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 Middle School/Senior High Division are listed further on. Specific rules that need to be adhered to are available at the Intel ISEF website www.sciserv.org/isef. Rules and regulations for the Elementary Division are slightly different than the Middle School/Senior High Division, and are also listed further on. The proper forms must be completed prior to beginning the science project to ensure student safety and proper procedure.
Participants: Any boy or girl in grades 3-12 of a public, private, parochial or home school is eligible to participate in the project exhibit competition. Students in grades 6-12, who participate at the regional Middle School/Senior High Division are also eligible to compete in the research paper competition. Students in grades 3-6 typically compete in a local school fair before earning the opportunity to be certified for regional competition. In grades 6-12 some schools have a local fair, but many simply send those students interested in doing a project and/or paper directly to the regional fair. All students/schools must register according to deadlines.
Repetition of Previous Year's Work: A project shown in the previous regional science fair may not be re-entered without substantial expansion and development.
RSEF Middle School/Senior High Division – ONLINE REGISTRATIONS ARE HIGHLY PREFERRED! 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. When registrations are completed online, educators should send a copy of the registration or include a list of the registrants along with payment. A copy should be kept as well by the educator along with the original form kept by the student. For online registration, remember to PRINT AND KEEP a copy for your files! SC/SW MN Regional Science & Engineering Fair Date: Saturday, February 18, 2012.
Registrations either completed online or by hard copy are due by the deadline of Friday, January 9, 2012. Payments for registration are due January 17, 2012. To participate in both the project and paper competitions, two forms will need to be completed along with fees for both competitions. Registration fees for either the paper or project competition is $20 per student per entry. If a student chooses to register for both the paper and project competition, there will be a $20 registration fee for each competition or $40 total. If there are additional team members, each member needs to also pay the $20 fee for each competition. No late research paper registrations will be accepted after Monday, January 9, 2012, 11:59p.m. Remember to send three copies of the research paper to our office, postmarked no later than January 9, 2012. For those wishing to submit the Research Paper via electronically (to mary.van-duynhoven@mnsu.edu) we need a PDF file of the document emailed to our office no later than 9:00am on Tuesday, January 10, 2012. LATE RESEARCH PAPER REGISTRATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Late project registrations will be charged an additional $5 per person AND payment must accompany the hard copy of the registration. Late registrations may or may not be listed in the fair booklet. Any project registration with payment not made by January 17, 2012 may also be accessed a $5 late fee. No project registrations will be accepted after January 17, 2012. NO REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN AFTER JANUARY 17, 2012!
RSEF Elementary Division – ONLINE PROJECT REGISTRATIONS ARE HIGHLY PREFERRED! 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. SC/SW MN Regional Science & Engineering Fair Date for the Elementary Divsion: April 28, 2012.
Complete the correct registration form and give a copy to your advisor/teacher to keep for his/her files. If a school is involved, all registrations must go through that school - so that the educator knows who exactly is registered from his/her school. After each project registration, the Science Fair Coordinator should receive a confirming email of the data submitted. Please review and if there are need of corrections, be sure to let our office know. If registrations are completed online, teachers/advisors can send a copy of the registration to us along with payment when sent U.S. Postal Mail, but educator should also keep a copy of the 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 Monday, March 12, 2012. Payments for registration are due Tuesday, March 30, 2012. Late projects for the Elementary Division may or may not be accepted into the regional fair. Prior authorization needs to be given by our office in order to accept any late registrations. Any late, but approved registrations, must be accompanied with payment of $25 per person/per project $20 registration fee + $5 late fee). Give us a call at 507-389-2849 if you or your school has conflicts. The registration fee for project competition is $20 per student. If there are additional team members, each member needs to also pay the $20 fee. Late registrations may or may not be listed in the fair booklet. Any project registration payment not made by Tuesday, March 30, 2012 will be accessed a $5 late fee. No project registrations will be accepted after March 30, 2012. No refunds after March 30, 2012.
[PDF] Elementary Fair MSU Campus Map (546 KiB)
