See also: Judging FAQ, and the Scientific Review Committee page for frequently asked questions
Q: Why can't I use a photocopy of the Application Form?
A: Because the tri-fold Application Form serves as a file folder for all attachments, and because, when lots of folks need to review lots of forms quickly, they know just where to turn for your complete info file.
Q: What is the Science Fair Process?
Check out the ISEF webpage entitled Student Science Fair Checklist to find out step-by-step how to participate in the Science Fair Process.
Q: What is the SRC? What is the IRB?
A: The term SRC is actually used two ways. The acronym SRC stands for Scientific Review Committee, so one meaning refers to the group of people who form a committee that reviews each project application to ensure that all safety and legal requirements will be met and that the appropriate forms have been completed. The committee also reviews the completed project displays during check-in at the Synopsys Championship. A Scientific Review Committee is composed of at least three people: a biomedical scientist, a physical scientist, and a science teacher.
SRC also refers to the process of a project being reviewed. You may ask if a project "requires SRC approval" or if it has "passed SRC."
Projects involving humans are reviewed by a subcommittee of the SRC called the Institutional Review Board (IRB). This ensures the project will not present an excessive amount of risk to the subjects. An IRB is composed of at least three people: a science teacher, a school administrator and a psychologist, doctor (M.D.) or nurse (R.N.).
The SCVSEFA SRC/IRB consists of 12-14 people with expertise in various subjects working together to review each of the project applications for the Synopsys Championship.
Q: Why are we so strict about the forms and
SRC approval?
A: There are 4 major reasons:
1. Student safety
2. Compliance with federal and state laws
3. Compliance with the Intel ISEF rules. Adherence to the Intel ISEF
Rules allows selected winners from the Synopsys Championship
to compete in:
Intel International Science &Engineering Fair (grades 9-12)
California State Science Fair (Grades 6-12)
Discovery Young Scientist Challenge (Grades 6-8)
4. Avoidance of legal/litigation issues.
Q: Who can submit a Technical Paper?
A: If you are a high school student in grades 9-12, you may enter a Technical Paper on your project in addition to your individual project. (Technical Papers for team projects are not allowed.) The paper must cover the same subject matter as your research project.
Q: What's with science-fair.org website?
A: Some of you have noticed that when you go to www.science-fair.org and click on the new starburst "Enter" graphic, you are sent to the site synopsys.championship.googlepages.com.
This change makes it easier for our various subject-matter authors to edit their own web pages. Previously, authors purchased a secure terminal program for their PC, learned HTML, and learned how to use a text editor called vi. Or they e-mailed the webmaster with changes.
This new approach gets information to you more quickly!
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