63rd ANNUAL TIDEWATER SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR
Fair Date – Saturday, March 15, 2014
Old Dominion University, Webb Center
http://www.cs.odu.edu/~scifair/RegionalFair/
William McConnell, Executive Director
757-632-1255
Greetings Designated Contact People, Oct, 2013
I hope your school year is off to a wonderful start! If they haven’t started already, I know many students are beginning to think about what to investigate for the 2014 Tidewater Science and Engineering Fair (TSEF). The following information can get you started on the process. Again, we had many TSEF winners go on to Broadcom MASTERS, VSSEF and ISEF and are very proud of their participation and accomplishments.
As in past years, there are a number of required forms for the TSEF application.
Where appropriate, these are the official forms of the Tidewater Science and Engineering Fair and the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). To access these, go to the TSEF’s website (sponsored by ODU)
http://www.cs.odu.edu/~scifair/RegionalFair/
(or conduct an internet search for “Tidewater Science and Engineering Fair”);and for the official ISEF forms, go to www.societyforscience.org/isef and look under “Rules Forms and Resources.” Please note the TSEF website is in the process of updating and may show incorrect dates. It will be updated as soon as possible. In the meantime, the dates and information on this page are correct.
The updated forms are now available along with safety and display information.
The ISEF’s forms and websites can also be accessed by using links through the TSEF’s website.
NOTE: These have all been updated so please use the new forms.
There is even a Power Point and a “Wizard” tool from the ISEF that might help you with the forms.
Use these great resources in determining the correct necessary forms.
Things to Highlight:
· Note that there are now separate forms for the Junior and Senior Divisions
· Junior Division applicants that require SRC or IRB approval must also complete the appropriate ISEF forms and the TSEF application. Junior Division applicants that do not require SRC or IRB approval need to ONLY complete the TSEF application.
· Risk Assessment Form (3) page 37 from ISEF
All Senior Division projects must have this form. Please review the procedure carefully, especially if heat or glass is used. By requiring this last year, we were able to accept applications in a more timely fashion. If you have a project that does not seem to need this form (ex. a survey), write NA in the 5 required areas and have the Adult Sponsor complete and sign the boxed area. EVERY Senior Division project must include this completed form.
· Human Participants Form (page 37) with example of Informed Consent Form (page 38) from ISEF
As usual, you may develop your own consent form. The set of signed forms are to remain in a secure place within your school. Requests for these might occur at a later time. Only send in one blank form.
PLEASE check dates and signatures on all forms. For example, most dates are when the project is approved (not completed). Incomplete or incorrect forms will lead to a project not being accepted.
Important Dates for the Designated Contact Person for 2014:
§ Friday, Jan. 17 – Student Database entered on the TSEF’s website - You will (by mid-December) receive an email with instructions. You will be able to login at the TSEF’s website and enter the student data at that time. Please use this year’s updated student database template. (Will be at the TSEF website by mid-Nov.)
§ Wednesday, Jan. 22 – completed student applications should be dropped off in person
at New Horizons (Hampton) from 8 to noon
OR at the Advanced Technology Center (Va. Beach) from 2:30 to 5
a. Hard (printed) copy of the Tidewater Science and Engineering Fair Student Database
Please use this as a cover sheet for the set of applications.
b. Student Applications (2 copies)
PLEASE CHECK dates and signatures carefully.
c. List of the Scientific Review Committee (SRC) and, if you needed one, the Institutional Review Board (IRB) members
NOTE: The TSC, Inc. will not be responsible for any part(s) of the required submission materials not received by the deadlines.
§ Saturday, March 15 - the Tidewater Science Fair (TSEF) will be held at Old Dominion University
§ Friday and Saturday, March 28, 29 – Va. State Science and Engineering Fair at VMI in Lexington, VA
Since the established dates are tight, you need to get started quickly with your interested students.
Just a few observations from last year’s event
1. Please help your students choose the correct category. Several judges felt that projects were misplaced. If something is made, think ENGINEERING. Some categories are more popular than others. Look at the TSEF’s website for a list of last year’s projects. We will enter the student in the category listed on your datasheet, not on the application.
2. Please type the student data correctly. The titles, categories, students’ names, etc. will be printed in the program and on all certificates the way the data appears on the Student Database (due Friday, Jan. 17, 2014) that the designated contacts send to us. We do not have time to send you information, asking for clarification. Most of the complaints we receive are from parents and teachers about misspellings. We print what you send us.
We will be updating the TSEF website (ODU – science fair) periodically. By mid-November, you will find:
Photos and results from 2013
Students and projects from 2013
Student Application for 2014 (Available now)
This letter (under the side menu for CONTACTS)
Links to the websites for TSEF and ISEF
Solicitation letter
and other resources
Please take any opportunities to hand out copies of our solicitation letter since we are totally dependent upon donations from the community. Any suggestions are welcomed.
Thank you for your continued support of the Tidewater Science and Engineering Fair.
If you are not serving as your school’s designated contact, please pass this to the current contact.
William McConnell, Executive Director 757-632-1255
Tidewater Science and Engineering Fair website: http://www.cs.odu.edu/~scifair/RegionalFair/
International Science and Engineering Fair website: www.societyforscience.org/isef
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