TEACHER DIRECTIONS                                           

   2012, 60th  READING-BERKS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR

To download PDF version: PDF Forms/2012 TEACHER DIRECTIONS for website 7pgs.pdf

To: Teachers (Gr.6-12) (science, math, computer, ag sci, technology/engineering, health)

From: Michael Gerhart, Fair Director Tel./Fax 610-693-5321 Cell: 610-413-4588

email - mpgerhart@comcast.net

This is information for teachers and students (grades 6-12) to enter the 2012, 60^th Reading Berks Science and Engineering Fair. Students can enter the fair online at www.rbsef.org.

The fair website has all the entry information and forms online. The forms can be filled out online then printed out for the required signatures or downloaded and filled in by hand. Note: When a student completes and submits the entry form online, the student is not registered until the completed entry form and other required forms are printed from the website and given to the teacher with the required signatures. The teacher will then send the forms to the address below. Note: no group projects allowed in fair

Feb. 14, 2012 – registration and signed required forms and fees

Send Required Entry Forms and Entry Fees to:

Teachers – Please COLLECT the required forms and CHECK the following items below before sending signed forms and student entry fees to the fair.

A. FORMS SIGNED and all required forms complete

B. CORRECT GRADE and CATEGORY selected

C. Alert student if additional forms may be required. Projects dealing with vertebrate animals, some human experiments, fungi, microbes, some chemicals and tissue cultures may require additional forms. The "Checklist For Adult Sponsor Form 1" will indicate if more than the required forms may be required, (see fair website prompt "RBSEF Forms" then prompt "Wizard" for required forms help.)

E. Make sure students are not displaying PROHIBITED ITEMS in the fair. On the website (prompt "Regulations" then prompt "Display and Safety" and "Complete Rules" for a list of prohibited items )

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Fair Location: Albright College Bollman Gym

13^th and Bern St., Reading, PA

Fair Event Schedule: Mon. March 12 - Thur. March 15, 2012

Mon. March 12 - 6PM-8PM.- PROJECT SETUP , Albright College Bollman Gym

Tue. March 13 - 1PM-3PM- INTERVIEW DAY, All students must attend the

Wed. March 14- 9AM-7PM – Public and School project viewing, Albright Bollman Gym

Thur. March 15 - 9AM-3PM - Public and School project viewing, Albright Bollman Gym

5pm – 7:30pm – all students must remove projects from gym

(Projects discarded after 8pm, 3/15/2012)

Online Registration Directions – go to fair website (www.rbsef.org) prompt "Registration" and have students follow directions to register their project in the science/engineering fair

Required Forms Location - on fair website prompt "RBSEF Forms" then prompt "Required Forms" or search "Intel ISEF Document Library" and use as needed.

"Complete Rules"– Student information page for dates, categories, project sizes, prohibited items

" Exhibit Rules" – Project size limits, suggestions for what to include in a project

"Eligibility" – project classifications and fair divisions, who is eligible to compete

"Safety and Display" – all should read this! - lists prohibited items not allowed in the fair,

e-mail rnovak@cartech.com

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60^TH Reading-Berks Science and Engineering Fair (Gr.6-12)

Fair Dates: Mon. March 12 through Thur. March 15, 2012. (NOTE: Students are required to attend Albright College for Judging Day, Tue. March 13, 2012, 1pm-3pm)

Fair Location: Albright College Bollman Gym

13^th and Bern St.

Reading, PA

Required entry forms for most students: (Forms found on the Reading Berks Science and Engineering website (www.rbsef.org) prompt "Registration"

1. Student Registration Form

2. Checklist For Adult Sponsor (Form 1)

3. Student Checklist (1A) (abstract optional)

4. Approval Form (1B)

Fair Website – www.rbsef.org Reading Berks Science and Engineering Fair information with links for student entry forms, fair registration, safety and entry rules, forms wizard etc.

