2008 SLVSEF REGISTRATION INFO

The registration deadline for the 2008 Salt Lake Valley Science and Engineering Fair is MARCH 7TH. All required paperwork and the online registration form must be completed by then to participate at SLVSEF.

For additional registration information please contact Jody Ostrander at (801) 355-1241.

If you are an elementary school student in 5th or 6th grade or a middle and high school student from a private or public institutions within Salt Lake, Tooele, Granite or Murray School District, you're invited to compete at the Salt Lake Valley Science and Engineering Fair.

A science fair project is an exciting thing! Pick a topic and ask a question! It's that easy! Any topic that interests you can be turned into a science fair project. Airplanes? Roller blades? Fish? Dogs? Baseball? All involve science or engineering. Formulate a hypothesis—or two or three!

Enlist the help of your English and Math teachers as well as your Science teachers. Your English teacher can help you with putting together your background research paper and writing up your notebook and backboard. Your Math teacher can help with the planning of experiments and analysis of data.

Be creative with your subject and project. Experiment with different concepts and ideas. The more innovative you are the better.

Sample 12-week Timetable
The following timeline provides a basic outline for your science project from start to finish. Please note that the exact amount of time needed to complete a science fair project can vary widely. The timeline below is one of many possible, but be flexible and think ahead about how you’re really going to your project. Adapt the plan you use to suit conditions and keep up.

An eight-week plan is the least amount of time recommended for project completion, however, this twelve-week plan is considered more realistic.  Be prepared for the unexpected.

Before beginning experimental work within your science fair project, make sure that you have completed all necessary forms and submitted them to the SLVSEF for approval. Projects which have not been approved will not be allowed to enter SLVSEF.

	Think about possible project ideas. Brainstorm with your teachers, friends, and family about your project. Choose a specific topic or a problem to investigate. Write a short description of what you want your project to involve. Obtain Forms 1A and 1B from your teacher or the SLVSEF or ISEF websites to get parent and teacher approval. Your project may need additional approval forms called protocols. Begin now if plants are involved. Otherwise, results may not be obtained in time. Start making a list of resources (i.e., school library, community library, places to write, people to interview)
	Develop your topic further and select your reading material. Begin preliminary investigations and start detailed literature research, making sufficient notes with sources. Write for additional information from business firms, government agencies, and other sources. Start your journal notebook for keeping records. Write down or sketch preliminary designs for your display.
	Complete initial research. Obtain approval from SLVSEF prior to beginning experimentation. Begin preliminary investigations. Interview experts for more information. Decide how to set up your investigation or experiment. Decide what materials you will use in the display. Make a list and order supplies and equipment. Setup experimental design.
	Begin organizing and reading the materials sent in response to your letters. Decide whether you need additional materials from outside sources. Collect or buy remaining materials for your display. Begin setting up your experiment or demonstration. Add information to project notebook as you get it. Start your collection or experimental process.
	Continue your experiments. Conduct many tests in order to ensure that your results are accurate. Carefully record your experiments. Continue recording notes and observations in your notebook. Prepare an outline for your written report.
	Continue your experiments. Continue notes and observations in your notebook Gather preliminary information in notebook and analyze. Write a first draft of written report on what you’ve done and learned in the course of your experiment.
	Continue your experiments and recording notes. Start assembling display unit. Check books, pamphlets, and magazines for additional ideas. Verify information with experts, teachers, professors, scientists and parents.
	Start finalizing observations and notes on your experiment. Begin designing charts, graphs, and/or other visual aids for your display. Take any photographs you need and get authorization to use these in your display, if needed. Begin preparing signs, titles, and labels for display unit.
	Have photographs developed and enlarged. Talk with experts again to make certain your work is accurate and on schedule. Begin writing second draft of your report. Continue to record late-occurring observations in notebook.
	Write text for background of display and plan its layout. Complete graphs, charts and visual aids. Finish constructing your display. Work on final draft of written report. Prepare an initial oral presentation and do mock talk with friends or other science project students.
	Complete your experiment or collection. Write and type final copy of written report. Do lettering of explanation and mount them on your display. Mount graphs, charts, drawings, and photographs. Assemble apparatus or collection items; check your list. Stage a rehearsal of your talk for judges in front of your class assigned to act as judges, critics and/or just clarifying and questioning your assumptions and delivery.
	Proof read and finalize your written report. Polish your talk for the judges and rehearse some more. Set up display at home and check for any flaws. (Let your display stand for 2 days to give you mulling time.) Set up final display. Check and double-check everything. Congratulate yourself and take a breath to relax

Many students begin planning their research at the end of the school year so that they can conduct research during the summer and fall.

