SIXTIETH ANNUAL

READING-BERKS

SCIENCE

AND

ENGINEERING FAIR

Sponsored by RBSEF, Inc.

WWW.rbsef.org

Supported by Local Industry &

The School Districts of Berks County

Conducted by

Reading Chemists’ Club, Inc.

(Founders);

Science Teachers of

Reading & Berks County;

PA Society of Professional Engineers,

Reading Chapter

March 12 to 15, 2012 

Hosted by Albright College 

Location

 Bollman Physical Education

Building

Please read this pamphlet carefully and follow all rules when planning, constructing, and displaying your exhibit.                                                                                                                       

Fair Entrance Requirements                                                                                                      

Students from any school in Berks County may enter  the Reading-Berks Science and Engineering Fair, if their school is deemed eligible by the Fair Board of Directors in accordance with the current contract with the International Science and Engineering Fair.

Official Forms should be completed and printed from the Internet at http://www.rbsef.org.  The Entry Form must be completed on-line.  The other required forms must be completed, signed and returned to your teacher.

Divisions & Qualifications

Senior Division --For exhibits by students in

                             Grades 9,10,11,12

Senior Classifications --

Botany--Plant study, including growth and development, whole plant, cellular and subcellular structure, classification of species, environment, evolution and breeding.

Chemistry--The study of elements and compounds, the atoms and molecules of which they are composed and the reactions between them.

Earth and Space Sciences--Environment and conservation, geology, meteorology, oceanography astronomy, aircraft and flight.

Engineering--Technology; Projects which involve the application of scientific principles to manufacturing and practical uses, civil, chemical, electrical, environmental and mechanical.

Medicine and Health--Application of scientific principles to medicine and health, dentistry, sociology, pathology, sanitation, psychology and gerontology.

Physics--The study of interactions of matter and energy (excluding chemistry), including heat, light, sound, electricity and magnetism, mechanics, nuclear physics, optics and quantum mechanics.

Mathematics and Computers--The study of quantity, order and relationships including game theory, information theory and statistics. The development and applications of computer technology including the input, storage, processing and output of information and data.

Zoology--The science or study of animals, living or extinct, including: birds, fish, insects, mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

Junior Division--For exhibits by students in

                             Grades 6,7,8

Junior Classifications--

1. Natural Science--Projects involving the study of biology, living things, including plants, animals and humans, studies of the environment and conservation of natural resources, medicine and health.

2. Physical Science--Projects involving the study of nonliving matter and energy, including astronomy, chemistry, electricity, heat, light, magnetism and sound.

General Rules                                                                                                                                                                                         

Your science teacher or science department must approve all exhibits.  Teachers should inspect exhibits to assure conformity to safety requirements and good public taste.

Regulations set by the Fair Board of Directors prohibits pre-fair publicity of any kind, which identifies an exhibit with a student or school.  However, publicity for local school fairs without identifying specific exhibits is encouraged.

Exhibits must be the result of research done by an individual, participating student.  If previously entered in the Reading-Berks Science and Engineering Fair, the exhibit must be considerably expanded or developed.  Display boards should reflect the current year's work only.

Construction of the exhibit must be as follows:

Prohibitions

 Anything potentially dangerous to the public is prohibited in your display including but not limited to the following:

 1.      No living creatures, including plants and microbes.  You MAY display sealed insect collections.

2.      No taxidermy specimens or parts.  No preserved vertebrate or invertebrate animals, including embryos.

3.      No photographs or other visual presentations depicting vertebrate animals in other-than-normal conditions (i.e., surgical techniques).  Such depictions may be contained in a notebook for presentation only during judging.

4.      No organisms, fungi, any type of cultured growth, spoiled food, or molds.

5.      No soil or waste samples; no dried plant materials.

6.      No chemicals including caustics and acids.  No containers filled with liquids for display.  Empty chemical containers and nonfunctional apparatus are also discouraged.

