Its Science Project Time Again. How Much Are You Prepared to Spend on Materials

Scientific discipline fair project practice's and don'ts

Before you beginning

Read through this page, and consult The Guide to Completing your Science Fair Project
Make sure you understand the rules and regulations listed below before you kickoff your project, to ensure your work is conducted properly. Failure to follow these rules and regulations will consequence in disqualification from the fair.
Research your topic
Plan your Experiment, Written report, or Innovation
Read through the Ethics Questionnaire. For some projects, forms must exist completed before you start your projection. Complete the questionnaire to decide which form(s) your project will crave.

If you would like some inspiration you can check out the winning projects from our previous years hither.

Project Types

The well-nigh common types of scientific discipline fair projects are experiments, innovations and studies. Projects of each type are equally capable of winning top awards at the fair, provided they meet the necessary criteria.

Experiment: This is traditionally the well-nigh common type of science fair project. A winning exhibit of this type should involve an original scientific experiment to test a specific hypothesis in which the young scientist recognizes and controls all significant competing variables and demonstrates excellent collection, analysis, and presentation of data. The judge should besides realize that it is non regarded as essential that any significant positive findings result from the project. Information technology must be recognized that it is the design rather than the results that are almost important.

Innovation: A projection of this type would involve the development and evaluation of new (or significant improvements to existing) devices, models, techniques or approaches in fields such as technology, engineering science, or computers (both software and hardware). A winning project should integrate several technologies, inventions, or designs and construct an original innovative technological system that volition have commercial application and/or human benefit. It must demonstrate how the innovation was designed or developed on the basis of a sound agreement of the scientific, engineering science, or technological principles involved.

Study: This type of projection involves the collection and analysis of data from other sources to reveal evidence of a fact, state of affairs, or pattern of scientific interest. This could include a report of crusade and outcome relationships or theoretical investigations of scientific data. A winning showroom in this area must be able to demonstrate that the methods used to obtain the original data involved audio scientific techniques and controls, and demonstrate insightful analysis.

Grade Categories

Elementary: Grades Chiliad-6
Junior: Grades 7-8
Intermediate: Grades 9-10
Senior: Grades 11-12

The grade category your projection must register under is based on the grade recorded on Ministry building Form 1701. Please ask your teacher if yous are unsure. For a two-person project, your project must register in the grade category of the student in the college grade.

Projection Challege Categories

Categorize your projection into one of eight themed challenges below. These are used in the judging process.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: my project helps ensure nutrient security, sustainability or competitiveness in agriculture, fisheries or nutrient production
Curiosity and Ingenuity: my project helps improve our understanding or address a problem in an area of STEM not covered by the other challenges
Digital Technology: my projection helps improve our quality of life or transform existing products and services through digital devices, methods or systems
Disease and Illness: my project helps raise our diagnosis, treatment or understanding of disease, or the management of concrete or mental illness
Energy: my project helps improve our use of current energy sources, enable the transition to alternative free energy sources, or reduce our free energy footprint
Surround and Climatic change: my project helps ensure the quality of water, air, soil or the diversity of living things, or manage the impact of climatic change
Wellness and Health: my project helps prevent disease or promote physical, social, emotional, spiritual, environmental, occupational, or intellectual wellbeing
Natural Resource: my project helps ensure the sustainable management, utilize, reuse or recycling of Earth's finite or renewable natural resources

When developing your projection

Project Components

The list beneath is a guideline to some of the things that you should consider when developing your science fair projection. Note that it is simply a guideline because your project type (Experiment, Innovation, or Study) may crave different considerations. Refer to the for a amend thought of what judges will exist looking for. You will notice that projects are evaluated on a multifariousness of criteria including a combination of originality and the depth of analysis in the project. Error analysis is encouraged for all projects.

Background: How the project came to be.
Background Enquiry: Information y'all collected in order to learn more than almost your topic.
Purpose/ Trouble: Why the projection was conducted and what you lot hoped to be achieved.
Hypothesis: Proposition to exist tested and anticipated results, if applicable.Procedure: A brief outline of the materials, variables, trials and methods used.
Results or Observations: A summary of the results of the Experiment, Innovation, or Study.
Conclusions: What tin be concluded from the results and why information technology is of import?
Sources of Error: Situations/ factors that could accept affected the results of your project.
Before Work: If an before version of the projection was submitted in a previous twelvemonth, the finalist must highlight the changes and additional work washed.
Time to come work: Portions or variations of the projection yous would consider developing more in the future.
Real world application: How your project affects the real world. Can your project be implemented? Try to consider cost, feasibility of resources, and scalability.
Acknowledgements: Recognition of those individuals, institutions and businesses that provided significant help in the form of guidance, materials, financial support and/or facilities for this work. References and bibliography should also be kept on the tabular array for consultation.

Rules and Regulations

Conducting scientific research is a fun and rewarding learning experience, simply it is also serious business! Whether it is a Scientific discipline Off-white project or inquiry conducted in a research found, there are some rules of academic integrity and ideals that all scientists must follow.

