Below are all of the forms you will need to enter your project into the Science Fair, along with tips for filling them out.

Before beginning experimentation, each project must have an adult sponsor. Click here to read about the roles and responsibilities of students and adult sponsors.

To view the science fair forms, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free download.

Required for all projects:

Consent Form

Registration Fee

• $25 for an individual project, $30 for teams. Make checks payable to The University of Cincinnati.

Abstract

• Please submit a copy of your abstract (250 words maximum)

Form 1: Checklist for Adult Sponsor

• Required for all participants, and should be completed by your adult sponsor.
• This form will also direct you to additional required paperwork depending on the subject of your experiment (for example, if your project includes vertebrate animals, you will be directed to form 5A or 5B).

Form 1A: Student Checklist

• Required for all participants
• The Actual Start Date and Actual End Date are the dates that mark the start and end of the actual experiment (as recorded in the log notebook). They do not refer to the start of planning, etc.
• Note: Only those projects which require SRC/IRB approval are required to supply Projected Start Date and Projected End Date. All other projects only have to supply the Actual Start/End Dates.
  
• Page 2 of this document provides suggestions for creating your Research Plan, below. A photocopy of this page only will not be accepted as a ‘Research Plan’.

Research Plan

• A complete research plan is required, and should be attached to Form 1A (above).

Form 1B: Approval Form

• Required for all participants .
• The Date Acknowledged must be PRIOR TO experimentation. Forms that are dated after the Actual Start Date for the experiment on form 1A will not be accepted.
• Item #2: Must be completed by an SRC or IRB if the project requires SRC/IRB approval. How do I know if my project needs SRC/IRB approval?
• Item #3: Final ISEF Affiliated Fair SRC Approval—do not complete this section

Supplemental Forms

Form 1C: Regulated Research Institutional/Industrial Setting Form

• Required if you performed your experiment in any laboratory or work site other than home, school, or field.
• It must be completed by the supervising adult.

Form 2: Qualified Scientist Form

• May be required for research involving human subjects, vertebrate animals, potentially hazardous biological agents, and DEA-controlled substances. The IRB reviewing your project will determine if you are required to have a Qualified Scientist supervisor.
• It must be completed and signed/dated by the qualified scientist before experimentation begins (the Actual Start Date on form 1A and as indicated in your log book).

Form 3: Risk Assessment Form

• Required for projects using hazardous chemicals, activities or devices.
• Must be completed and signed/dated before experimentation begins (the Actual Start Date on form 1A and as indicated in your log book).
• Please refer to the Official ISEF Rules for complete information on projects involving hazardous chemicals, activities, or devices.

Form 4: Human Subjects Form

• Page 1 of Form 4 (labeled ‘Page 36’ in the bottom right corner of the document) is required for all projects involving human subjects (even if it is an anonymous survey).
• The date of review by the IRB must be before experimentation begins (the Actual Start Date on form 1A and as indicated in your log book)
• The IRB reviewing the project will determine if the student needs to obtain informed consent from the participating subjects. If so, the students must submit Informed Consent Forms for each participant. A sample is provided in Page 2 of this document (labeled ‘Page 37’ in the document).
• Please refer to the Official ISEF Rules for complete information on projects involving human subjects.

Form 5A and 5B: Vertebrate Animal Form

• Required for all research involving vertebrate animals. Form 5A is required for research conducted at a non-regulated research site, and Form 5B is required for research conducted at a Regulated Research Institution.
• Must be completed and signed/dated before experimentation begins (the Actual Start Date on form 1A and as indicated in your log book).
• Please refer to the Official ISEF Rules for complete information on projects involving vertebrate animals.

Form 6A: Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Risk Assessment Form

• Required for research involving microorganisms, rDNA, fresh/frozen tissue, blood and body fluids.
• Must be completed and signed/dated before experimentation begins (the Actual Start Date on form 1A and as indicated in your log book).
• Please refer to the Official ISEF Rules for complete information on projects involving Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents.

Form 6B: Human and Vertebrate Animal Tissue Form

• Required for projects using fresh/frozen tissue, primary cell cultures, blood, blood products and body fluids, in addition to form 6A.
• Must be completed and signed/dated before experimentation begins (the Actual Start Date on form 1A and as indicated in your log book).

Form 7: Continuation Projects Form

• Required for projects that are a continuation in the same field of study as a previous project. Be sure to include the previous year’s abstract and research plan. How do I know if my project is a continuation?

UC Information Form