Chesterfield County
Science Fair Guidelines
1. Projects must represent work that is based upon valid scientific principles of inquiry.
2. Projects by groups of 2 – 4 students will be accepted in the “Group Projects” category.
3. All projects submitted are to represent the work of the student (or group of students if entering in the Group category). However, parents are encouraged to work with their children on the projects with proper acknowledgements given.
4. The participant’s teacher, for safety and appropriateness, must approve projects in advance. Refer to the Metro Richmond Science Fair website ( http://ms.mathscience.k12.va.us/scifair/scifair.html ) for rules regarding human subjects, recombinant DNA, controlled substances, hazardous substances or devices, nonhuman vertebrate animals, human and animal tissues and pathogenic agents. These rules and regulations are in accordance with the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) guidelines and outline specific parameters regarding safety and supervision.
A qualified Scientist Certification form (available on the above website) must be
completed if one of the above topics is used.
5. If your school has any questions regarding safety and supervision of individual student projects, contact Ken Butta (Instructional Specalist for Science) at
6. All surveys or questionnaires used for data collecting require written administrative approval, which must be included in the project report.
7. Students are to be discouraged from conducting experiments with vertebrate organisms (this includes humans). If studies are conducted on vertebrates, students should be aware of specific humane procedures for handling the organisms. Project approval must be approved in writing and appear in the appendix of the project report. Forms are on the Metro Richmond Science Fair website. Students must work only under the guidance of a qualified teacher/mentor. A qualified Scientist Certification form (available on the above website) must be completed. Any students planning to use vertebrates or humans in their research must obtain approval from the teacher and the science fair committee PRIOR to beginning any work.
8. Students are advised to retain an extra copy of reports.
9. There will be an interview portion of the judging process; students unable to participate in this portion of the fair will forfeit the opportunity to score points in this area.
10. There will be two divisions: middle school and high school. Each division will be judged separately in 14 distinct categories. The categories are as follows:
CATEGORIES:
Behavioral & Social Science Environmental Science
Biochemistry Mathematics
Botany Medicine & Health
Chemistry Microbiology
Computer Science Physics
Earth & Space Science Zoology
Engineering Group Projects
11. DISPLAY SPECIFICATIONS:
a. Maximum Dimensions - not to exceed 122 cm (48 in.) length X 76 cm (30 in.) depth X 150 (60 in.) height.
b. Displays should be constructed of three panels using lightweight materials as illustrated below.
122 cm (48 in) Length
Title
Statement of Data Analysis
150 cm Problem Visuals of
(60 in.) Procedures
Height Hypothesis Results or
Variables Data Display Conclusion
Procedure
Report
76 cm (30 in.)
Depth
c. Limit the display to visuals including graphs, pictures, diagrams, charts and tables.
Use photographs in lieu of actual apparatus, materials or specimens.
d. NO animals, microorganisms, chemicals, models or any other materials or equipment may be included as part of a display. Projects will be screened as they arrive to ensure the appropriateness of each display.
e. The project report must be placed in front of the display. The report should generally consist of the following seven components: 1) title, 2) introduction, 3) the experimental design, 4) procedure, 5) analysis of data, 6) conclusion, and 7) literature cited. Any required forms must be included in the report as an Appendix(ces).
12. Projects must be left on display for the Arts and Sciences Festival and should be picked up immediately following the conclusion of the Awards Ceremony. Projects will not be returned to the school by the Arts and Sciences Festival committee.