MOST COMMON REASONS FOR DISQUALIFICATIONS

The Science Fair Committee at UL-Lafayette is asked to enforce the rules established by the Intel-sponsored Society for Science. We do not enjoy disqualifying projects from students because our sole purpose in organizing our regional Science Fair is to promote math and science education among our young people in our state and region.

But the following describes projects that have been disqualified for rules violations and students ought to avoid these pitfalls :

1. Incomplete paperwork

All projects need forms 1, 1A, 1B, Abstract (on the proper form) and a Research Plan. Under "LINKS" one may click on "DOCUMENTS" and obtain all of the ISEF Science Fair forms, with the exception of the Abstract Form and the Research Plan, both of which can be found under "LABELS". Click on "ABSTRACT FORM" or "RESEARCH PLAN" and you can download those documents. Please read the directions. In addition, projects that involve human subjects, vertebrate animals, potentially hazardous biological or chemical substances, like molds or acids, need additional forms. To ensure that the students have the proper paperwork, we recommend ALL students to use the RULES WIZARD. The date on Form 1B MUST BE BEFORE the experiment start date on FORM 1A, so 1B should be the first form filled out.

2. Not testing in approved labs. Projects involving mold and certain chemicals must be done in approved labs and if they are done in the home these projects will be disqualified.

3. Harming vertebrate animals (which includes fish) in the course of doing a project will likely result in a disqualification. The rules state that only a momentary application of pain is acceptable. Our committee deliberates on what is momentary. Even if a veterinarian signs off on the experiment, the project must still withstand the rules underlying Science Fair participation, and most vets are not familiar with these specific rules.

4. Not obtaining the proper signatures on the forms. All of the signatures and all of the forms must be completed PRIOR to any experiment being performed. In the past teachers and parents and students have scrambled around at the last moment trying to retroactively obtain signatures needed for certain forms. We will NOT be honoring post-dated paperwork anymore. If paperwork is not completed and forms are not signed, the projects will be disqualified and the $10 entry fee will be forfeit.

5. Human Subject Forms sometime need also the Informed Consent forms for participants in surveys, but it all depends on the nature of the project. So in doing the RULES WIZARD before you start any experiment you will know exactly what forms are needed.