1. Decide what science fairs you are going to enter:

• School fair
• SLVSEF or other Intel ISEF-affiliated regional fair

2. Attend a science fair clinic if you can (many regional fairs offer clinics in the fall, ask your teacher.)

3. Find a topic that interests you and research what is already known about the topic.

4. Narrow the topic to a specific scientific or engineering problem and develop an experiment to solve that problem. (See the Scientific Method to help plan your experiment.)

5. Discuss the project with your parents and teacher and review with them the Intel ISEF Rules and Regulations, noting the specific rules that might apply to your type of research (i.e. are you working with human subjects or animals or working with hazardous substances?).

6. Develop a hypothesis (Scientific Method) and develop a procedure.

7. Write a detailed research plan about how you will conduct the research. Use the Scientific Method:

• Find a problem
• Develop a hypothesis (Scientific Method)
• Develop a procedure and investigate to test the hypothesis
• Make observations and collect data in a project journal (all participants must keep a journal)
• Interpret the data and observations
• Draw conclusions

8. Complete the required Intel ISEF forms and any additional local science fair forms required. You then must obtain the appropriate approvals as needed before the start of experimentation. This may involve being reviewed by your local Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Scientific Review Committee (SRC).

9. Once your approvals and forms are in order, begin your experimentation following your research plan and any revisions that those supervising or approving your research have recommended.

10. Make observations and collect data in a project journal (all participants must keep a journal)

11. Interpret the data and observations

12. Draw conclusions

13. Finalize your project for presentation.

14. Write the research paper and abstract (Intel ISEF does not require a research paper, some regional fairs do require it; check with your teacher or with your regional fair rules and handbook.)

15. Create the project exhibit board being sure to follow the Display and Safety Regulations.

16. Practice your presentation and prepare to answer judges' questions.

17. Present the project at your school Science Fair, and/or your regional Intel ISEF-affiliated fair.

ALL STUDENTS must complete an online registration form AND mail, fax or hand deliver the registration forms below for their specific age division.

All student forms are due March 7th. If you need help with the forms, please call Jody Ostrander at (801) 355-1241.

Registration forms can be faxed to 1-866-255-6028 or mailed or hand delivered to The Leonardo office at the address below. The Leonardo office is located on Library Square between the Comic Book Shop and the Writing Center. Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Leonardo

Attention: Jody Ostrander

c/o The City Library

210 East 400 South Suite 14

Salt Lake City, Ut 84111

Elementary/Junior (grades 5-8):

   Click here to download the 2008 Elementary/Junior registration forms ›

Senior (grades 9-12):

   Click here to download the SLVSEF 2008 Senior registration forms ›
   Click here to download the official 2008 Intel ISEF forms ›
   Determine what forms and approvals are necessary by visiting the ISEF rules wizard ›
   Top 5 ISEF paperwork problems ›

See research categories (long list) for more details ›

• Animal Sciences
• Behavioral & Social Sciences
• Biochemistry
• Cellular and Molecular Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Earth & Planetary Science
• Energy & Transportation
• Engineering: Electrical & Mechanical
• Engineering: Materials & Bioengineering
• Environmental Management
• Environmental Sciences
• Mathematical Sciences
• Medicine & Health Sciences
• Microbiology
• Physics and Astronomy
• Plant Sciences

Our online resource center covers many topics that are relative to preparing for a science fair. Visit it here ›

Contacting the SLVSEF

If you have specific questions about your project, forms, or the Fair in general don't hesitate to contact us. Use the forms below or email us at sciencefair@utahsciencecenter.org.

ISEF Rules Wizard (senior entrants only)

The Rules Wizard has been designed as a first step to help you determine what forms and approvals are necessary before beginning a science fair project intended for competition at an ISEF-affiliated fair or the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. www.sciserv.org/isef/students/wizard

Request a mentor

If you would like to request a mentor to help you with your project, please fill out our request a mentor form ›