There are many reasons for doing a science fair project.  You'll have a chance to increase your knowledge, confidence, and self-esteem and find out what science is really all about by doing a project of your choosing from start to finish.  Not only will you increase your own awareness and understanding of some aspects of science or engineering, but you will also have a chance to win awards and prizes.  With increasingly limited enrollments and scholarships available at select schools, science fair participation will help your chances for acceptance and awards.  Also, good science students will get a great start in preparing themselves for potential jobs in the high-demand, high-salaried science and engineering career fields.  The reasons are numerous and the possibilities almost unlimited. 

The Metropolitan Science and Engineering Fair/Nebraska Junior Academy of Sciences (MSEF/NJAS) is open to all Omaha metro students in grades 7-12.  It will happen Saturday morning, March 17, 2012 at Lauritzen Gardens, www.lauritzengardens.org/.  An awards program will follow in the afternoon.  The MSEF/NJAS will give students a chance to display their project and have it judged by area instructors or practicing professionals in the project's field.  This will give students entering the Greater Nebraska Science and Engineering Fair (GNSEF) valuable presentation experience and a chance to use judges' comments to help improve their project before the GNSEF, where they can win additional prizes and scholarships, including all-expenses paid trips to the International Science and Engineering Fair. It is not required for students to enter the MSEF to participate in the GNSEF.  In addition, the top five MSEF/NJAS Junior and Senior winners will compete in the state NJAS fair at Nebraska Wesleyan in April with an opportunity to attend the National NJAS fair.

A group of representatives from area schools and colleges, businesses, and government agencies, listed later in this booklet, are sponsoring and promoting the fair.  Science teachers in your school as well as practicing science and engineering professional people in the metropolitan area will assist you with your project.  MSEF/NJAS Rules and Regulations, Registration, Research Plan, Approval Forms and Abstract Forms, all of which may be freely reproduced, as well as other useful information, are included in this booklet.  GOOD LUCK on your project!  Information, forms and examples of past projects are available at our web site, http://www.msefomaha.org. 

SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR PROJECT PREPARATION

I.  Getting Started on Your Project.

Doing a project means designing an investigation and performing it yourself, gaining recognition for having done it, and possibly preparing you for a scientific career.  The first step is coming up with an idea.  Some suggestions:

1.  Look at what interests you.  Find a broad subject in science, mathematics, or engineering, then narrow it down into a limited area of study that may be thoroughly investigated.

2. Preliminary research in your subject area may help.  Go to your science teacher and to the library and look through some of the many books and pamphlets on science fair projects. Other good sources include lists of previously done science fair projects, scientific papers or newspapers, science books and magazines, scientists or summer institutes, science or mathematics/computer science teachers, or your own curiosity.

3.  Follow the scientific method.  Find a problem, then state a preliminary hypothesis.  Begin to plan your project and refine your hypothesis to reflect the area that you want to do.  Projects need only be a simple investigation of a scientific statement, idea or process.  In addition to experimentation, projects may also represent collections, demonstrations, theoretical explanations or engineering designs.

4.   Find out as much as you can about your subject and related subjects.  Search the literature in your school, public and college libraries.  Remember to keep an accurate list of your sources.  For books, include author, title, edition, publication place, publisher, date, and pages used.  Magazine/journal article references should list author, article title, magazine name and volume number, date, and pages. 

Don't forget to ask others for information or assistance.  Classmates, teachers, professional scientists, engineers, and technicians may be helpful.  Be courteous when questioning professionals by having done background research first and coming up with questions beforehand as well as asking them when they would have time to answer your questions.  Credit all sources that you use, including drawings and ideas used.

5.  Complete a Research Plan (Form 1A or 1A-Team) and Approval Form (Form 1B) and turn it in to your supervising teacher for approval. If your project may be entered in the Greater Nebraska Science and Engineering Fair (GNSEF), mail a copy of this form to the GNSEF (if it will NOT be entered at GNSEF, turn this in with your registration form).  IMPORTANT NOTE: Research plans MUST receive Safety Review Committee (SRC) approval BEFORE actual experimental RESEARCH BEGINS! This is MANDATORY for ANY project which will be entered in the GNSEF later.  Contact GNSEF at www.gnsef.org for more information

II.  Working On Your Project.

Science projects may be displays or models, but the best projects are generally laboratory or field projects.  Some comments on these:

1.  Make sure that the experiment is designed to obtain information to help answer the problem you have stated. Consider factors or variables which may influence your work, select appropriate equipment, and keep time requirements in mind.

