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1. Project documentation should begin before experimentation with the current forms available. Projects involving human participants, vertebrate animals, and potentially hazardous biological agents must be reviewed and approved by a local or regional Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Scientific Review Committee (SRC) prior to the start of experimentation. At the start of the project, which may in some cases be prior to experimentation begins, a local or regional Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Scientific Review Committee (SRC) with the ISEF-affiliated fair must review and approve most projects involving human participants, vertebrate animals, and potentially hazardous biological agents. Note: If a project involves the testing of a student designed invention, prototype or concept by a human, an IRB review and approval may be required prior to experimentation. See Human Participants Rules for details. (from https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/international-rules/rules-for-all-projects/)
A Scientific Review Committee (SRC) examines projects for the following:
evidence of proper supervision
use of accepted research techniques
completed forms, signatures and dates
humane treatment of animals
compliance with rules and laws governing human and animal research
appropriate use of recombinant DNA, pathogenic organisms, controlled substances, tissues and hazardous substances and devices
The SRC follows this three-step process: *Note: Review SRC requirements to see if it and/or IRB approval is required.
BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION, the Local SRC reviews and approves experimental procedures for projects involving human subjects, nonhuman vertebrates, pathogenic agents, controlled substances, recombinant DNA, and human/animal tissue to make sure they comply with the Rules and any pertinent laws. Human studies reviewed and approved by a properly constituted IRB do not have to be reviewed by the SRC until the Research Competition.
AFTER EXPERIMENTATION AND SHORTLY BEFORE THE REGIONAL FAIR, the Regional SRC reviews and approves projects entering their fair to make sure that students followed the approved Research Plan (1A) and the Rules.
AFTER EXPERIMENTATION AND SHORTLY BEFORE THE STATE FAIR, the NWSE SRC also reviews all projects to make sure students followed the applicable Rules.
ISEF provides additional descriptions that explain the SRC and the IRB.
Examples of SRC worksheets are in the Document Library.
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a committee that, according to federal law, must evaluate the potential physical or psychological risk of research involving human subjects. This must happen before experimentation begins. This includes any surveys or questionnaires to be used in a project. The IRB must consist of a minimum of three members.
The IRB should include: a) science teacher b) school administrator and c) medical professional or counselor. Due to the federal regulations requiring local community involvement, an IRB must be established at the school level to deal with human research projects. Notes:
If the project is behavioral, a psychologist, psychiatrist, or individual with human behavioral training must serve on the IRB.
For subjects under 18, student researchers must obtain written informed consent (Form 4) from all subjects and their parent/guardian when the IRB determines that more than minimal risk is involved.
Neither the Adult Sponsor nor the Qualified Scientist who oversees a specific project is permitted to serve on the IRB reviewing that project.
Consequently, neither the Adult Sponsor nor the Qualified Scientist may sign the SRC portion of (1B) Approval Form. This eliminates conflict of interest.
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