Entry Fee: $10.00 per student (payment not needed until February due dates)

Checks Payable to: Reading Berks Science and Engineering Fair Inc. (no group projects)

Registration and required forms - online at www.rbsef.org

Entry Deadline – February 14, 2012 – fair to receive Registration forms and fees

Science Fair Divisions:

Junior Division – grades 6-8 (Natural and Physical science)

Senior Division – grades 9-12 (botany, chemistry, earth/space, engineering,

math/computers, medicine/health, physics, zoology)

Over $8000 in awards presented to students in grades 6 to 12 entered in the science fair

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Answers to Common Science&Engineering Fair Questions

1. 2012 Science Fair location, entry form location, due date, and daily schedule

Fair location - Albright College Bollman Gym, 13^th and Bern St.., Reading, PA

Registration and Forms are online at www.rbsef.org prompt "Registration"

Entry Deadline date: - Feb 14, 2012 for registration and all forms and fees

2012 Fair Daily Schedule: ( March 12 through March 15, 2012)

Mon. March 12 - 6pm To 8pm - PROJECT SETUP in Albright College Bollman Gym

Tue. March 13 –1pm- 3pm -All students report to Albright Bollman Gym for INTERVIEWS

2. What required forms does a student need to enter the science fair?

ANSWER: Gr. 9-12 (Senior Division) students use the fair website (www.rbsef.org) to register online and get the required forms for completion and required signatures. (See number 3 below for the forms and fair rules) Students must print out all forms before leaving the website!

A. Student Registration Form (found on the fair website prompt "Registration" then "Register Here")

B. Checklist For Adult Sponsor (1) – on fair website prompt "Required Forms" Form 1

C. Student Checklist (1A) and Research Plan Attachment- on fair website prompt "Required

D. Approval Form (1B) -on fair website prompt "Required Forms" Form 1B

Gr. 6 – 8 (Junior Division) students must complete online at the fair website (www.rbsef.org)

A. Student Registration Form (found on the fair website prompt "Registration" then "Register Here")

B. Checklist for Adult Sponsor Form (1) – on fair website prompt "Required Forms" Form 1

Special Note only for grade 6-8: If numbered items # 4 and #6 on Form (1) do not need to be checked off for the project topic you are finished with the paperwork for the fair. However, if number items 4 and 6 need to be checked off in Form (1) then follow directions for Gr. 9-12 (Senior Division) forms found above.

Where do I find the required entry forms and rules for the science fair?

ANSWER: Go to fair website at www.rbsef.org

For "Student Registration Form" – on the fair site prompt "Registration" then prompt "Register Here" Complete form online, submit and print out for required signatures.

Other required forms- on fair site prompt "RBSEF Forms" then prompt "Required Forms" or " Document Library" for Forms 1, 1A, 1B.. Forms can filled out online and then printed out or printed blank to fill in by hand. 2012 Rules Booklet – on fair website prompt "RBSEF Forms" then Document Library" then "2012 Rules and Regulations" or search " Intel Document Library

4. How do I know if a student needs more than the required forms?

ANSWER: Completing the required form "Checklist For Adult Sponsor / Safety Assessment Form 1" will alert the sponsoring adult (parent/teacher/advisor) to the possible need to complete other forms than the ones required for the fair. Most experiments involving NON-HUMAN VERTEBRATE LIFE, ANY BACTERIA, FUNGI, RECOMBINANT DNA, DANGEROUS CHEMICALS AND SOME HUMAN PROJECTS will possibly require more forms. Use the forms " Wizard" (on fair website prompt "RBSEF Forms" then prompt "Wizard" or search "ISEF Rules Wizard") for a listing of additional required forms for the projects mentioned above.

5. What projects may need PRIOR APPROVAL by the SRC committee before a student can start experimentation? (SRC- means -Scientific Review Committee)

ANSWER: Some experiments on VERTEBRATE ANIMALS , any BACTERIA/FUNGI, CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, RECOMBINANT DNA , HUMAN OR ANIMAL TISSUE, HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS-DEVICES

6. What is an IRB?

ANSWER: IRB stands for INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD. It is composed of 3 members of the school building or a district group that must include a science teacher, an administrator, and one of the following (medical doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, registered nurse, or doctor asst.). The IRB committee can determine if any questionable projects may need prior approval by the science fair’s SRC (Scientific Review Committee). To avoid problems it is best to have ALL projects involving humans, animals, bacteria, fungi and dangerous substance be reviewed by the IRB before allowing students to start or enter that project in the fair. On website prompt "Document Library" then "Complete INTEL ISEF 2012 Rules and Guidelines" Most projects can be cleared by the local IRB.