2.  Start collecting data.  Keep an accurate record of your experiment's purpose, all research done, data, problems, measurements and other results in a bound project notebook.  Include charts, photographs, notes on materials, apparatus, and experimental factors and conditions, graphs, conclusions reached, and data generalizations.

3.  Continue your library research and discussions with others as you encounter failures, new problems, or successes.  Experiment and research as completely as you can, but remember to isolate variables and stick to the problem you are researching.  Use controls, which have the same conditions as the experimental except for the factor being investigated, and repeat the experiment to confirm that your results are valid.  Record all results in your project notebook.

III.  Project Completion and Display.

Adequate presentation of your project to the judges and others is essential for you to get the recognition that you deserve for your work!

1. Write a report of your project.  Include a title, introduction and problem statement, experimental procedure used in detail, a discussion of results, conclusions reached, and suggestions for further research.  Use standard English and research paper format.  Remember to include summary data tables, diagrams, drawings and photographs, credits for all sources used (bibliography) and help received.

2. Type a shortened version of your report, known as an abstract, of 250 words or less.  Include this with your report and six (6) copies with your entry forms.

3.  Prepare your exhibit as a display version of your report.  Looking at winning past exhibit photos. 

Construct a display, watching size restrictions and other requirements in the attached rules, making it eye-catching and attractive.  Keep safety in mind.  Be aware of what facilities will be available in the display area.  Common displays include presentation of your problem, hypothesis, data and results, and conclusions on separate panels of the display with other items placed in front on the table. Organize your exhibit into an interesting and neat display, including appropriate graphs, photographs, and essential apparatus and other materials.  Major lettering should be large enough to be viewed from a distance.  Don't forget your notebook and abstract, but avoid overcrowding.

4. Prepare a 5 to 8 minute verbal presentation of your project, telling in your own words what you did.  Be ready for the judge to visit you by practicing your presentation before friends, parents, or your teacher, anticipating possible questions.  Remember to bring everything with you on Fair day!  GOOD LUCK

 Science Project Websites:

www.gnsef.org/

http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/

www.super-science-fair-projects.com

scienceclub.org/scifair.html

www.ipl.org/div/projectguide

school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral

www.all-science-fair-projects.com/

users.rcn.com/tedrowan/primer.html

www.state.sc.us/energy/K-12/science_fair.htm

www.scifair.org/

www.usc.edu/CSSF/Resources/Good_Project.html

www.bcpl.info/kidspage/sciencefair.html

www.sciencepage.org/scifair.htm

http://www.hallway.com/blogs/schools/school-room-library-science-fair-projects/

SUGGESTED SCHEDULE

·      Before December: Find idea for project, complete Research Plan, other required forms

·      After research plan finished: Work on project, recording important data, details

·      January: Prepare report, finish abstract and other entry requirements

·      February:Enter MSEF with all required forms; complete display board, start presentation 

IMPORTANT DATES

•Wednesday, February 1, 2012:

Registration Form, Form 1, Research Plan (Form 1A + attachment) and Approval Form (Form 1B), 

6 copies of abstract and other applicable forms are due.

•Friday, March 16, 2012 (tentative):

 Projects must be set up at Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St, Omaha, between 4 and 8 PM.

 •Saturday, March 14, 2009 (tentative):

MSEF/NJAS Project Judging and Display starting at 8:00 AM at Lauritzen Gardens. Free lunch for MSEF participants.Public viewing in the afternoon.  Do not remove projects until after judging ends!

MSEF/NJAS Awards presentation (open to the public), Henry Doorly Zoo, 3:00 P.M..

PRIZES

MSEF Plaques or Certificates for all participants

NJAS Award Medals (Top 5, each division)

Cash prizes for category and grand prize winners

Gift certificates or cash awards, all participants

Trophies (top three, each division)

Special awards

2010-11 MSEF DONORS

INVESTORS

Henry Doorly Zoo

Lozier Foundation

Lockheed Martin

Omaha Public Power District

URS Corporation

CONTRIBUTORS and SUPPORTERS

 RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. Any 7th through 12th grade student who has not attained the age of 21 in a public, private or parochial school in the metropolitan Omaha area may enter a project in the Metropolitan Science and Engineering Fair/National Junior Academy of Sciences (MSEF/NJAS).

