Project Pre-Approval Project Pre-Approval CertificationCertification

For projects involving tissues/cell lines, human subjects, live vertebrate animals, hazardous materials or microbes

Fair RegulationsFair Regulations• If a project involves tissues/cell lines,

human subjects, vertebrate animals, hazardous chemicals or microbes, proper paperwork must be submitted ONLINE and pre-approved by the Los Angeles County Science & Engineering Fair BEFORE beginning the research itself..

• Research design must be based on scientific methodology or engineering principles.

# Pre-approvals per School# Pre-approvals per School• A maximum of 30 projects per school can be submitted.

Submit projects you know meet our guidelines.

• When whittling down many pre-approval projects, consider the quality and caliber of the student(s) / project topic/ uniqueness of experiment.

• If a team is requesting pre-approval, only 1 student (the team captain) should submit the information. If all team members submit the same forms, that counts as 2 or 3 projects out of the 30 you are allowed.

School Registration FIRSTSchool Registration FIRST

1. Every LA County Middle School and High school receives a notice for entry to the LA County Science Fair in early September.

2. Site Science Fair Coordinator and and online school registration opens early Sept to the end of January.

Every document will be posted and downloadable at http://www.lascifair.org

NEW Research Rules & RegulationsNEW Research Rules & Regulations

• Clearer and more detailed regulations for project safety and procedures, following current state and ISEF guidelines.

– Linked to government safety resources

– Linked to 5 sub-pages targeting projects involving tissues/cell lines, human subjects, vertebrate animals, hazardous materials and/or microbes.

• FAQ pages specifically targeting problem areas for approval

Supervisor QualificationsSupervisor QualificationsProjects may require different levels of supervision, based on their topic. Descriptions & qualifications are linked below:

•Teacher/Advisor

•Biomedical Scientist

•Designated Adult Supervisor

•Animal Care Supervisor

Pre-Pre-Approval Approval

Flow Flow ChartChart

The SRC CommitteeThe SRC Committee• The LA County Science Review

Committee (SRC) is responsible for pre-approval of targeted student projects.

• A minimum of 3 persons will pre-screen each Research Plan including:

– A Biomedical Scientist (Ph.D., M.D., etc.)

– A Science Teacher/Advisor that is not sponsoring a project at the LACSEF.

– A Science Fair Committee member that is not involved as a Teacher/Advisor or Animal Care Supervisor

The Science Review Committee will examine the completed Research Plans ONLINE at  our Pre-approval page using downloadable SRC Checklists for evidence of:

The SRC CommitteeThe SRC Committee

Literature searches, proper required supervision and online verification, use of accepted research techniques, search for alternatives to using vertebrates, humane treatment of animals, risk factors, proper safety and disposal techniques.

The SRC Committee also looks for:The SRC Committee also looks for:

• Compliance with LACSEF guidelines, state and federal laws and the California Education Code governing human subject, tissue/cell line, live vertebrate animal, hazardous materials and microbe research.

Continuation ProjectsContinuation Projects• If a project is a continuation of a previously entered LACSEF

project, the Research Plan must document how the current year’s project is new and must contain at least 2/3 new information.

• Repeating previous experimentation or increasing sample size are unacceptable.

• Displays must reflect the current year’s work.

• Students must submit either the Jr. Division Continuation Project (Multi-year) form or the Continuation form included in the Sr. Division ISEF Certification Forms ..

Student SubmissionsStudent SubmissionsBefore they apply for pre-approval, make sure

•their experimental design has been approved by the teacher and the student’s parents/guardians,

•they’ve read the Research Rules and Regulations for safety concerns about their project,

•they’ve read the Pre-Approval FAQ’s to see if some of their questions may have already been answered,

•they fill out the pre-approval template their teacher has given them that mimics what they need to type in online.

The Pre-approval ProcessThe Pre-approval Process• Site Coordinators must have previously registered their

school.

• If the school is not registered, email jmoses@lascifair.org with the school’s name as it will appear in the program and the SC’s unique email address.

• The system will email a password within 48 hours. Use this password to log into our online registration system and fill in all Site Coordinator and School information.

