Investigatory Project Division
Students frequently become interested in phenomena they encounter. Astute students often begin
personal investigations of a particularly interesting aspect. Before long, the student's investigations
become experimental efforts. The Investigatory Project Division provides the teachers of these
individuals with a science-oriented avenue of opportunity among which to focus the students
efforts. In this division, the student condenses the work into the form of a scientific project exhibit.
Categories
Students may compete in the following categories:
Behavioral and Social Sciences: Scientific principles applied to studies of factors affecting
human or animal behavior, scientific principles applied to sociological studies.
Biochemistry and Microbiology: Chemistry of life processes - molecular biology, molecular
genetics, enzymes, photosynthesis, blood chemistry, protein chemistry, food chemistry,
hormones, etc. Biology of microorganisms - bacteriology, virology, protozoology, fungi,
bacterial genetics, yeast, etc.
Botany: Agriculture, agronomy, horticulture, forestry, plant biorhythms, palynology, plant
anatomy, plant taxonomy, plant physiology, plant pathology, plant genetics, hydroponics,
algology, mycology, etc.
Zooloqy/Medicine Health/Gerontology: Animal genetics, ornithology, ichthyology, herpetology,
entomology, animal ecology, anatomy, paleontology, cellular physiology, animal biorhythms,
animal husbandry, cytology, histology, animal physiology, neurophysiology, invertebrate
biology, diseases and health of humans and animals, dentistry, pharmacology, pathology,
ophthalmology, nutrition, sanitation, pediatrics, dermatology, allergies, speech and hearing,
aging process in living organisms.
Chemistry: Physical chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry,
materials, plastics, fuels, pesticides, metallurgy, soil chemistry, etc.
Computer Science: Original computer applications, software of a general quantitative or
algorithmic nature, etc.
Earth/Space Sciences/Environmental Sciences: Geology, geophysics, physical oceanography,
meteorology, atmospheric physics, seismology, petroleum, geography, speleology, mineralogy,
topography, optical astronomy, radio astronomy, astrophysics, pollution (air, water, and land)
sources and their control, ecology.
Mathematics: Calculus, geometry, abstract algebra, number theory, statistics, complex analysis,
probability, topology, logic, operations research, and other topics in pure and applied
mathematics
Physics: Solid state, optics, acoustics, particle, nuclear, atomic, plasma, superconductivity, fluid
and gas dynamics, thermodynamics, semiconductors, magnetism, quantum mechanics,
biophysics, etc.
Engineering: Civil, mechanical, aeronautical, chemical, electrical, photographic, sound,
automotive, marine, heating and refrigerating, transportation, environmental engineering, etc.
Power transmission and generation, electronics, communications, architecture, bioengineering,
lasers, computers, instrumentation, hardware, firmware, and systems software design,
configuration, construction and testing, etc.
Team Project: Teams may consist of up to three members. Projects must be of an investigatory
nature and may involve any of the above listed categories.
Applicants for the Investigatory Project Division should submit the application form and an
abstract (150 to 250 words). The abstract should include the title, purpose/application,
hypothesis, procedure, and conclusion. All appropriate certification, in accord with ISEF rules,
must be completed and displayed with project, but should not be sent to the Fair Director.
Judging Criteria
Project judging will incorporate analysis of the projects and interviews with the students. The
following criteria will be used for the judging:
Creative Ability
Scientific Thought
Thoroughness
Skill
Clarity
30%
30%
15%
15%
10%
Rules
The purpose of these rules is to:
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Support students doing independent research safely
Protect the rights and welfare of the student researcher
Protect the rights and welfare of the human participant
Ensure adherence to federal regulations
Ensure use of safe laboratory practices
Protect the environment
Ethics Statement:
Scientific fraud and misconduct are not condoned at any level of research or competition. This
includes plagiarism, forgery, use or presentation of other researcher’s work as one’s own and
fabrication of data. Fraudulent projects will fail to qualify for competition in WVU-Tech science
fair.
General Requirements
1) All students competing in this fair must adhere to all of the rules as set forth in this
document.
2) All projects must adhere to the Ethics Statement above.
