One of the main purposes of the regional science fair competition is to bring together students from throughout the region whose projects/papers were selected as the best from their particular schools. Through a science fair project, students obtain a glimpse of the scientific method. They learn what it is like to think like a scientist, to investigate and experiment in an area of their interest. Since only the very best projects are selected for regional competition and since many people view these projects, proper procedures and rules are necessary. It is very important that a student is properly supervised, that his/her project is performed and exhibited safely, and that humane procedures are followed, especially when higher animals are used in a research project. Consequently, please follow the rules as listed. The "Planning a Good Science Fair Project" and "The Scientific Method" pages were modified from and are courtesy of the Flint (Michigan) Area Regional Science Fair booklet.
The general rules and regulations for the Junior/Senior High Division are listed further on. Specific rules that need to be adhered to are available at the Intel ISEF website http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/about/rules_regulations.asp
Rules and regulations for the Elementary Division are slightly different than the Junior/Senior High Division are also listed further on.
Participants: Any boy or girl in grades 7-12 of a public, private, parochial or home school is eligible to participate in (1) the research project and exhibit competition, and/or (2) the research paper competition at the regional fair Junior/Senior High Division. Students may compete in a local school fair before earning the opportunity to be certified for regional competition. Many schools, especially in the upper grade levels, simply send those students interested in doing a project and/or paper directly to the regional fair. Any boy or girl in grades 3-6 of a public, private, parochial or home school is eligible to participate in the regional elementary fair. All must register according to deadlines. Online registration will end midnight of the specified date for each fair.
Repetition of Previous Year's Work: A project exhibited in the previous regional science fair may not be re-entered without substantial expansion and development.
RSEF Junior/Senior High Division – Project and Paper Registrations: Student registration forms are available to be completed online or available online in PDF format to download after the school is signed up; be sure to print or photocopy a copy (before submission) for backup. Complete the correct registration form and return it to your advisor/teacher to send to the Regional Science Fair Office. If registrations are completed online, teachers/advisors will not need to send a copy of the registration, but should keep a form for themselves. For online registration, remember to PRINT AND KEEP a copy for your files! Registrations either completed online or by hard copy are due by the deadline of Friday, January 9, 2009. Payments for registration are due Friday, January 16, 2009. To participate in both the project and paper competitions, two registrations will need to be completed along with fees for both competitions. Registration fees for either the paper or project competition is $15 per student per entry. If a student chooses to register for both the paper and project competition, there will be a $15 registration fee for each competition or $30 total. If there are additional team members, each member needs to also pay the $15 fee for each competition. No late research paper registrations will be accepted. Remember to send three copies of the research paper in with the registration and by deadline date. Late registrations may or may not be listed in the fair booklet. Any project registered after deadline date will be accessed a $5 late fee. Online registration will be NOT BE AVAILABLE after the deadline date. No project registrations will be accepted after Friday, January 23, 2009. All registration fees need to be paid prior to fair. Cancellations after fair booklet production will still be expected to pay the registration fees. Fees cannot be transferred to another student or project after Friday, January 23, 2009.
RSEF Elementary Division – Project Registrations: Student registration forms are available to be completed online or available online in PDF format to download after the school is signed up; be sure to print or photocopy a copy (before submission) for backup. Online registrations are highly preferred by the Science Fair Office. (In the past, un-entered registrations caused 40-80 hours of work after deadline, causing lists to be sent to the schools to be checked, dependent upon all registrations being entered.) Complete the correct registration form and give a copy to your advisor/teacher to keep for his/her files. Teacher/advisor supervision is strongly advised for project registrations. For online registration, remember to PRINT AND KEEP a copy for your files! If registering online, a copy of the registration form is not required, but is helpful for our office. Registrations either completed online or by hard copy are due by the deadline of Monday, March 23, 2009. Payments for registration are due Monday, March 30, 2009. The registration fee for project competition is $15 per student. If there are additional team members, each member needs to also pay the $15 fee. Cancellations after fair booklet production will still be expected to pay the registration fees. Late registrations may or may not be listed in the fair booklet. A $5 late fee may be accessed to any late registrations even with approval. LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED unless there has been direct communication and approval with the Science Fair Office. If in doubt, call.
