The following required forms and guidelines help students ensure that their proposed research is safe, ethical, and approved by a parent, teacher, and field experts. Students and mentors are encouraged to use the ISEF Rules Wizard tool to help determine what forms are required for the project (https://ruleswizard.societyforscience.org).

REQUIRED FORM

BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION

Adult Sponsor (with Student Researcher) reviews what forms and approvals are required to ensure project’s compliance with ISEF rules, as well as local, state, and federal laws

REQUIRED FORM

BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION

Student Researcher, parent/guardian, and SRC consent to and approve the project. Must be signed by student and parent/guardian BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION. Must be signed by SRC in (2a) BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION if research involves human participants, vertebrate animals, or PHBAs and was not conducted at a RRI. For projects involving human participants, vertebrate animals, or PHBAs conducted at a RRI and preapproved by the institution, SRC signs in (2b) after experimentation confirming institutional preapproval and compliance with ISEF rules. Regional Fair SRC signs in section (3) after experimentation and prior to competition.

OPTIONAL FORM

BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION

Required for research involving hazardous chemicals, activities or devices, or DEA controlled substances, some human participants projects, and some PHBAs, including protists, composting, coliform test kits, decomposition of vertebrate organisms, and microbial fuel cells. Recommended for student-designed inventions/prototypes. Completed by Student and signed by QS/DS 

OPTIONAL FORM

BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION

Required for research involving microorganisms, rDNA, fresh/frozen tissue (including primary cell lines, human and other primate established cell lines and tissue cultures), blood, blood products, or body fluids. QS/DS selects box describing research setting and required approvals. MUST BE APPROVED BY SRC/IACUC/IBC BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION. SRC indicates agreement either before experimentation (if not done at RRI) or after experimentation (if done at RRI).

Required for EVERY STUDENT (including team members) entering a project for competition in the 2022 Science & Engineering Fair, hosted by GEORGIA COLLEGE. Failure to submit a signed agreement will result in disqualification.

REQUIRED FORM

BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION

Student Researcher provides basic details about research and experimentation. Must be accompanied by Research Plan/Project Summary (see below).

OPTIONAL FORM

Required for research conducted at a college/university, medical facility, industrial setting, or other lab or research setting other than home, school or field. Completed by supervising adult at RRI after experimentation

OPTIONAL FORM

IRB APPROVAL BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION

Required for research involving human participants, even if participants are only testing or providing feedback on invention/prototype/application. MUST BE APPROVED BY FULL IRB (ALL THREE SIGNATURES) BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION. IRB determines risk, supervision, and consent required.

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Example Human Consent Form HERE

OPTIONAL FORM

BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION

Required in addition to 6A for research involving fresh/frozen tissue (including primary cell lines, human and other primate established cell lines and tissue cultures), blood, blood products, or body fluids. MUST BE COMPLETED BY QS/DS BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION.

Required for each project and must be vertically displayed at the competition table (either taped to the front of the table or in a picture frame).  Do not include it on the display board.

REQUIRED FORM

BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION

The Research Plan/Project Summary is written before experimentation to detail rationale, research question, methodology, and risk assessment. Any changes made during research can be added to the original Plan as an addendum, recognizing that some changes may require returning to SRC/IRB for review and approval. If no additional approvals are required, the addendum serves as a Project Summary to explain the research that was conducted. If no changes are made from original Research Plan, no Project Summary is required

OPTIONAL FORM

BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION

Required for research with human participants, vertebrate animals, potentially hazardous biological agents, or DEA-controlled substances. Completed by QS/DS 

OPTIONAL FORM

SRC APPROVAL BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION

Required for research involving vertebrate animals. 5A is for research conducted at home, school, or field, which MUST BE APPROVED BY SRC BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION. SRC determines the level of supervision required (DS, QS, and/or veterinarian). 5B is for research conducted at a RRI, which must be approved by the institution’s IACUC. 5B must be completed and signed by QS/PI after experimentation.

OPTIONAL FORM

Required for projects that continue or expand upon a previous year’s work. Must be accompanied by Abstract and Research Plan from the previous year(s)