3) Projects must adhere to local, state and U.S. Federal laws, regulations and permitting
conditions.
4) The use of non-animal research methods and the use of alternatives to animal research are
strongly encouraged and must be explored before conducting a vertebrate animal project.
5) Introduction or disposal of non-native and/or invasive species (e.g. insects, plants,
invertebrates, vertebrates), pathogens, toxic chemicals or foreign substances into the
environment is prohibited.
6) It is the responsibility of the student and adult sponsor to check with their fair for any
additional restrictions or requirements.
7) All students should complete the application form consistent with the type of division they
are applying to. Each division has a separate application form.
Before experimentation
1.
All research involving humans, including questionnaires, must be approved by the
Scientific Review Committee, (SRC) before experimentation begins. The student and the
SRC must evaluate psychological and physical risks and informed consent is needed when
there is more than minimal risk to the subject (determined by the SRC).
2.
Any research with Non-human Vertebrate Animals must be approved by the SRC before
research begins. This includes all fish, amphibians (frogs and salamanders), reptiles
(including snakes), birds, and mammals. It does not include worms, crayfish, insects, or
other invertebrates.
3.
Research on recombinant DNA must be conducted at a registered research facility with a
supervisor that is trained in the proper handling of equipment and organisms. Students
may not handle ethidium bromide or gels stained with it. Production of antibiotic resistant
bacteria is prohibited.
4.
Research using Human and Non-human Vertebrate tissues, including embryos, blood,
saliva, and urine, must be approved by the SRC before research begins. Hair is not
considered a tissue and does not need prior approval.
Contact the fair co-directors Mark.Jones@mail.wvu.edu for additional information.
Any project requiring SRC approval prior to experimentation that does not have the
original, signed approval forms will be disqualified from the regional fair and will not be
judged.
During experimentation
1.
Use of any type of hazardous substances or devices, including fire, must be supervised by
a trained, adult supervisor and must adhere to federal and state regulations.
2.
Experimental animals must be well cared for, even during vacations and holidays.
3.
Microorganisms collected, isolated, and/or cultured should be considered potentially
pathogenic and may not be handled at home. Samples may be collected at home but any
other handling of the agent should be done at a Registered Research Institution.
At the fair
1.
Project exhibit size is limited to 76 cm deep (front and back), 122 cm wide (side to side),
and 274 cm high (floor to top). Any project exceeding these dimensions is oversize and
does not qualify for entrance in the fair.
2.
Photos – All photos on the display must have a photo credit.
a.
Most of the photos should be the work of the student. However, photos of the
student conducting research may be the work of someone else as long as proper
credit is given.
b.
Copyrighted photos, including images available on the Internet, are not permitted
unless the student has written permission from the copyright holder. The written
permission should not be displayed but should be available to show the judges.
The copyright holder must be given credit on the display.
c.
Photos or other visual presentations depicting vertebrate animals in non-natural
conditions, including surgical techniques, dissections, necropsies or lab
procedures, are not permitted.
d.
Any photo deemed offensive by the SRC must be removed from the display.
3.
Avoid having anything in the display that could be potentially harmful or offensive
including:
a. chemicals, including water,
b. poisons, drugs, controlled substances,
c. dry ice
d. sharp objects, including syringes, needles, pipettes
e. Living organisms, including plants
f. taxidermy specimens or preserved parts of animals
g. plant material (except paper and cotton material used to build display)
h. flames, highly flammable materials
i. human or animal tissues or body fluids
j. hazardous devices (including firearms and ammunition)
4.
Two copies of a typed abstract, not more than 250 words, are required; one must be
displayed with the project and the other submitted with the entry form for preview by the
judges.
5.
The Scientific Review Committee will inspect each project prior to judging and sign the
safety review certificate. A determination of eligibility of the project will be made by the
Scientific Review Committee.
6.
No awards, medals, business cards, flags, etc. may be displayed.
7.
Each student must assemble his or her exhibit without major outside help, except for
transportation and unpacking. Projects should not be removed prior to 2:45 p.m. Students
need to be present at their display during the morning to answer judges’ questions. The
only exceptions are students participating in the symposium; they should leave a note
informing the judge when they plan to return.
