WOOD BUFFALO REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR

March 30, 2012
Fort McMurray, Alberta

Science fairs represent an exciting opportunity to do some real science. Instead of just reading about science, students have a chance to design their own experiments and studies and learn first hand how scientists go about answering questions. We hope this experience will inspire you to take an active role in learning more about the world around you.

PROJECT AND REGISTRATION CHECKLIST

	Carefully read the WBRSF Fair Rules , Safety Regulations and Human Subject and Animal Ethics Guidelines before beginning your proect.
	Decide on a topic and plan to begin your project early to ensure that you have enough time to finish before entering the Regional Fair or your school fair. See our links page for project ideas and advice.
	If you choose to perform a project that includes doing research with human volunteers, you must submit an Application to Perform Research with Human Subjects. If you will be doing experimentation on animals; or working with recombinant DNA; viruses; human or animal DNA, tissues or bodily fluids; or potentially pathogenic organisms you must submit an Application to perform Research with DNA, Biological Agents, or Animals . These applications  must receive the approval of the WBRSF Safety and Ethics Committee before you begin your project. An Informed Consent Form must be completed by any human subject that participates in your study, survey, or experiment.
	Register your project with the WBRSF using the online registration system (students participating in school fairs must first be chosen as finalists in order to be eligible to attend the WBRSF).
	Print off the consent (signature) form that was generated for you by the online registration system and mail it to the WBYSF, along with your registration fee, by the indicated deadline
	Arrive at the Fair on time with your registration number and project.

SAFETY AND ETHICS

It is very important that you read and understand the Fair Rules , Safety Regulations and Human Subject and Animal Use Guidelines before beginning your project. These rules are in place to protect you, protect visitors to the fair, and to protect the rights of human or animal subjects used in science fair experiments. Scientists must follow similar rules when they do their own research. Read these guidelines carefully and have your parents or teacher explain any parts that you don’t understand.

Participants are permitted to work with potentially hazardous materials provided the research is done following the appropriate regulations and with adequate supervision.  Potentially hazardous materials, however, must not be exhibited at the Science Fair. This includes chemicals, flammable materials, firearms, animals, animal and human tissues or bodily fluids, and microbial cultures. If you work with these materials, you may wish to document your results with photographs or simulate your experimental set-up for display purposes using safe look-alike substances (for example, you might substitute water for ethanol if you wish to demonstrate a technique for a judge).

Projects which do not meet our safety or ethics guidelines will be disqualified at the Fair. It is your responsibility to ensure that your project meets our guidelines and that, if required, you have applied for project approval before beginning your research. If you are uncertain as to whether your project requires preapproval or meets our exhibit regulations, please contact us.

Our safety and ethics guidelines are modeled after guidelines developed by Youth Science Canada and other national and international science fair organizations. If you are concerned that your project may not meet the guidelines of the Canada-Wide Science Fair, please consult the links below:

Use of Human Subjects
Use of Animals
Use of Firearms and Hazardous Equipment
Recombinant DNA and Biotechnological Safety
Intel International Science and Engineering Fair

JUDGING

A minimum of three judges will visit your project. Our Elementary Judging Rubric and Junior-Senior Judging Rubric outline what they will be looking for in your project. The judges will want to see that you have been keeping careful notes and records of your research. You should organize your rough notes in a logbook. Your logbook can be a journal or three-ring binder, or you may wish to download and print off a WBRSF Logbook.

Each judge will speak with you for 10-15 minutes to determine how well you understand your project. Speak clearly and be enthusiastic. This is your opportunity to brag about your project and share with the judge what you’ve learned! Don’t be intimidated, there’s a good chance the judge will also be learning something new.