Overview

Students in grades 9–12 compete in the Senior Division and must follow the International Rules for Pre-College Science Research (ISEF Rules).

Before beginning your project, review the current ISEF rules and determine which approvals and forms apply to your research.

See ISEF Project Categories to determine which category best describes your project.

ISEF Paperwork

All Senior Division projects must complete the required ISEF paperwork.

Additional forms and approvals may be required depending on your research.Use the ISEF Rules Wizard to determine which forms and approvals apply to your project.

Projects Requiring Pre-Experimentation Review

Projects involving any of the following require SRC/IRB review and approval before experimentation begins:

• Human participants, including research conducted on yourself
• Vertebrate animals
• Potentially hazardous biological agents
• Potentially hazardous chemicals, activities, or devices

Use the ISEF Rules Wizard to determine which forms and approvals apply to your project.

Do not begin experimentation until all required approvals have been obtained.

School-Level IRB

Your school may establish its own Institutional Review Board (IRB) to review projects requiring human-subject review.

If your project requires SRC/IRB Pre-Experimentation Review, talk with your teacher or school representative about the appropriate review process before beginning your research.

Research Plan

Before beginning experimentation, you will need to submit a Research Plan as part of the pre-review process when applicable.

Your Research Plan should include:

• Research Question
• Hypothesis or Engineering Goal
• Experimental Method
• Bibliography/References

Follow the instructions in the Student Checklist (Form 1A) when preparing your Research Plan.

Writing a Hypothesis

For experimental science projects, you may find it helpful to write your hypothesis in an "If/Then" format that clearly identifies the variables you are investigating.

Your teacher or research mentor can help you develop a hypothesis that is specific, testable, and appropriate for your research question.

Additional resources on developing hypotheses and experimental research are available on the Forms page.

Do not complete your Abstract until after your experiment is finished.

Registration & Deadlines

All required registration information and paperwork must be submitted by the deadlines listed on the Schedules page.

Some projects require approval before research begins, so do not wait until the Regional Fair registration deadline to determine whether your project requires pre-experimentation review.

See the Registration, Forms, and Schedules pages for complete instructions and current deadlines.

Display Requirements

All NEIRSEF exhibitors must follow the fair's current display and safety requirements, regardless of the rules used at their school-level fair.

Fair personnel will inspect displays for compliance. Items that do not meet the requirements may need to be removed.

See the Forms page for current display and safety requirements.