Specific examples of violations of academic integrity that will consequence in disqualification from the fair:

Plagiarism – presenting the work of others as your own without acknowledging the source. In this example, "work" means scientific results, conceptual development of a topic and substantive formulation or reformulation of a problem. This includes work done by a family member or a mentor.
Fabricating and/or falsifying data
Fabricating and/or falsifying registration information
Forging signatures
Entering a project that is either derived from a previous project, or a continuation or revision of a previous project past the student (or by another), without documentation of the previous work.

Ethics:

Ideals pre-blessing is mandatory for all projects using animal and man participants. Projects must see the ethics standards of the FVRSF to be displayed at the off-white.
Read through the Ethics Questionnaire. For some projects, forms must be completed earlier yous commencement your project. Complete the questionnaire to determine which class(s) your project volition crave.

Project Rules:

The project shall only be the work of i or two students from start to completion. Projects and piece of work done by more than two students at whatsoever point in the project'south development are non permitted.
A projection worked on at any point by ii students cannot register as a single person project.
A participant may not present more than 1 projection each yr, and may not display or reuse an identical projection from a previous Regional Science Fair.
A project presented at any Regional Scientific discipline Fair in the by may non be presented once more unless at that place is a substantial expansion or extension of the previous investigation or design process. The project must only present piece of work completed since the previous Regional Science Off-white, though previous work may be referenced.

Rules and regulations specific to registration >

Log Book

The log book is the rough tape of your project. It is a periodical containing your thoughts, deportment y'all take, observations y'all see, rough data you take, and everything relating to your project. Commencement one at the start of your projection and write in information technology any fourth dimension yous're thinking of working on your project.

The following are ideas to assist focus your thoughts:

At the beginning of each week think nigh what questions y'all accept and possible topics or fundamental words you demand to look into further.
During the calendar week or at the terminate of each week include your research notes and raw data collected.
Note some key words/concepts/information that you came across which you would like to explore further or need clarification on.
Listing something that surprised you or was unexpected in your work.
Besides the interned, are there experts or organizations in the field who could assist you empathise the concepts meliorate?
Are there connections between your work and other units of report that make you curious?
Create a mind map of how everything y'all have learned so far fits together. Y'all could use unlike coloured pens to brainstorm questions for each grouping of information.
If you had unlimited resources, what would y'all do adjacent?

We cannot stress plenty how important your log book is for your success in science fair. Judges will be looking at your log book to see your thought process throughout your projection. Acquire how to apply a log book >

Brand sure to bring your log volume with yous to display at the fair.

Abstract

Each project is required to submit a brusque abstruse upon registration. The abstract should be well-nigh 100-150 words and contain background information on the project, purpose and/or hypothesis, full general procedures and results, and decision. If the last results and analysis are not completed at the moment of writing the abstract, expected results and experiments ongoing should be mentioned.

Written Report

The Canada-Wide Science Off-white requires a five-page report plus an boosted 2 pages for references and appendices if needed. A written study is not required at the Regional Science Fair level, however you tin write one if yous want.

A written study is a summary of your project and is an do in scientific writing mode, requiring you to select but information that is important and stating it in a concise fashion. Graphs, diagrams, and charts are useful but raw data and tables take up a lot of space. More than data can be plant at http://youthscience.ca/policy/cwsf-project-report

Preparing your presentation

At present that you've worked hard performing tests, collecting data, and analyzing your results, how do you tell others about information technology?

It is of import to capture the attention of your audience so that they will want to read your brandish lath, listen to what yous have to say about your projection and sympathise what you have learned.

Affiche and Brandish Area

At the fair, you will demand to present your project to the public (friends, parents, teachers and visitors) and to the judges. Information technology is important to make sure your display area is well-prepared, organized, and represents what you take washed. Visitors looking at your backboard should be able to chop-chop sympathize what the project is about, what y'all did, and what yous concluded.

Exist creative. You can employ pictures, models, and even demonstrations as long as they fit within your brandish area and do non disharmonize with the ethics section and prophylactic guidelines. Your poster should capture the most of import parts of your project, and contain enough information to tell someone walking by what y'all did.

Each project will become a specific spot allocated for their brandish. Please build your brandish to the specifications below. No additional room will be given so ensure all your textile fits within the allotted space.

Your projection display must fit inside the following dimensions: 1.1m (44in) broad 10 0.8m (30in) deep ten 3.5m (137in) high from the floor.
Your projection display must be free standing (stands up on its own). Three fold displays are the easiest, but other combinations are possible. Non-free continuing displays volition not exist permitted.

There are specific display requirements that are required when participating in the national level Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF). Projects created with the national Science Fair requirements volition be allowed at the FVRSF, simply are not required.

**Delight Note in add-on to your poster y'all MUST HAVE a Log Book. A report is not required at the Regional Science Off-white level however a five-page written report is required at the Canada-Wide Science Fair.

View examples of projects that won at the FVRSF and advanced to nationals.

