Students

What you need to know to get started: 

• Use the ISEF Rules Wizard to help define what rules, regulations you need to follow and what forms you need.

• Once your teacher has registered your project, complete the registration of your project on the NWSE website. 

• See the important dates below

How do I plan a science fair project?

• Brainstorm what aspect of science or engineering you're interested in, and then begin researching topics. A good place for ideas is the Advanced Project Guide at sciencebuddies.org

• Figure out what category to compete in. You will need to decide on your category to register your project on the NWSE.org website.

  • MS Categories & HS Categories

• Use the best resources you have available to you to plan your project and find mentor support. Your school teacher/advisor is the best place to start.

• SRC Review: VERY IMPORTANT- If you need SRC/IRB review of your project, sign up on the SRC Review Form on the Timeline Page.

What do I need to prepare in my Google Folder for my PPS Science and Engineering Expo submission?

• PPS and NWSE are following the same guidelines for what you need in your folder for fair project submission. 

How will I be evaluated?

• Judges use criteria to evaluate and provide feedback on your project. Use these criteria to refine your project and presentation.

  • Link to Student Evaluation Criteria Scientific Inquiry

  • Link to Student Evaluation Criteria Engineering Design

What will my Judge Panel Interview on the day of the fair look like?

• You will have approximately 7 minutes with each judge in your category. You should open with a brief 2 minute project summary (remember that judges will have already reviewed all of your Google folder files, including your abstract and slide deck).

• After your initial 2 minute project summary, the judges will spend approximately 5 minutes asking you questions about your project.

How should I dress of the in-person judge interviews at the fair?

• Dress professionally within your means. This could be a shirt and tie, nice shirt, dress, or other professional clothing. The PTA Clothing Center (Clothing Closet) may be a resource for professional clothing. 

What should I have ready to display at the fair?

• Middle School Display Regulations:

  • Maximumu size of display: 15 inches (38 cm) deep, 36 inches (91 cm) wide, 74 inches (188 cm) high from the top of the table. A standard 4 foot display board will fit nicely in the space. 

  • Only paper items can be attached to a MS display board. Items that do not fit on the poster may be placed in a binder to sit in front of the poster. DO NOT decorate your poster with food, machine parts, glass, clay models, etc. 

  • The goal of the science expo is to talk about what you have done, not recreate it.

  • Acknowledgements to specific people or organizations or school names are not allowed on the poster, but may be included in the finder. You must have permission to post a person's picture or make the person unidentifiable. You must also list the primary source of any photographs. If you are using pictures obtained from the internet, make sure to list the actual url, not a site that gathers images.

• High School Display Regulations

  • Maximum size of display: 30 inches (76 cm) deep, 48 inches (122 cm) wide, 108 inches (274 cm) high from the table.

  • Forms required:

    • An abstract which matches that posted online or an abstract called a 'summary' must be displayed at the project.

    • When applicable also have forms 1C and 7 

    • Forms 1, 1A, Research Plan, 1B, and any photograph or video release forms should be available at the project, but not displayed.

    • DO NOT display or have available any informed consent/assent forms at the project. Students may include a blank copy of their consent/assent forms in their logbook or research notebook but should not, for any reason, have any completed forms with them at the project presentation.

  • See the NWSE safety regulations for more information about allowable photographs and/or visuals.

    • Do Not use commercial logos including known brands, crests, trademarks, or flags unless they are integral to the project and approved by the SRC

  • Do not include an stats of project patent, any awards or medals, postal addresses, www, email or social media addresses, QR codes, telephone or fax numbers, give away items, business cards, printed materials or food items designed to be distributed to judges or the public.

• Is there anything I cannot have at my project display?

  • living organisms, including plants, or plant material

  • glass

  • soil, sand, rock, cement or other samples

  • taxidermy specimens

  • human or animal food

  • human or animal body fluids

  • all chemicals including water (absolutely no liquids of any kind)

  • any hazardous substances or devices (examples include but are not limited to: poison, drugs, firearms, weapons, ammunition, reloading devices, grease/oil and sublimating solids such as dry ice, sharp objects, flame, highly flammable materials, insulated apparatus capable of producing dangerous temperatures.

  • Batteries, drones, 3D printers, any apparatus with belts, pulleys, chains, or moving parts with tension or pinch points that are not appropriately shielded, lasers above class 2.

  • Any displays that are deemed distracting (sounds, lights, odors, etc)