8.
110-volt AC service with 300 watts per project will be provided. Additional power will be
at the exhibitor's expense and require:
a. prior notification of the rules committee requesting clearance, and
b. a safety statement by an adult supervisor.
Displays that violate the rules will be allowed to compete in the regional fair after the violations
are fixed.
Rules for All Vertebrate Animal Studies:
1) The use of vertebrate animals in science projects is allowable under the conditions and rules
in the following sections. Vertebrate animals, as covered by these rules, are defined as:
 Live, nonhuman vertebrate mammalian embryos or fetuses
 Tadpoles
 Bird and reptile eggs within three days (72 hours) of hatching
 All other nonhuman vertebrates (including fish) at hatching or birth.
Exception: Because of their delayed cognitive neural development, zebrafish embryos are not
considered vertebrate animals until 7 days (168 hours) post- fertilization.
2) Alternatives to the use of vertebrate animals for research must be explored and discussed in
the research plan. Alternatives include the following “Four R’s”:
 Replace vertebrate animals with invertebrates, lower life forms, tissue/cell cultures and/or
computer simulations where possible.
 Reduce the number of animals without compromising statistical validity.
 Refine the experimental protocol to minimize pain or distress to the animals.
 Respect animals and their contribution to research.
3)
4)
All vertebrate animal studies must be reviewed and approved before experimentation
begins. An Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, known as an IACUC, is the
institutional animal oversight review and approval body for all animal studies at a Regulated
Research Institution.
All vertebrate animal studies must have a research plan that includes:
a. Justification why animals must be used, including the reasons for the choice of species,
the source of animals and the number of animals to be used. Describe any alternatives to
animal use that were considered, and the reasons these alternatives were unacceptable.
Explain the potential impact or contribution this research may have on the broad fields of
biology or medicine.
b. Description of how the animals will be used. Include methods and procedures, such as
experimental design and data analysis. Describe the procedures that will minimize the
potential for discomfort, distress, pain and injury to the animals during the course of
experimentation. Identify the species, strain, sex, age, weight, source and number of
animals proposed for use.
5) Students performing vertebrate animal research must satisfy local, state, country laws and
regulations of the jurisdiction in which research is performed as well as U.S. federal law.
6) Research projects which cause more than momentary or slight pain or distress are
prohibited. If there is illness or unexpected weight loss this must be investigated and a
veterinarian must be consulted to oversee any indicated medical care. This investigation
must be documented by the Qualified Scientist, Designated Supervisor who is qualified to
determine the illness or a veterinarian. If the illness or distress is caused by the study, the
experiment must be terminated immediately.
7) No vertebrate animal deaths due to the experimental procedures are permitted in any group
or subgroup. Such a project will fail to qualify for competition.
a. Studies that are designed or anticipated to cause vertebrate animal death are
prohibited.
b. Any death that occurs must be investigated by a veterinarian, the Qualified
Scientist or the Designated Supervisor who is qualified to determine the cause of
death. The project must be suspended until such investigation occurs and the
results must be documented in writing.
c. If death was the result of the experimental procedure, the study must be
terminated, and the study will not qualify for competition.
8) All animals must be monitored for signs of distress. Because significant weight loss is one
sign of stress, the maximum permissible weight loss or growth retardation (compared to
controls) of any experimental or control animal is 15%.
9) Students are prohibited from designing or participating in an experiment associated with
the following types of studies on vertebrate animals:
a. Induced toxicity studies with known toxic substances that could impair health or
end life, including, but not limited to, alcohol, acid rain, pesticides, or heavy metals.
b. Behavioral experiments using conditioning with aversive stimuli, mother/infant
separation or induced helplessness.
c. Studies of pain.
d. Predator/vertebrate prey experiments.
10) Animals may not be captured from or released into the wild without approval of authorized
wildlife or other regulatory officials. Fish may be obtained from the wild only if the
researcher releases the fish unharmed, has the proper license, and adheres to state, local
and national fishing laws and regulations. Students are prohibited from performing
electrofishing.
11) A Qualified Scientist or Designated Supervisor must directly supervise all research
involving vertebrate animals, except for observational studies.