Other FVRSF backboard examples that were infrequent

Rubber Requirements

For your safety and the condom of others attending the fair, all projects must also comply with the FVRSF rubber requirements. Failure to follow these rules and requirements will consequence in disqualification at the fair.

The following items are Not permittedand shall be removed from your brandish. Take pictures and bring photos of your project or experiment instead!

Fire Hazards

Flames, candle, torch, or any heating device such as a hot plate
Excessive packing material nether the table

Electrical Hazards

Inappropriately grounded electrical plugs or sockets
Modifications of CSA approved electrical equipment
Wet prison cell batteries such as pb acid
Dry cell batteries such every bit alkaline, NiMH, or Lithium ion

Annotation: Electronic equipment created by participants are permitted if they have:

Every bit depression a voltage and electric current as possible
A not-combustible enclosure
An insulating grommet at the indicate where the electrical service enters the enclosure
All exposed terminals must be covered
Pilot low-cal to indicate when device is powered

Biohazards

Biological toxins
Cell or tissue samples (including blood and blood products, except on sealed microscope slides)
Plants or plant tissue
Soil containing organic material
Cultures – petri dishes containing media, ziplocs with spores, etc.

Images of Humans

Sensational or offensive images of humans on projection brandish

Animals and Animal Parts

Live animals or micro-organisms
Items naturally shed by an animal or parts properly prepared and preserved (eastward.g. quills, shed snake skin, feathers, tanned pelts and hides, antlers, pilus samples, skeletons or skeletal parts)

Firearms, Hazardous Materials, and Equipment

Firearms, ammunition, dangerous goods, or explosives
Images of humans or animals injured past firearms or explosives
Functional X-ray and radiations-producing equipment

Structural and Mechanical Rubber

Whatsoever structurally unsound backboard or display
Precipitous edges such as the corners of prisms, mirrors, glass, or metallic plates that are non in a case
Dangerous exposed moving parts such as belts, gears, pulleys, and blades
Motors that do not contain rubber shut-offs
Pressurized vessels or compressed gas cylinders
Moving exhibits (such as robots) that are using more than their allocated infinite

Chemic Safety

Flammable, toxic or dangerous chemicals
Prescription drugs or over the counter medications
More than 1 L of liquid existence displayed
Radioactive sources and materials (east.g. smoke detector sources)

Whatsoever chemicals on display other than water or tabular array salt are not recommended.

If you have questions of what you lot tin can or cannot take at your display, please contact us.

Presentation Tips

Be Confident and Evidence Your Excitement

This is your piece of work and you know it best!! The difficult work of creating your project is already done. You've spent many hours working through your projection. Presenting your projection is just an opportunity for you to share what you did and what y'all learned with the judges and visitors. Yous've done great work and we want to hear all about it!

Be Organized in Your Explanations

Ensure your presentation follows a logical society. Call up, although you've been working on your projection for many hours, the judges and visitors are new to your work. Try to take your listener pace by step through your project and your thinking so they tin follow along easily.
Some students outset with an introduction of themselves and a description of what their project is near. You could consider discussing why yous chose your specific project, what y'all are trying to investigate, and why information technology is important.
If you lot've conducted an Experiment, walk the judges through each part of the scientific process e.grand. what materials you used, what procedures you followed, how many trials you performed, what variables were involved. It'due south of import to not but discuss what y'all did, but also why you did it.

Be Prepared

Plan what you are going to present and practice. Y'all'll need to upkeep your time. Programme to nowadays for 10 minutes and go out five minutes for questions.
If you are working with a partner, determine in advance who will exist saying what and when. Each student should talk for the aforementioned amount of time and both of you should be prepared to respond any of the judge's questions.
Practice your presentation in front of someone who doesn't already know virtually your project. Try to have note of the questions they ask. If they are a bit confused you may want to adjust a couple of sections. Or, they may enquire you questions you hadn't thought of before. Incorporate what you learn in these practices into your final presentation.
Exercise your presentation several times until you feel comfy.
Endeavor not to read any notes. If you need to refer to notes to keep you organized that's ok, only endeavour and just talk to the gauge and explain what you lot've done rather than reading a script.

Have Fun and Relish Yourself

The more fun you take, the more fun the judges will accept!

Resources

Registration Procedure and Requirements

MySTEMspace

Scientific discipline Fair Foundation BC Resource

Your Ultimate Canadian Science Fair Resources

Simply Scientific discipline Fairs: designed to help students reach success in developing science fair projects.

2018 Science Fairs in the Community - Science Off-white Guide [PDF]

SMARTS Guide to Science Fairs (written past Joshua Liu, Youth Science Canada) [PDF]

Science Celebration (written by Len Reimer) [PDF]

Scientific discipline Fair Handbook (compiled and adapted past John and Jully Shim) [PDF]

Policy 1.five.i – Youth Science Canada policies on Code of Behave

Policy 1.5.two – Youth Scientific discipline Canada policies on Discipline

Policy 1.5.5 – Youth Science Canada policies on Academic Integrity

smithablessi.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.ufv.ca/science-fair/students/science-fair-project-dos-and-donts/