The Pre-approval ProcessThe Pre-approval Process• Before beginning the pre-approval process with students,

please MAKE SURE TO CLICK ON and carefully read the new “Research Rules and Regulations” page and the 5 sub-pages on regulations for projects involving:

– tissue/cell lines– human subjects– live vertebrate animals– hazardous materials and/or– microbes

The Pre-approval ProcessThe Pre-approval ProcessTemplates to download before online submission•Hazardous Materials Pre-approval template•Human Subjects Pre-approval template•Microbes Pre-approval template•Tissues-Cells Pre-approval template•Vertebrate Animals Pre-approval template•2016 JrDiv Continuation Form2016 JrDiv Continuation Form•2016 SrDiv Continuation Form2016 SrDiv Continuation Form

Check the hard copy of the form for completeness before

instructing students to go online.

Example:Certification Certification

Online Online TemplateTemplate

(both Jr/Sr)

Enter online registration

webpage here

http://

app2.lascifair.org/

Complete before going online to submit proposal

Online Pre-approval DirectionsOnline Pre-approval Directions• Go to app2.lascifair.org and click on “Register a New Account”

• Select “Student” and then select “Pre-approval.”

• Enter all your information as requested. Make sure to CAPITALIZE the first letter in your First and Last name. Provide an email address that you check regularly.

• The system will send your password to the email address you provide.

Online Pre-approval DirectionsOnline Pre-approval Directions• Once you receive your password, GO BACK to

app2.lascifair.org and enter your email address and password.

• After you log in, click on “Project Pre-Approval”

• Select the form(s) your teacher has instructed you to fill out. You may have more than one form that you need to fill out - fill out one at a time.

Online Pre-approval DirectionsOnline Pre-approval Directions• Read the explanations for each fields and type in the

requested information the exact way you wrote it on the sheet your teacher gave you. Make sure that your information is complete, otherwise your project may be rejected because of missing information.

• Title: (descriptive)

• Problem/Objectives/Hypothesis (include evidence of search for alternative to vertebrate animals)

• # of students: (maximum = 3)

• Procedure/Experimental Techniques

– Provide a clear and detailed description/outline of proposed procedure, including equipment to be used, safety measures, and disposal of hazardous chemicals.

• Risks/Safety Precautions: detail any possible risks

• Bibliographic References (a minimum of 3 references, not exclusively Internet):

• Certification References, digitally verified by return email from Supervising Adults

Research Plan for SubmissionResearch Plan for Submission

Working with Human SubjectsWorking with Human Subjects• A Human Subject Consent Form

needs to be developed in consultation with the Student and the Teacher/Site Coordinator, Designated Supervisor or Qualified Scientist.

• This form will provide information to your research subject and parent/guardian about your project and will provide written “informed consent” and/or parental permission.

Working with Human SubjectsWorking with Human Subjects• Every participant and their parent/guardian will

need to receive a version of this form and sign her or his consent at the bottom before starting a project involving human subjects.

• This same information will need to be entered ONLINE at the LACSEF pre-approval webpage.

http://www.lascifair.org/eligibility-categories/project-pre-

approval/

Online Pre-approval DirectionsOnline Pre-approval Directions• Fill in the name and email address of all required

certification references.

• Each person you list will get an email (at the email address you provided) asking them to verify their role in your project.

• If you type an incorrect email, then there will be no verification and your project will not be approved.

• Please let your references know to check their email and verify or approval of your project will be delayed.

Online Pre-approval DirectionsOnline Pre-approval Directions• When you are finished

submitting all information, the statements and agree to it, then click on “save.”

• You will then be directed back to the “Forms” screen.

• If there is another form you need to fill out, click on it and follow the same directions as above.

Sr. Div. Sr. Div. FormsForms

(same as Intel ISEF)have to be brought to

the fair itself, with signatures

Reminder: PLAGIARIZMReminder: PLAGIARIZMPlagiarized projects will fail to qualify for competition in affiliated Science Fairs.You plagiarized ifYou plagiarized if•Someone else wrote it first•You copied it from somewhere•You cannot explain what you submitted•You cannot understand what you submitted•You do not know the words that you used

PlagiarismPlagiarism•Is NOT ethical•Is LYING•Is ILLEGAL•Is against the RULES

Developed byJennifer MosesJennifer MosesPresident, LACSEF

Anne Maben Anne Maben Vice President, LACSEF

Emily HoffmanEmily HoffmanChair, Judging, LACSEF

Dr. Kiersten DarrowDr. Kiersten DarrowChair, Science Research Committee, LACSEF

Margery WeitkampMargery WeitkampScience Research Committee, LACSEF

© 2016 LA County Science & Engineering Fair

Photography by Anne F. Maben ©2016