ANSWER: Using the forms "Wizard" (on the fair website prompt "RBSEF Forms", then prompt "Wizard") or search "ISEF Rules Wizard". This program will list all the required additional forms for that project. After the forms are completed and signed, the student or adult sponsor must contact the SRC chairperson before the experiment is started. Note: not getting prior approval may result in not being allowed in the fair. The SRC (Scientific Review Committee) to contact is chairperson:

Dr. Michael Barnett

8. Does every student entering a science project need prior approval by the SRC committee?

ANSWER: NO, only some of the projects involving items in question 5 may need prior approval. A local school’s IRB Board can determine if there is a need for prior SRC approval. Most projects can be approved by the school’s IRB. (see question 6)

9. What are the science fair divisions in the fair?

ANSWER: Junior Division (gr. 6-8), Natural Science or Physical Science Division

Senior Division (gr. 9-12), Botany, Chemistry, Earth and Space, Engineering, Math and Computer, Medicine and Health, Physics, Zoology

10. What is the entry fee for the fair? Note: no group projects

ANSWER: $10 per student, Payable to " Reading-Berks Science Fair Inc".

11. What is the deadline due date to send entry forms and fees to the science fair?

ANSWER: Feb. 14, 2012 - due date "Student Registration Form", fees and other required form

ANSWER: Send all signed entry forms and student fees ($10 per student) to:

Robert Novak, Asst. Fair Director

Carpenter Technology

PO Box 14662, Bldg. 54

Reading, PA 19612-4662

ANSWER: On fair website prompt "Regulations" then "Safety and Display" then "Complete Rules" for list of items not allowed in the fair.

14. Project Sizes? Junior Division (gr.6-8)- no larger than 36"wide x 72" high x 24" deep

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Living Organisms - e.g. live plants, animals, microbes (bacteria), fungi (mushrooms)

Suggestion: use photographs or drawings

DRIED PLANT MATERIALS

TAXIDERMY SPECIMENS OR PARTS

PRESERVED VERTEBRATES OR INVERTEBRATE ANIMALS INCLUDING EMBRYOS

HUMAN OR ANIMAL FOOD (suggestion: use empty container of product or picture)

HUMAN/ANIMAL PARTS (Exceptions: teeth, hair, nails, dried animal bones, histological dry mount sections, wet mount tissue slides)

SOIL OR WASTE SAMPLES (suggestion: use art materials to simulate sample)

ALL CHEMICALS, INCLUDING WATER, SOAPS, PAINTS, MAKE UP, SHAMPOO ETC. (suggestion: use the empty container or art supplies to simulate the product)

POISONS, DRUGS, CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES OR DEVICES SUCH AS FIREARMS, WEAPONS, AMMUNITION, RELOADING DEVICES Suggestion: use pictures

DRY ICE OR OTHER SUBLIMATING SOLIDS (solids which vaporize directly into a gas)

SHARP OBJECTS (syringes, needles, pipettes, any sharp pointed objects on a display )

FLAMES OR HIGHLY FLAMMABLE DISPLAY MATERIALS

EMPTY TANKS OR CONTAINERS THAT CONTAINED COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS OR GASES, unless purged with carbon dioxide

BATTERIES WITH OPEN TOP CELLS (ok to use 1.5 v flashlight battery)

AWARDS, MEDALS, BUSINESS CARDS, FLAGS, CORPORATE, INSTITUTION LOGOS ETC.

PHOTOGRAPHS OR OTHER VISUAL PRESENTATIONS DEPICTING VERTEBRATE ANIMALS IN OTHER THAN NORMAL CONDITIONS (ie. Surgical techniques, dissections, necropsies or other lab techniques done on animals)

UNACCEPTABLE FOR DISPLAY: (CANNOT BE OPERATED)

PROJECTS WITH unshielded belts, pulleys, chains and moving parts with tension or pinch points

Class III and IV Lasers

Any device requiring over 110 volts