Coriell Science Fair Teacher & Student Guide

1. Coriell Science Fair Teacher & Student Guide Rev S 092410

2. Table of Contents The Basics for the Project & the Science Part 1: Who may Participate Part 2: How to Participate Part 3: The Science Part 4: Doing the Project Part 5: Judging, Awards, & Advancement Help with Rules: Getting Paperwork Done & Approved Part 6: ISEF Forms & Rules Part 7: Common Problems Basic Forms Part 8: Common Problems Risk Forms

3. Part 1: Who May Participate • Students in 6th through 12th grades • 2. Attend school in Burlington, Camden or Gloucester Co. • 3. Students with adult sponsorship: teachers, home-school parents, qualified non-school adult mentors • If your school does not have a teacher available to you: • Students with outside adult sponsors may participate • If your school has a science fair: • Your school decides who may participate - including • if students not in the science fair may participate • 6. Individual projects or team, projects • Teams are limited to 3 students • Projects and continuations of previous projects must have • been started after January 1, 2010. • 8. One project only per student

4. Part 2: How to Participate: Steps 1-8

5. How to Participate: Steps 9-19

6. Part 3: The Science

7. Student Research Categories Behavioral & Social Engineering Biochemistry Environmental Botany Math Chemistry Medicine & Health Computers Microbiology Consumer Science* Physics Earth & Space Zoology Teams * Consumer science is 6th-8th grade only)

8. Basic Parts of a Science Project 3. Write report 2. Do the experiment keep journal 4. Make Abstract 1. Plan Experiment & submit forms 5. Create presentation board

9. Scientific Method: Experimentally Testing a Hypothesis Plan your experiment to : Ask a question Include a hypothesis of what will happen A method to test the hypothesis To recognize constants To recognize variables To manipulate some variables To include positive and negative controls To repeat tests ≥ 3 times (N ≥ 3) To present results in tables and charts To analyze data and draw conclusions To discuss the conclusions: Was hypothesis correct ? To know what could be done next These are all things judges are looking for !

10. Choosing a Topic “What is the effect of __A__ (variable) on __B__ (subject) measured by __C__ (units) when __D__(is constant)

11. Hypothesis An educated guess Should be reasonable, but not necessarily correct Crystals will be larger when evaporation is slower. (Positive action) Red classroom wall color will make student test scores lower. (Negative action) Soil temperature will not affect plant growth. (No action)

12. Variables to be measured might include irrigation / drought more mass / less mass angle of launch sunlight / dark color of light pH type of substrate Kinds of measurements length / height color change speed / velocity time mass volume use numbers There must be something to measure Choosing a Topic

13. Constants Are things that stay the same because: You hold them constant So only 1 variable is tested at a time They are physically invariant Light speed = 671 million mph Liquid Nitrogen is -196C

14. Variables 0 Are things you manipulate Things that change in response 1 4 Manipulated/Independent: weight on car Observed/Dependent: distance, speed

15. Controls • Are things to which you compare your results Negative Control(untreated): In comparing which toothpaste works best it is: Positive Control(treated with something known to work very well): In determining which color light makes plants grow better it is: Brushing your teeth with water Sunlight

16. “N” • “N” is the number of times you test something • “N” should be 3 or more. • Conclusions drawn from only one trial are often incorrect.

17. Why Repeat Experiments ? Which Rots Faster: Potatoes or Tomatoes ? If N=1 itsTomatoes, If N =3 its Potatoes

18. Part 4: Doing The Project Doing the Experiment Collecting Data Writing a Report Writing the Abstract Making a Poster

19. Do the Experiment Don’t Start until you have SRC (Coriell Or Reg, Inst.Approval Repeat observations Take photos Engineers should build and test a prototype Test one variable at a time Collect Data Write everything down in a log book Use a new page per day Keep everything in one original book Make tables of numbers Write a Report Title page, table of contents Introduction with some background, hypothesis Experiment, materials & methods Data (charts & graphs) Discussion and Conclusion Acknowledgments and References