2. MSEF accepts either individual or team projects. An individual or team may enter only one project and it must the personal work of that individual or the members of the team.   Refer to rule 13 for additional rules and regulations relating to team projects.

3. All MSEF/NJAS project entries are expected to comply with entry rules of the Greater Nebraska Science and Engineering Fair (GNSEF), available at each area high school science department.  This includes a RESEARCH PLAN (Form 1A) and Approval Form (Form 1B).  These forms are attached.  The GNSEF or your Safety Review Committee (SRC) MUST receive all Research Plans and Forms 1A and 1B for GNSEF projects BEFORE experimental research begins!

4. Any projects involving live vertebrate animals or human subjects must comply with GNSEF life research rules.  Projects having research involving DNA, tissue, pathogenic agents or controlled substances require additional forms, which may be downloaded from the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) web site www.societyforscience.org/isef/ or e-mail Dave Dow, ddow@prep.creighton.edu

5. Entries must include your Registration Form and Research Plan, Approval Forms (Form and 1B), six (6) abstract copies and your registration fee.  These must be received in complete form Wednesday, February 1, 2012.  Forms or additional information may be obtained by contacting MSEF/NJAS or

Dave Dow, ddow@prep.creighton.edu, phone

402-393-1190  or visiting the MSEF website at htttp://www.msefomaha.org

6. Registration fee is $12.00, which is not refundable for any reason.  Forms and registration fee MUST be received by February 1, 2012 (contact if a problem).  Applications received after this date will not be accepted.

7.  An awards presentation will be at 3:00 PM, March 17, 2012.  All entrants and their families and friends are urged to attend. It is free and open to the public.

8. Categories of Projects:  Each  contestant's project must be classified into one of the following categories on the registration form:

1. Animal Sciences

2. Behavioral and Social Sciences

3. Biochemistry

4. Cellular and Molecular Biology

5. Chemistry

6. Computer Science

7. Earth and Planetary Science

8. Engineering: Electrical/Mechanical

9. Engineering: Materials/Bioengineering

10.Energy and Transportation

11. Environmental Management

12. Environmental Sciences

13. Mathematical Sciences

14. Medicine and Health Sciences

15. Microbiology

16. Physics and Astronomy

17. Plant Sciences

Category selection is the responsibility of the student and teacher.  Category criteria are the same as used by the GNSEF.  A description of the type of projects included in each category is available from MSEF/NJAS on request and is included in the teacher packet.  The fair director may switch a project entry to a different category or change category designation to be consistent with our interpretation of category descriptions and to allow similar types of projects to be judged together.  On the day of the fair, if the judges feel that a particular project is misclassified, it may be transferred to a more appropriate category with the approval of the judging teams involved and the fair director.

 9. Judging will be done as equitably as possible within the specific procedures announced to the entrants.  Entrants must be present for judging to be eligible for awards.

10. Projects will be rated according to the following criteria:

            Creative ability:          30 points

            Scientific thought:       30 points

            Thoroughness:                        15 points

            Skill:                            15 points

            Clarity:                        10 points

 11. All participants will receive a certificate.  Superior projects will be awarded a plaque, trophy or other honor for the participant.

12. Other specific rules:

13. Team Projects:

Teams may have either two or three members.  A Team Project cannot be converted to an individual project without authorization.  A new member may not be added to a continuing Team Project, but two original team members may continue their research if the third member no longer participates.

Each team should select a team leader (NJAS representative) to coordinate the work and act as spokesperson.  However, each member of the team should be able to serve as spokesperson, be fully involved with the project, and be familiar with all aspects of the project.  The final work should reflect the coordinated efforts of all team members and will be evaluated using the same rules and judging criteria as individual projects.  Each team member must individually submit an MSEF/NJAS Registration Form and Form 1B.  However, team members must jointly submit the Checklist for Adult Sponsor, one Research Plan (1A, one abstract, one response to #10 that outlines each person’s tasks on Research Plan (1A), and other required forms.  Full names of all team members must appear on the abstract and other forms.