RULES FOR THE ALABAMA FAIR

The 2008 Alabama Science and Engineering Fair (ASEF) will follow the rules of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair as published in "International Rules for Precollege Science Research: Guidelines for Science & Engineering Fairs, 2007-2008" by Science Services, Inc. All forms and rules of the fair are given on the Science Service web page. Copies of these rules are also available from Science Service, Inc., 1719 N Street, Washington, D.C. 20036-2888. These rules must be strictly complied with in order for an exhibit to be eligible for awards. Several certifications are required prior to the start of any actual experimentation. These rules apply to all science fairs which have affiliation with the International Science and Engineering Fair, and, therefore must be applied at all regional science fairs which participate in the Alabama Science and Engineering Fair.

ISEF Rules | ISEF Forms | Student Handbook

1. In general, only participants who have competed in an Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair and have been selected by that fair to attend the Alabama Science and Engineering Fair will be allowed to register. Quick Reference: (Forms referenced below are published by Science Services, Inc., in their Guidelines for Science Fairs and should have been provided by your local or Regional Fair.) It is very important that all applications be accompanied by correctly filled in forms. In particular, the following should receive careful attention.
   
   

   The following forms must have been completed and approvals obtained before participants began their experimentation:

2. Checklist for Adult Sponsor/Student Safety Assessment Form
   This form should be completed and signed by an adult sponsor. The date of review must be prior to the experimentation. This date should be before any Human Subjects Form (4A) or Informed Consent Form (4B) are dated.
3. Form (1A) Research Plan
4. Form (1B) Approval Form
5. All students should have an abstract with their project. Only students in the Senior Division must complete the Official Abstract Form. Abstracts should be no more than 250 words and include the (a) purpose of the experiment, (b) procedures used, (c) data, and (d) conclusions. It should not include acknowledgments of work or procedures done by the mentor.
6. Form (1C), Registered Research Institutional/Industrial Setting Form must be completed by the scientist supervising your research if the research is performed in an Institutional/Industrial Setting.
7. Form (2), Qualified Scientist Form, must be completed and signed prior to the start of your experimentation if your project involves animals, controlled substances and pathogens or recombinant DNA and humans.
8. Form (3), Designated Supervisor Form, must be completed prior to beginning your project if the Qualified Scientist is unable to supervise the experiments or for projects using hazardous materials or devices.
9. Form (4A), Human Subjects Form, must have been completed prior to experimentation if the research involves humans.
10. Form (4B), Informed Consent Form, is recommended for all projects involving human subjects and required for all such projects involving risk.
11. Form (5), Non Human Vertebrate Animal Form, must have been completed prior to experimentation.
12. All projects using viable fresh tissue, organs, human or animal parts, including blood, blood products, teeth, primary cell cultures, and body fluids require Form (6), Human and Animal Tissue Form, be completed prior to experimentation.

Copies of all forms relevant to your project must be submitted together with your application to attend the 2008 ASEF. Keep the originals but bring them to the ASEF. Failure to comply with the above ISEF requirements will result in disqualification from the ASEF.

Each student in the Senior Division should display a project data book and a research paper.

Any changes of the research plan by a student after initial IRB/SRC approval must have subsequent IRB/SRC approval before experimentation begins or resumes.

Projects which are a continuation of a previous year's work and which require IRB/SRC approval must be reapproved prior to experimentation for the current year.

Each student may enter only one project.

ASEF 2008 accepts team projects. Team Projects are defined as any project with two and no more than three contributing student members. All team projects (both Junior and Senior divisions) are grouped into one category labeled "Team Projects", regardless of subject matter or grade division. Information on project categories. Team projects are required to enter into the Team Projects category, which will encompass all 17 categories. Entering ANY team projects into an individual category is not permitted. If a team enters a team project into an individual category under one of the members' names, the project will be subject to DISQUALIFICATION and all awards will be rescinded. In the event that the fair director determines a project is suitable for entrance into ISEF, a decision will be made regarding funding available as to how many of the team members will be invited to participate in person at the International Competition.