20. Write an Abstract The abstract is the most important part because it tells judges what your project is about before going deeper Keep it Short (250 words or less) Purpose : Why you did the experiment Procedure : How you did the experiment Result: What you found out Conclusions: What you learned from the experiment Where to Put Abstracts: Put full name, school and project title on one copy and send copy to Coriell when project completed Put First name only and title on display copies (No last name or school) Mount one copy to your poster Place 12 additional copies on bench for judges to take

21. Self Standing Poster Board Be creative, artful (color and texture) Neatness demonstrates effort and care Use large font (16-20) for easy judge reading Credit graphs/photos Use flow charts or outlines for methods (leave extensive details in your reports) Typical order: Left: Abstract and Introduction Middle Data and Charts Right: Discussion and Conclusions, Form 1C Create Poster

22. Keep display within size limits (30 inches deep, 4 feet wide, 9 feet tall from floor) No liquids (except water integral to a sealed apparatus) No sharps Do not have anything or parts of anything alive or that has ever been alive : Use Photos No human or animal food No chemicals or drugs No flames No photographs of surgeries No awards, medals, endorsements or advertisements Display Safety

23. Title Format in same order as a scientific paper Judges have 5-10 min to read. Include diagrams & flow charts in methods Use 14-16 Point font to make it easy to read quickly Keep it short and to the point In discussion Include: Significance of results What you would do If it didn’t work What you would do if you could continue the experiment Results Abstract (250 words) Methods Diagrams Data Graphs, Photos Introduction & Background Discussion & Conclusions Materials & Methods Loose Abstracts for Judges to Take (12) Log Book Report

24. Graphs and Photos • Your abstract and graphs, and photos communicate the most about your project to the judges ! • Key Graph and Photograph Flaws Absent Title Unlabeled Axes (Titles or units of measurement) Absent Legends Absent credits for who took photos or source Helpful Graph Components N= (stating how may times you repeated a data point) Error bars

25. Effect of UV Filters on Plant Growth N = 6 Plant Mass (Gm) Time (Days)

26. Presentation • Students present their work as a poster • Judges preview poster without students, then • Interview / Oral presentation, Q&A • 80% of professional presentations are posters • Science Fairs are excellent preparation professional presentations

27. Part 5: Judging, Awards, & Advancement Suggested Judging Criteria • Originality & Creativity (New to student within limits) • Utility (Engineering, Applied research opposed to basic) • Clarity (Communication skill, Graphs, Tables etc.) • Essential Components (Logs, controls, variables, N > 1) • Skill (Innate and learned ability) • Thoughtfulness (Understands, Problem Solving, What Next) • Initiative & Effort (Independent, Seeks Resources, Work ethic) • Teamwork (Leadership, Equal effort, Equal understanding)

28. Awards • Full or partial scholarships to County Colleges • Bonds for $100 - $300 • Advancement to DVSF / ISEF

29. Advancement to DVSF • Individual Students 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th Grades 1st & 2nd Places • Individual Students 6-8th Grades Combined 1st, 2nd & 3rd Places • Teams 9th–12th Grades Combined & • Teams 6th-8th Grades Combined 1st & 2nd Places

30. Part 6: ISEF Forms, Rules, & Handbook www .Coriell.org 1

31. Why do we want this ? ISEF forms only request student address, phone, and email for projects done at home Teams often leave the names of all members off some ISEF forms Students sometime use initials or nicknames. Student’s names are very often illegible, and we want to get it right for our program book , certificates of participation, awards database, and DVSF/ISEF

32. Need Help: ISEF Rules Wizard www.societyforscience.org/isef/students/wizard/index.asp Is a useful aid in completing ISEF forms and determining: Which forms are required If a qualified scientist or designated supervisor is needed If work must be done at a regulated organization In addition, you may email or phone Coriell: Gary H. Butler, Ph.D. (856) 757-9716 gbutler@coriell.org

33. Basic Paperwork for All Projects Coriell Student Contact Form Teachersensure student address and phone are filled in, and student names are LEGIBLE . This is needed for Coriell’s program book and advancement to DVSF. • Student Checklist (1A) & Research Plan • Studentscomplete • Checklist for Adult Sponsor (1) • Teachers review proposals carefully, ensure boxes for • additional forms are checked in section 4 & 6, & sign • Approval Form (1B) • Students & parents must sign top part of and • check acknowledgement boxes for risks and rules • School or Coriell IRBsigns box 2A if human subjects involved • Only Coriellsigns box 2A & 2B for all other risk projects, & • Regulated Inst. must provide copies of their approval forms

