Rules and Suggestions for the Regional Science Fair
 

   Exhibits on any scientific subject made by students may be entered if students are enrolled in any class from fourth through twelfth grade in any public, private, or parochial school in Blackford, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Grant, Henry, Howard, Jay, Madison, Randolph, Rush, Tipton, Union, or Wayne counties.

  Exhibitors in the regional fair should be winners from local fairs or classroom fairs, if such are held (grades 4 through 12).

  On-line registration forms must be complete and a $5.00 non-refundable processing fee per exhibit must be in our hands on or before Wednesday, February 20, 2008.  If a check is sent, it should be made out to the EAST CENTRAL INDIANA REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR.

  The registration form will need to be filled out completely and special care should be taken to see that the teacher/sponsor information is correct and that the division and classification (in junior and senior divisions) are checked.

  Elementary exhibits must be kept to no more than three (3) per school unit or building. The elementary division (4th, 5th & 6th) has no science classifications. The junior division (7th & 8th) and the senior divisions (9th -12th) have the usual categories. There is no limit on number of exhibits in junior or senior divisions. Middle schools housing 6th grade separate from elementary schools may send a maximum of three exhibits from 6th grade. This assumes that the elementary and middle schools have separate principals.

  A contestant may enter only one exhibit. ONLY INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS WILL BE JUDGED. This applies to all ages. An exhibit must not be an identical repetition of one shown by the same exhibitor at a previous Regional Science Fair. All help received on exhibits should be acknowledged.

The Authenticity of Each Exhibit Must Be Endorsed By a Teacher

  Exhibits must be confined to a table or floor space of 76cm deep (front to back) by 122cm wide (side to side), and 274cm high (floor to top). Oversized exhibits cannot be entered in the International Science and Engineering Fair and will be disqualified. No wall space will be available for support.

  Construction must be durable; movable parts firmly attached and safe. All switches and cords for 110-volt operation must be of approved variety. Each 110-volt operated exhibit must be provided with six or more feet of cord and the popular style of parallel plug. No nails, screws, etc., can be used to attach project to tables, walls, or floor space.

  Dangerous chemical, open flames, poisonous reptiles, or explosives must not be exhibited. Contestants are responsible for the proper care of live animal and plants. Use of vertebrate animals must meet the requirements for use of live vertebrate animals. Forms* must be completed and signed before live animals can be used in the junior and senior divisions. Failure to have proper forms completed and signed prior to the undertaking of a project has led to disqualification of excellent projects in the past. NOTE: Live animals (including fish) may NOT be exhibited at the fair!   * For Forms, log onto www.sciserv.org click on INTEL International Science & Engineering Fair and, under INTEL ISEF News, click on Rules Wizard.   The last page of the ISEF Rules Wizard contains required forms to be submitted with projects.  (Elementary students do not need to submit these forms.) 

  Exhibitors will bring their exhibits to Ball Gymnasium on the Ball State University campus, on Saturday, March 1, 2008 after 7:15 a.m. (EST) and have them set up before 8:45 a.m.

  Judges will evaluate the exhibits after 9:00 a.m. Scoring will be on work done by exhibitors, not on value of accessory equipment, either borrowed or purchased. Criteria for judging will be based on creative ability, scientific thought, thoroughness, skill, clarity, and dramatic value. Contestants are to be available for an interview during judging of the projects should a judge so desire.

  The two top winners in the senior division will represent the East Central Indiana Regional Science Fair at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Atlanta, GA on May 11-17, 2008. Three additional senior exhibitors and three junior exhibitors are also selected to attend the Hoosier Science and Engineering Fair to be held at DePauw University, Greencastle, IN  on April 5, 2008.

Because of participation in the International and State Fairs, all junior and senior division exhibits need to display an abstract with their project at the Regional Fair. The sponsoring teachers are to accompany the finalists on these all-expense paid trips. If the sponsoring teacher cannot accompany the group, a substitute will be selected by the Science Fair Committee.

  Other awards for which students may compete include: Ball State tuition scholarship; reference books; the Carl E. Warnes Microbiology Award; Army and Navy Awards; the BSU Natural Resources and Environmental Meteorological Awards; Geological Society Awards; ribbons to first, second, and third place winners in each category; and honorable mention ribbons at the discretion of the judges. All contestants will receive certificates of participation. The awards will be announced in the Cardinal Ballroom in the Pittenger Student Center following the program which is to begin at 2:30 p.m. on the day of the fair.

  Neither the Science Fair Committee, the cooperating groups, sponsors, or Ball State University assumes any responsibility for loss or damage to any exhibit or part thereof, although reasonable care will be provided for protection of each exhibit.