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REMINDER: All projects entered must meet the following criteria by the registration deadline

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To enter the fair, register on the "Project Registration" page and pay $15 (per student) by:

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 Tuesday March 24, at MIDNIGHT 

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Late Entries will NOT be accepted. There are NO exceptions

PLANNING YOUR SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT

PROJECT TYPES

Experiment

An investigation undertaken to test a scientific hypothesis using experiments. Experimental variables, if identified, are controlled to some extent.

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Study

Sometimes you won’t be testing a new hypothesis, but you will be coming up with a novel approach to existing data.  You might not be collecting data, but analyzing existing data in a new way. Many studies are carried out using surveys given to human subjects.

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Innovation

A project involving the development and evaluation of innovative devices, models or techniques or approaches in fields such as technology, engineering, or computers (both hardware and software).

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Demonstration

(Primary and Elementary divisions only)

Illustrates a known scientific principle. Does not investigate or prove an idea but shows an understanding of the concept. It could also involve re-testing an experiment already done.

SUBJECT CATEGORIES

RESOURCES

Check out some PROJECTS from all over Canada for ideas and inspiration

PROJECT EVALUATION

10%   Project Summary

20%   Display

20%   Oral Presentation (you have 15 mins 2-4 minute presentation then questions)

15%   Original Creativity

35%   Scientific Thought

 

Total  100%

RULES AND REGULATIONS

  • Participants must be under 21 years of age

  • Attending classes from Kindergarten to Grade 12 at a public, separate, private school​, home school​

  • A project with two students is eligible but more than 2 students is not allowed

  • If 2 students enter a group project and they are in different divisions they will compete in the older division

  • Students may not enter an identical project at any subsequent regional Science Fairs. However, a project may be improved and entered again to compete

  • A project cannot be entered in more than one regional Science Fair per school year for competition leading to the Canada- Wide Science Fair

  • A student may not present more than one project each year

  • Parents, teachers, or guardians should not have any verbal or visual communication with their student during a judging session

SAFETY AND ETHICS

All projects and exhibits entered must follow the following rules:

 

Chemical Safety

  • No poisonous chemicals (solid, gas, liquid)

  • Any radio-isotopes present are sealed and at normal background activity

Fire Safety

  • No flammable chemicals (solid, gas, liquid)

  • No open flame is used

  • No pressurized containers displayed

Electrical Safety

  • Electrical connections have been insulated

  • Electrical power cord is CSA approved and provides necessary grounding

  • Current less than 36V to the ground

  • No voltage above 10 KV to be generated

  • Any non-current carrying metal parts must be connected to a ground lead

  • Lasers can not be operated during public display

  • X-ray or other high energy radiation sources, if used, have been registered and approved by provincial authorities

Structural and Mechanical Safety

  • The exhibit can be no more than 1.5 m high, 1.2 m wide and 0.8 m deep, self-standing and stable. Exhibits which exceed these dimensions will be disqualified

  • Hazardous moving parts are protected

Biohazards and Biosafety

  • If microbiological organisms were used, no biological toxins are present

  • If microbiological organisms were used, there has been no experimental manipulation with recombinant DNA or animal viruses

  • If blood, tissues, or other bodily fluids are used, the project is carried out in a hospital, university, medical or similar laboratory under the direction of a scientific supervisor

Ethics for Human and Animal Participation

  • Signed consent is required from human participants

  • Projects involving ingestion may only include food and drinks that are manufactured for human consumption, and do not exceed recommended daily intake

  • No illegal substances are to be used

  • If medicines are used, the project is carried out in a hospital, university, medical or similar laboratory under the direction of a scientific supervisor

  • Projects may only involve living vertebrates for observations of normal living patterns

  • Procedures which could harm or distress live animals were not used, however parts of vertebrates slaughtered for other purposes are permitted

  • No live animals are to be displayed

Check out these ideas for project board design from Youth Science Canada

Read Youth Science Canada STEM safety and ethics

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