INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTRATION
You mustregister to attend the NMScience and Engineering Fair (NMSEF).
Each student qualifier has five (5) business days following their Regional Competition to register their exhibit to attend NMSEF.
Online registration will be provided to all Regional Fair Finalists.
CHECKLIST FOR EXHIBITORS
Supplement to Schedule of Events
BEFORE the State Science Fair:
Immediately after your regional fair, register at .
Make motel reservations. Lodging information can be found at NM Tech dormitory accommodationsare not available.
Pay your registration fee of $30.00 per exhibitor by mailing an a check or by credit card at
Check the NMSEF website, This website contains all information you will need to participate at the State Science & Engineering Fair, including maps and rules that may apply to you or your exhibit.
Keep a copy of all your paperwork.
If your teacher is assisting you with your registration, please double check with us that you are registered.
Friday, April 6, 2018:
Go to Registration in the Lobby of the FidelStudentCenter, 2:00 to 8:00 p.m.
- Students are NOT ALLOWEDto register or set up their exhibits on Saturday morning. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Pick up your packet at the registration area. (FidelCenter, second floor)
Set up your exhibit. (Be sure to leave copies of your abstract).
Have a Rules Checker (orange vest) approve your display. Do not leave Exhibit Hall until your project has been approved.
Saturday, April 7, 2018:
If you need to turn on any equipment, report to the Exhibit Hall at 7:45 a.m. The Exhibit Hall will be open until 8:00 a.m.
Report to your exhibit from 10:30 a.m. - noon for interviews with category and special judges.
Return to your exhibit at 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. for further special award interviews.
Spend some time between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. at your exhibit to answer any questions the public may have. Don’t forget to check out the other exhibits!
Tear down and remove your exhibit between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. All exhibits not removed by 8:00 p.m. will be thrown away.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The 66thNew Mexico Science and Engineering Fair will be held at New Mexico Tech in Socorro, NM on Friday, April 6 and Saturday, April 7, 2018.
New Mexico Science and Engineering Fair (NMSEF) will receive a copy of your regional fair entry form and protocols. Even so, you must submit a NMSEF entry form. You are required to bring the same project to the NMSEF. However, you may change the title of your project, change categories, or change from a table to a floor exhibit (or vice versa). These changes are made when you complete the NMSEF entry form.
New Mexico Science & Engineering Fair is an affiliate of the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) and is bound by the rules governing that organization. The 2018International Rules for Precollege Science Research: Guidelines for Science and Engineering Fairsmust be strictly followed. All official rules and information are on our website In addition, eligibility requirementsestablished by the New Mexico Activities Association apply to all participants.
REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT
The registration fee is $30.00 per exhibitor. Included in your packet will be aParticipation Certificate, Science Fair pin, Event Program, and one Saturday lunch ticket.
Registration fees for student exhibitors may be paid for in advance by a school purchase order. Schools may mail their purchase order to the Science Fair office prior to the Science Fair or email to . Purchase orders must include school name and student name(s). Students please note: if a school is responsible for paying your registration fees, these fees MUST be paid in advance—otherwise you will be responsible for payment of your own fees.
Parents/sponsors may purchase additional lunch tickets during the lunch on Saturday.
EXHIBIT CHECK-IN AND SET UP
Exhibit Check-In will take place from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 1in the lobby of the Joseph A. FidelStudentCenter. You must check in your exhibit before you will be allowed to set up. Exhibitors may not check-in or set up exhibits on Saturday morning. No exceptions will be made.
Parking is unrestricted; vehicles may park in any parking lot on campus. Vehicles MAY NOT pull into the area behind the Exhibit Hall (Gymnasium) at any time.
Once a Student Exhibitor has checked in and received his/her registration packet, they may take their project to the Gymnasium to set up. *Junior Division exhibits will be set up in the West Gymnasium, and Senior Division exhibits in the East Gymnasium. * Subject to change
One 120-volt grounded electrical outlet will be available for each exhibitor who request one. If you need more than one outlet, bring a grounded extension cord with you. Exhibitors should come prepared with tools and other equipment to set up and repair their displays. These items will not be supplied by Science Fair personnel.
After your exhibit is completely set up, it is your responsibility to find a Project Checker to review and approve your display. Checkers will be wearing orange vests. Your project will not be eligible for judging unless the approval stamp is properly displayed. Nothing may be added to the exhibit after it has been approved by the checker. The Exhibit Hall will close at 8:00 p.m. on Friday. Plan your set-up time accordingly.
New Mexico Science and Engineering Fair and its affiliates are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged equipment or supplies to any project while on display during the New Mexico Science and Engineering Fair. This includes set-up and tear-down times.
