Frequently

Asked

Questions


 Santa Clara Valley Science and Engineering Fair Association

See also: Judging FAQ, and the Scientific Review Committee page for frequently asked questions

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:  What are the Juding Criteria?

 
 
CRITERIA FOR JUDGING PROJECTS 

 Science

 Experiments 

 Engineering Design
 Projects 

Scientific Thought   (30 points individual, 25 points team)

  • Was the hypothesis clearly stated?
  • Was the experiment repeated several times?
  • Was the conclusion justified and properly drawn from experimental results?
  • Was sufficient preliminary research performed and applied?

Engineering Goal    (30 points individual, 25 points team)

  • Was the purpose/the engineering design criteria clearly stated?
  • What will be invented/ engineered?
  • Was there evidence of redesign and retest?
  • Were the engineering design criteria tested for each step of redesign?

Creativity    (30 points )

  • Is the project topic unique or the approach original?
  • Has the student used a novel approach for checking the hypothesis?

Creativity      (30 points )

  • Is the project topic unique or the approach original?
  • Has the student used a novel approach to test the engineering design criteria?

Thoroughness   (15 points)

 

  • Was adequate literary/online research conducted?
  • Did the student(s) look at different aspects of the problem – was it well planned?
  • Was there a project notebook?
  • Is the interpretation supported with data?
  • Are procedures and materials thoroughly documented?

Thoroughness   (15 points)

 

  • Was sufficient preliminary research performed and applied?
  • Did the student(s) look at different aspects of the problem – was it well planned?
  • Was there a project notebook?Are there adequate drawings, schematics, or other documentation?
  • Has each of the criteria been well tested?

Skill (15 points individual)

·         Does the student understand the subject?

·         Has the student used good laboratory skills – data gathering and analysis?

·         Did the student acknowledge mentoring or other help?

Skill (15 points individual)

·         Does the student understand the subject?

·         Has the student used good technical skills to arrive at the solution?

·         Did the student acknowledge mentoring or other help?

Clarity (10 points )

 

  • Is the abstract and project board accurate and understandable?
  • Was the oral presentation accurate and understandable?

Clarity (10 points )

 

  • Is the abstract and project board accurate and understandable?
  • Was the oral presentation accurate and understandable?
       

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Copyright © 2006, SCVSEFA, The Synopsys Championship is open to students in grades 6-12 of Santa Clara County, California, and nearby communities.