For Senior Division Projects
(Grades 9-12)

Categories

Decide what type of project you are doing. Click this link to see the types of projects you can enter in NEIRSEF.

Where to start

Your teacher should add you to the school registration at http://www.sefi.org. The web site will generate a user name and password for you. Log into http://www.sefi.org and begin to answer the questionnaire. At the end, click the link at the top of the page to see what ISEF forms you are required to fill out, and which forms are optional.

ISEF Paperwork

It is important that your pursuit of science be safe for all involved. For this reason, there are guidelines for students to follow at each level.

Only Senior Division (grades 9-12) students are required to complete ISEF paperwork. The 2018 Rules and Guidelines are available from the ISEF web site.

The following forms are required for ALL Senior Division projects and must be uploaded to the sefi.org web site by the registration deadline (February 16, 2018):

• Checklist for Adult Sponsor (1)
• Student Checklist (1A)
• Approval Form (1B) by EACH student in a team

Senior Division projects that involve human subjects (including anything you are testing on yourself), vertebrate animals, or potentially hazardous chemicals, activities, devices, or biological agents are required to apply for an SRC/IRB Pre-Experimentation Review BEFORE research can begin.

If your project requires an SRC/IRB Pre-experimentation Review, read the ISEF International Rules and Guidelines 2018, complete the above ISEF forms (1, 1A, 1B), and the forms from the categories below that pertain to your project. Upload these to the SEFI.org web site before beginning your experimentation. You should hear back within a week of submission. If for some reason you do not, email both perkinsm@ipfw.edu and danielj@ipfw.edu.

Human Participants

• Human Participants Form (4)
• Human Informed Consent Form
• Qualified Scientist Form (2) may apply

Vertebrate Animals

• Vertebrate Animal Form (5A) 5B may apply
• Qualified Scientist Form (2) may apply

Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents
Use of microorganisms (including bacteria, viruses, viroids, prions, rickettsia, fungi, and parasites), recombinant DNA (rDNA) technologies or human or animal fresh/frozen tissues, blood, or body fluids.

• Qualified Scientist Form (2) may apply
• Risk Assessment Form (3)
• Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Form (6A) when applicable
• Human and Vertebrate Animal Tissue Form (6B) when applicable

Hazardous Chemicals, Activities, or Devices
DEA-controlled substances, prescription drugs, alcohol & tobacco, firearms and explosives, radiation, lasers, drones, etc.

• Risk Assessment Form (3)
• Qualified Scientist Form (2) may apply

Display Rules

The NEIRSEF display rules must be followed by all exhibitors at the regional fair, regardless of the rules used at the student's local fair. Fair personnel will inspect all exhibits for compliance with these rules and any non-conforming items must be removed from the display. For a full description of official display rules, review the ISEF Display and Safety Regulations.

Important Dates for the 2018 fair

August 28, 2017
- Teacher Registration opens. Register at http://www.sefi.org/register/
- SRC Pre-Experimentation Review opens.
   (Senior Division only) For projects that involve human subjects and animals

January 19, 2018
- Deadline for SRC Pre-Experimentation Review.
   (Senior Division only) For projects that involve human subjects and animals

February 16, 2018
- Teacher Registration deadline
- Student project registration deadline
 Register only the students who are advancing to NEIRSEF
   (All Divisions) On the SEFI web site, include: address, phone, grade, date of birth, project title, and category.
   Check the box to indicate whether your display needs electricity. Gender and ethnicity is optional but requested.
   (Senior Division) Complete the research plan and abstract and the appropriate ISEF forms. Contact us for help.

February 23, 2018
- Deadline for payment of Fair project registration fees. Payment details TBD.

March 3, 2018
- Date of the 2018 Regional Fair (NEIRSEF)

March 24, 2018
- Hoosier Science and Engineering Fair, Indianapolis, IN

May 13-18, 2018
- Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, Pittsburgh, PA