On Saturday morning, from 7:45 to 8:00 a.m., the Exhibit Hall will be open to exhibitors only to come in briefly to turn on displays, equipment, etc. in preparation for judging. This time is to be used for this purpose only, and cannot be used to complete your exhibit set up.
PROTOCOLS
All projects dealing with humans, non-human vertebrate animals, pathogenic agents, controlled substances, recombinant DNA (rDNA) or human and animal tissue must have the appropriate forms and certificates (protocols) on file with the Science Fair office. These forms must be signed and dated in accordance with Intel ISEF regulations and your regional fair’s deadline. Your regional fair will forward them to the State Science Fair Office, and they will be reviewed by the State Fair Scientific Review Committee. Exhibitors who fail to present the proper protocols will be disqualified.
NMSEF STATE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
NMSEF has several requirements that are specific to the State Competition Only. All students and their sponsors should check the website for regulations regarding exhibit displays. These can be found by following the link to Info for Students at
JUDGING
Judging begins at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday morning without exhibitors at their exhibits. Each exhibit is judged initially by three category award judges. After initial judging, the judging committee meets and reviews the exhibits and their scores. Special award judges follow their own criteria to determine their awards.
Judges interview exhibitors from 10:30 a.m. to noon and from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Please be at your exhibit promptly. The length of the interview period will depend on the committee. Exhibitors should remain at their exhibits throughout the judging interview periods for special and grand award judging. Although not all student exhibitors will be re-interviewed, it is necessary for them to remain at their exhibit until 3:30 p.m. or until they are dismissed by Science Fair personnel.
PUBLIC VIEWING OF EXHIBITS
The Exhibit Hall is open to the public from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. Exhibitors are encouraged to be at their exhibits for at least part of the time on Saturday afternoon if possible.
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES DURING THE FAIR (Subject to change)
Friday Night:
MEALS AND LODGING
As part of the exhibitor registration package, student exhibitors will receive a lunch ticket for Saturday, April 1st, 2017. Lunch will be served from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Additional tickets may be purchased during lunch in front of the Fidel Ballrooms (third floor). Other meals are the responsibility of the participants.
Overnight accommodations in Socorro are the responsibility of Science Fair participants. The State Science Fair office does not make motel reservations, nor are any dormitory facilities available on campus. Make your reservations early! Please visit the City of Socorrowebsite at
AWARDS
There are two types of awards presented at New Mexico Science and Engineering Fair, special awards and category awards.
- Special awards, focusing on their unique interests, are provided by industries, businesses, professional organizations, universities, and the branches of the Armed Forces.
- Category awards include first, second and third place, and several honorable mentions in each category.
- Junior Division, 1st place winners receive monetary awards.
- In the Senior Division, monetary awards are awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.
In addition, Grand Award Winners are selected for each of the two divisions.
- Two Junior Division Grand Award winners – one exhibitor from life sciences and one from physical sciences.
- Six Senior Division Grand Award winners - three exhibitors from life sciences and threefrom physical sciences.
- Senior Division Award winners become Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) qualifiers. Their awards include all-expenses paid trips to for the students and their sponsors to attend and exhibit at Intel ISEF.
No cash prizes will be awarded during the awards ceremony. NM Tech requires a competed IRS Form, W-9, before they will process all monetary awards. Awards will not be processed if we do not have a W-9 form on file. No exceptions will be made. Once W-9’s are received, monetary awards will be mailed in 4-6 weeks. All awards must be claimed by June 16th, 2017. No awards will be processed past this date.
Two awards programs will be held on Saturday evening in the Macey Center Auditorium. The awards program for the Junior Division begins at 6:00 p.m. The Senior Division program begins at 7:30 p.m. and includes a presentation by the winner of the Junior Academy of Science Paper Reading Competition. Open seating will begin 15 minutes prior the start of the Awards Assemblies.
ISEF PARTICIPANTS’ RECEPTION AND MEETING
On Saturday evening, immediately following the Senior Division Awards Ceremony, a reception will be held in MaceyCenter for all Intel International Science and Engineering Fair qualifiers, their sponsors and parents. This includes all regional ISEF participants. Regional Directors will be in attendance to answer questions about the ISEF trip to Pittsburgh, PA May 13-18, 2018. It is important that everyone who will be a part of the New Mexico delegation to ISEF attend this meeting.
ISEF qualifiers, their sponsors, Regional Fair personnel, and State Science Fair personnel make up the Official Party to the Intel ISEF. Anyone who is not part of the Official Party and is planning on attending ISEF is responsible for their own travel arrangements.
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