Science Fair season is upon us!
The 35th annual
Frederick County Secondary Science and Engineering Fair will be held at
Tuscarora High this year April 1-2, 2016 in partnership
with the Frederick Jaycees, MedImmune, Inc. and Thermofisher. The top
winner from the high school division will represent Frederick at the
International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix. The top 10% of the middle
school division will be eligible to participate in the national Broadcom MASTERS
competition.
The secondary science and engineering
fair is being held the same day and location as the elementary science and
social studies fairs! The secondary science and engineering fair will be in the
gym.
Registration is now open and will
close at 4PM on March 14, 2016.
For more details and to register please visit http://education.fcps.org/sciencesec/sciencefair.
As you prepare for the county
science fair, please keep the following in mind:
We are affiliated with the International Science and
Engineering Fair (ISEF) and follow all of their rules and regulations.
Per ISEF:
· Projects that include human participants,
vertebrate animals or potentially hazardous biological agents need approval
prior to experimentation.
· The use of non-animal research methods
and the use of alternatives to animal research are strongly encouraged and must
be explored before conducting a vertebrate animal project.
Introduction or disposal of non-native and/or invasive species (e.g. insects, plants, invertebrates, vertebrates), pathogens, toxic chemicals or foreign substances into the environment is prohibited.
Introduction or disposal of non-native and/or invasive species (e.g. insects, plants, invertebrates, vertebrates), pathogens, toxic chemicals or foreign substances into the environment is prohibited.
In addition, as you approve projects please keep in
mind:
· Accuracy and clarity of scientific
resources
· Sensitivity in project subject
matter
ISEF categories have also changed slightly this year –
two have been added.
Three project types are judged at the county
fair:
· Experimental Design –This project design is the “traditional” format
which follows a step by step problem solving approach. Examples: Which salt
solution conducts electricity the best?
· Observational/Theoretical Design - This project design uses others’ data or focuses
on the development of new theories and explanations, analyzes data from an
outside source (satellites, water buoys, etc.), formation of a new concept from
the analysis of data, or design of a mathematical model. Examples: The changing
bear population in Garrett County, MD from 2003 to present and its possible
effect on future hunting regulations. Is there a correlation between high
sunspot activity and an active hurricane season?
· Engineering Design – This project design defines a need or tries to
make an existing device better. This project design usually involves the
building of a prototype, testing the prototype and retesting and redesigning as
needed. Examples: Design and testing of a hoverboard.
Projects that are simply research reports are not
science fair projects.
If, as always, you have any questions about the
suitability of a project or which forms to complete, please do not hesitate to
contact Colleen Beall to discuss.
This year, ALL county science
fair projects (MS & HS) must complete ISEF forms 1, 1A and 1B in addition to
online registration. Projects that include human participants, vertebrate
animals or potentially hazardous biological agents require additional forms.
Please use our county science fair website and the ISEF rules wizard as a
resource http://education.fcps.org/sciencesec/sciencefair.