34. Extra Paperwork Required for Some Projects (When in doubt, fill it out) Form 1C:Work done in a Regulated Lab or Industry (Submitted after project is complete and put on student poster) Form 2:Needed when risk, human, controlled drugs or animals require a qualified scientist / supervisor Form 3:Needed for physical and chemical risks and for non- pathogenic* microorganisms . * Protists (Paramecia etc.) Archae (non-pathogenic extremophiles often also in soil or oceans) Not needed for “exempt” microorganisms unless put into culture Form 4:Needed whenever humans are the subject of experiments (excluding strangers in a non-modified environment or review of anonymous records). School or* Coriell IRB may sign. * Having Coriell serve as your IRB is a new option in 2011. Informed Consent / Assent / Parental Permission:Needed for all projects when humans are the subject of experiments. ISEF provides an example form that can be used as is.

35. Form 5A:Needed for all non-human vertebrates studies done at a non-regulated institute not involving interaction, intrusiveness, or invasiveness in the most conservative interpretation. Coriell SRC pre-approval required. Form 5B:Needed for all non-human vertebrates studies done at a regulated institute. Coriell verification of Reg. Institute SRC approval required. Form 6A:Needed for potentially pathogenic bacteria or sources of bacteria, rDNA, tissue, blood, and body fluids ‘ Also required if you submit Form 6B (Tissue) Form 6B:Required for human or vertebrate tissue, cell cultures, blood and body fluids. Must also submit Form 6A. 2011: No longer needed for “grocery store” tissue. Form 7:Required for projects continued from previous years

36. Form 2: When Is a Qualified Scientist (QS) / Designated Supervisor (DS) Needed?

37. Paperwork Accuracy & Completeness 1. The Coriell SRC requires and assumes that teachers and adult sponsors are capable of completing most aspects of the 4 to 14 ISEF forms that may be required. 2. It is important that the student(s) names and project title are repeated on every form 3. Incorrectly completed forms or absent forms may delay approval of your project 4. There are, however, some areas on most forms that may require some instruction to complete correctly.

38. Part 7: Common Problems with Basic Forms that May Get Project Approval Delayed If the following pages are not enough (856) 757-9716 gbutler@coriell.org Sciencefair@coriell.org ISEF Rules Wizard: http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/students/wizard/index.asp

39. Not Legible, Team Members Missing Title not filled in Boxes not Checked Very Common Omissions Boxes not checked Wrong boxes Checked Forms 3-6 for checked boxes missing Adult Sponsor Approval MUST Precede Start Date On Student Checklist Form 1A Line 6 X X Missing information

40. Missing / illegible Missing Required by DVSF/ISEF Missing / illegible Missing For ALL projects: Start must be AFTER adult sponsor approval date on Form 1 Checklist for adult sponsor For “regulated” projects (involving forms 1B, 1C & 3->6) - i.e. those requiring Coriell or Regulated Institute Scientific Review Committee (SRC/IRB) approval : Start date must also be AFTER date of approval

41. Need Separate form for each team member Dates must be before actual start date on form 1A line 6 NEW !!! For human subjects, EITHER School IRB or CoriellIRB signs. ONLY Coriell SRC signs for risk projects NOT involving human subjects. Coriell signs here if project done at a Regulated Inst. (form 1C & Reg. Inst. approval paperwork also needed Section Reserved for DVSF

42. Very Common Error: Absent full name and project title on plan submitted to Coriell. Leave last name off plan posted on your board • The basic components of Research Plan are: • State the question being asked or the problem to be solved • B. Hypothesis: What do you thing the outcome may be • C. Methods: • Clearly and completely describe all procedures • Flow diagrams linking details of methods work well • Include methods of data analysis • (Simple statistics such as averages and errors are a plus) • Bibliography: • Five references are needed. • Scientific articles, internet pages, books , etc. • If vertebrate animals are used an animal care ref. Is needed • Humans, animals and risks: Consult the detailed instructions on the research plan instructions and in the ISEF rule book pages – • Humans (pg 13), Animals (pg 17), Biohazards (pg 21), Physical and Chemical hazards (pg 25) Submit a research plan you create, not a copy of this instruction page

