will graduate in June, 2006 and has been admitted to attend Ohio University, Athens campus, beginning in September, 2006, may receive a scholarship.

• Female students in 7th grade who receive a superior rating at DSD may receive a $100 scholarship to attend the Buckeye Women in Science and Engineering Research (B-WISER) program at the College of Wooster in the summer of 2006.

• If the number of students in grades 7 to 12 who receive a superior rating at the District Science Day (DSD) does not exceed the District 2006 quota, they will all be eligible to attend the State Science Day (SSD) of the Ohio Academy of Science on May 6, 2006, at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.

  If the number of such students exceeds the District 2006 quota, they will be ranked by points received and by class. Depending on the number of students and the District Quota, the highest ranked students will be eligible to apply as participants. Some may be eligible to apply as alternates. Some of the lowest ranked students may not be eligible to participate in the SSD.

For students in grades 9-12

• Two students with the best projects in Southeastern Ohio Regional Science and Engineering Fair (SEORSEF) will be selected to attend on May 7-13, the 2006 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Indianapolis, Indiana, all expenses paid for 6 days. The parents or teacher of each winner may attend at his or her own expense.

• American Meteorological Society award: 2 certificates

• American Psychological Association award: 1 certificate

• ASM International Foundation, Most Outstanding Exhibit in Material Science: medallion and certificate

• Association for Women Geo-scientists award: certificate

• Conservation International Award in Biodiversity Conservation Science: certificate

• Eastman Kodak Company award for the best use of photography: one photo kit for the student and one for the sponsoring teacher.

• Herbert Hoover Young Engineer Award for outstanding overall engineering project: medallion and certificate

• Intel Excellence in Computer Science Award: $200 and certificate

• Intel Excellence in Environmental Health and Safety Award: $200 and cerificate

• International Society for Optical Engineering. Best project using optics or photonic prinicples. Winner will be entered in a national drawing for prizes.

• Mu Alpha Theta for the best investigation of a problem involving modern mathematics.

• NACE International award in corrosion and corrosion control: certificate

• National Society of Professional Engineers: certificate and lapel pin

• Scientific American Award: 5 one-year subscriptions.

• Society for in Vitro Biology award for a most outstanding 11th grade student exhibiting in the areas of plant or animal in vitro biology or tissue culture: certificate

• U.S. Air Force awards: prizes to be announced

• U.S. Army awards: 5 certificates, one each in the following areas: Engineering, Environmental Science, Mathematics & Computer Science, Life Sciences, and Physical Sciences. 3 Army Black Polo shirts, 1 bronze medallion for the best of the recipients.

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Public Health Service award on the best project to persuade people to stop smoking, to eat a healthy diet, and to do physical exercise: certificate signed by the Surgeon General

• U.S. Metric Association award for the best use of SI units: certificate

• U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps: 2 certificates, 2 medallions, and 2 gift certificates for grades 9-12 and an opportunity to compete in Science and Humanity Symposium; 2 certificates only for lower grades.

• Water Environment Federation, Stockholm Juior Water Prize for the best water-related project. 1 certificate, advancement to the State competition.

• Yale Science and Engineering Association award for a high school junior with an outstanding project in computer, engineering, chemistry or physics: medal, certificate, and invitation to visit Yale University.

Teacher recognition

One or more teachers may be recognized as the Outstanding Science Teacher of District 12.

School awards

One Trophy for Schools with the Highest Percentage of Superiors will be given in each of three categories: Elementary Division (5-6 grades), Junior Division (7-8 grades), Senior Division (9-12 grades). To qualify for this competition, a school must have five or more judged individual projects in a division and all the projects received a rating of good or better.

James Tong modified this file (http://www.ohiou.edu/scifair/2006.htm) on October 19, 2005.

Please E-mail any comments or suggestions to scifair@www.ohiou.edu.