7.      No human and animal parts EXCEPT teeth, hair, nails, animal bones, histological sections, and wet-mount tissue slides.                                

8.      No human or animal food.

9.      No sharp items, including syringes, needles, pipettes, and similar devices.

10.  No poisons, drugs, or other controlled substances.

11.  No dry ice or other sublimating solids.

12.  No flames or highly flammable display materials.

13.  No tanks that have contained combustible liquids or gases, unless they have been purged with carbon dioxide.

14.  No projects with unshielded belts, pulleys, chains, and moving parts with tension or pinch points that pose a potential hazard to observers.

15.  No hazardous devices (e.g., firearms).

16.  No class III, IV lasers.

17.  Studies involving pathogenic agents in a home environment are prohibited, but specimens may be collected at home.

18.  A death rate of 50%, or greater in any group or subgroup of vertebrates is not permitted.

 Rules Regarding Animal Experiments

The International Science and Engineering Fair requires these rules.  Complete information and copies of the necessary forms are available from your science teacher, the Fair Director or at http://www.rbsef.org. 

Senior Division - A protocol for any planned animal experimentation must be approved by a biomedical scientist (Ph.D., MD, D.V.M., DDS) and then submitted to the Scientific Review Committee for approval.  Mail to:

Science Fair, Carpenter Technology, PO box 14662, Reading PA 19612, Novak - Bldg. 54

Junior Division - Animal experiments must be conducted under the supervision of an adult who must furnish a certificate attesting to the humane treatment of the animal, including adequate supplies of water, food, sanitary conditions, and freedom from duress.

 Electrical Safety Rules

The following rules are necessary to prevent the possibility of fire or injury from exhibits that require electricity.  All exhibits will be inspected for compliance with these rules before final approval is given on the evening of exhibit set-up.  A noncompliance could result in disqualification.

 1. Electricity provided will be 110 volt, 60-cycle alternating current and a maximum of 15 amperes per exhibit.

2. Electrical apparatus must have insulated wires, switches, or other metal parts in good condition and an insulated cord at least six feet long with a three-pronged plug.

3. Low voltage batteries (0-24 volts) are acceptable. Batteries with open-top cells are not permitted.

4. Nails, tacks, or uninsulated staples may not be used for fastening wires carrying current.

5. Electricity will be provided when requested on the entry form.

6. High-voltage equipment must be shielded with a grounded metal box or cage to prevent accidental contact.  High-voltage wiring, switches, and metal parts should have adequate overload safety factors.

7. Bare wires and exposed knife switches may be

used

 Judging Standards

Major emphasis in scoring will be placed on items included under Scientific Thought and Experimental Technique, however, crucial points could be lost by an exhibitor who neglects to give due attention to Manual Skills and Communication.

1.   Scientific Thought ‑‑ original idea or problems having scientific value... background investigation... plan of attack and thoroughness... analysis of results... validity of conclusions... value of redirection or projection of work.

2.      Experimental Technique ‑‑ relevance, accuracy, and sufficiency of observations...originality and proper use of apparatus.

3.       Manual Skills ‑‑ mounting or building skills exhibited... durability and neatness of an exhibit...clever or proper use of materials.

4. Communication ‑‑ logic, clarity, completeness, and dramatic value of the presentation... spelling and grammar... accuracy and sufficiency of labeling.

RBSEF, Inc., its Board of Directors and Committees, Albright College, and other sponsoring organizations will not be responsible for personal injury suffered by exhibitors or their families,  for damage or loss of any exhibit or any part thereof.  The Fair Project Committee or the RBSEF, Inc. Board of Directors reserves the right to reclassify or to reject any exhibit, which does not adhere to all rules.

Note: All students must have Research Plan Form 1A, checklist for Adult Sponsor, and Approval Form 1B  completed and on file with the required signatures prior to beginning research.

Forms 1A and 1B must be completed by all students.  Form 1C is required for all studies conducted in an institutional or industrial setting during the current ISEF year.

Additional forms may be required.