Los Angeles County Science Fair

The following regulations will help keep the projects uniform and within the laws of the State of California. Fair sponsors want all students to have the best opportunity to compete for the annual awards. During the time that the Fair is open to the general public, the perception of the projects must be positive and precautions must be taken for the security of each project. All projects at the Los Angeles County Science Fair must abide by the following:

1. Present an experimentally based research design exemplifying a scientific methodology. Non-experimental projects which may be overlooked at registration and entered will be judged using the criteria for experimental projects and will be at a great disadvantage.

2. Be carefully pre-screened by the school's Science Fair sponsor and the teacher whose student is submitting the project. The Los Angeles County Science Fair Judges Worksheet lists the criteria used to evaluate the projects.

3. Clearly distinguished between the work of the student entrant and the work of others. Students who have prepared a project in conjunction with research participation opportunity in industry, a university, hospital, or institution other than their school must show only the student's research in their project display. The student may mention the relationship to the research of others in notebooks only if they clearly specify the assistance received and the role and contributions of others in research related to the project. It is highly recommended that projects of this kind be accompanied by a letter from the principal research director indicating the relationship of the student project.

4. Be within the total quota for each school. Quotas will be announced in advance of the Fair. If additional applications are submitted, schools will be contacted and each school will determine which projects are the official entries. If excess entries are initially overlooked, only a number corresponding to the quota will be judged. Those to be judged will then be selected at the discretion of the Fair's committee.

5. Be entered in the Fair after an application is sent. Schools should avoid sending applications for projects unless and until it is certain that the projects will be completed in time and will physically arrive at the Fair. Projects, for which we receive a registration, but are not actually entered, create errors in the program, a waste of time for judges, and leave unsightly open spaces in the exhibit area. The Fair Committee will reduce the project quota for any school that fails to produce the project for which we have received a registration.

6. Be submitted by students only in grades 7-12 or with an age equivalent to those in grades 7-12. Younger students may submit only if in an accelerated program with certified enrollment in grade 7 or higher level subjects.

7. Be entered at the Fair and picked up only within the designated hours. Early entries will not be accepted. Entries will be accepted and project pick up will be permitted only when a member of the Los Angeles County Science Fair Committee is present. Facility staff members are not authorized to receive or permitted to pick up projects.

8. Use illustrations of microorganisms and animals. The

Display of bacterial cultures and live or preserved animals will not be permitted.

9. Remain at the Fair during the days scheduled for public viewing. The only exception to this rule is for students who must take projects to the International Fair, if their departing day/time overlaps the time that the Los Angeles County Science Fair is open. To ensure security during project removal, the authorized time for pick up will be strictly followed. The Fair is not responsible for projects left after designated time.

10. Use a title that provides the viewer with a clear concept of the subject and procedure of the research. Present the steps of the scientific methodology used, organized from 1 to right and top to bottom. Use metric units for measurements. Have all values on charts and graphs correctly labeled. Present all narrative writing in a legible manner w correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Carefully review the category descriptions and select the proper one for the project.

11. Fit within the prescribed space limitations - no larger than 76 cm (30 inches) deep (front to back), 122 cm (48 inches wide (side to side) and 274 cm (108 inches) high (floor I top, including height of table). Oversized projects will screened at the door and refused entry.

12. Be able to support their weight and not collapse because < inadequate construction. Any project, which does not meet minimum standards for construction, will be removed from the display area and not judged.

13. Display photographs which do not show procedure detrimental to the health and well being of vertebrate animals. For instance, the performance or results of surgical procedures will not be shown. Those not in compliance will be removed from the display areas and not be judged.

14. Have notebooks and small equipment items removed no later than the viewing period following the end of the awards ceremony. The Fair will not be responsible if the items are missing from projects. Do not display items you cannot afford to lose.

15. Do not have computers with projects for the preliminary judging. A computer may be brought by the student for the judging interview on the second day, if the student assumes full responsibility for the computer and related equipment. Judges are instructed to have students return for interviews if the computer demonstration is essential

16. Give attention to all consideration of safety. Projects that use 120-volt electrical current must have all wires and connections properly shielded. Those not in compliance will be screened at the door and refused entry.

17. Adhere to all of the rules and regulations of the Fair am all relevant federal, state, and local laws. Those not in compliance will be screened at the door and refused entry.

18. Be submitted with the understanding that the decision of the Los Angeles County Science Fair Committee is final