43. Part 8: Common Problems with Risk Forms that May Get Project Approval Delayed If the following pages are not enough (856) 757-9716 gbutler@coriell.org sciencefair@coriell.org ISEF Rules Wizard: http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/students/wizard/index.asp

44. Physical, Chemical & Biological Hazards

45. Physical, Chemical, & Non-Pathogenic Microbe Risks Be conservative: When in doubt, fill it out ! Examples where Form 3 is OK Sealed coliform water test kits Manure composting w/o culture Paramecia, amoeba, rotifers etc. List if it could : Explode, Corrode, Burn, Cut, Blind, Smash, Electrocute, Poison, Catch fire, etc. e.g. lawnmovers, fuel cells, herbicides, insecticides, lasers, acids, bases, organic chemicals, UV lights, trebuchets, rockets, etc. Use Form 3 for NON-pathogenic microorganisms that are NOT culturedon media Do NOT use Form 3 (Use form 6A) when any microorganisms are cultured on media (because contaminating pathogens can grow up) Do NOT use Form 3 (Use form 6A) for potentially bio-hazardous agents or agent sources

46. “Exempt” Microorganism Studies(See ISEF Rules Pg 13, Line 13A) • Studies using the following can be started prior to SRC review and do not require SRC approval, and do not require form 3, or 6A: • Bakers yeast that is /does : • NOTGrown on culture media (then you need Form 3 or 6A & prior approval) • NOTInvolve recombinant DNA (then you need Form 3 or 6A & prior approval) • Mold growth on food that is terminated upon first evidence of mold • If you let it grow, (then you need Form 3 or 6A & prior approval) • Studies involving *“exempt” *microbes that are : • NOT Grown on culture media (then you need Form 3 or 6A & prior approval) • * Exempt organism list: • Lactobacillus species • Bacillus thurgensis • Algae-Eating bacteria • Slime Mold • Nitrogen-Fixing bacteria • Oil-Eating bacteria • Neither Form 3 nor Form 6A is needed if you project is “Exempt” , BUT !!! • Caution: Be very careful !!! If you make the wrong choice, you project can be disqualified

47. The Coriell and/or Regulated Institute SRC will determine the bio-safety level. Form 6 is required for all projects at BSL-1 and BSL-2 BSL-1 is required if you culture “exempt” microorganism (excluding yeast in cooking) BSL-1 is allowed if: You use BSL-1 organisms, seal cultures, and do not open the culture after incubation BSL-2 is required: If you open a plate or broth after culturing ANY microorganism If you use a BSL-2 organism A designated supervisor (DS) or qualified scientist (QS) is REQUIRED for: Biosafety Level-2 organism and potential sources of them (blood, tissue) (MRSE and VRE now permitted at BSL-2 with Qualified Scientist supervision) BSL-3 and BSL-4 organisms are prohibited More Info: http://www.cdc.gov/biosafety/publications/bmbl5/index.htm Bio-Safety Level & Supervision

48. Forms 6A: Biohazards You need this form (6A) in addition to Form 6B if you are using tissue. Body fluids, or tissue cultures Student describes project details QS/DS Describes student training & Signs for concurrence Coriell SRC approves Before starting & assigns BSL level Coriellde facto review of Reg. Inst. Pre-approval & Reg. Inst. Forms that MUST be attached to ISEF forms Projects without these Reg. Inst. forms will be disqualified

49. Form 6B: Tissue Form (6B) I needed for tissue, body fluids , or tissue cultures. 6A is also required if you submit 6B. 2011: Form 6B is no longer required for animal “food-tissue” purchased in a grocery store But: If you culture animal “food-tissue” Form 6A Potential Biohazards is required QS/DS Certification of tissue source and Blood-borne pathogen procedures

50. Human Subjects