This competition will appeal to those with interest in science. This year's topic for all science fair projects must relate to the theme. Science fair topics MUST be emailed by February 4th, 2008 for approval purposes. If you do not receive approval for your project idea, you will be disqualified. Up to 4 students can register for this event working collaboratively. Only one project per school will be accepted. Topic: This year, your Science Fair topic must relate to the theme of Diversity. Examples of projects that would relate to Diversity are: diversity in the environment (plants), diversity in the human body (cells)

Finding A topic & Creating your Report/Display board

• Topic Selection Wizard: This site provides you with a wizard that helps you identify what project would be best for you. It also provides a menu on the left that helps you create your project including how to: state your question, create background research plan & bibliography, review literature, identify variables and create hypothesis, create your materials list and procedures, conduct the experiment, anaylze data and graph it, make conclusions, write your research paper, create your display board. It even shows you a sample project.
• Tips for a successful project
• Project ideas by area of science
• Science Fair Ideas by grade level
• The Idea Bank
• Writing Reports: This site provides an outline of what a good report should include.
• Display Boards: This site provides tips on creating display boards.
• More Display Board Help: This site is an excellent source for those who want to create the best display boards. There are sample display boards as well as a picture gallery of some of the best display boards. This site also provides help on how to grade yourself and how to present your project to a judge.
• Research Paper Help: This site provides you with a detailed sample of a research paper on a project that won 1st place in a 6th grade science fair. Make sure to read through the paper to get ideas on what is expected of your research paper.
• Student Project Handbook: This site provides a handbook that will guide you from A to Z. It will help you come up with an idea, start your experiment, create your display board, write your research paper, and even give you hints on what to do and what not to do when presenting to a judge.

Required Materials and Submissions:

• Each Science Fair Project must have a display board. Your board should be the standard size of 36" tall by 48" wide (folds in three panels to 36" tall by 24" wide). These presentation boards are self-standing and work quite well. You can either buy the board from any store such as Staples, Office Max...etc or make your own for free from a large cardboard box. The board can be any color. Here are a few tips on what could be on your display board:
  1. Pictures taken during the experiment.
  2. Data notebook or background research notebook
  3. Any equipment or material used in the experiment (that is not excluded by rules)
  4. Abstract
  5. Title (as a header at the top of the display board)
  6. Hypothesis
  7. Procedure
  8. Results
  9. Conclusions
  10. Applications
  11. Charts, graphs, tables, or other visual aids
  12. Statistics, where appropriate
• Unacceptable items for display include:
  1. Live animals
  2. Microbial cultures or fungi, living or dead
  3. Animal or human parts, except for teeth, hair, nails, and dried animal bones
  4. Liquids, including water
  5. Chemicals and/or their empty containers, including caustics, acids, and household cleaners
  6. Open or concealed flames
  7. Batteries with open-top cells
  8. Combustible materials
  9. Aerosol cans of household solvents
  10. Controlled substances, poisons, or drugs
  11. Any equipment or device that would be hazardous to the public
  12. Sharp items, such as syringes, knives, and needles
  13. Gases
• Each competitor must also turn in a Research Paper. Your Paper must include (but not be limited to) the following criteria:
  1. Title Page
  2. Table of Contents
  3. Abstract
  4. Question and Hypothesis
  5. Review of Literature/Background Information
  6. Materials and Procedures
  7. Results
  8. Conclusion
  9. Acknowledgements (optional)
  10. Reference List/Bibliography
  11. Table and Figures
  For more information on each of the above criteria, refer to the Science Buddies website.
• Visual Aides or any models that help explain your project.
• You are the most important part of your display. You are representing your school to the public and should be dressed appropriately. Do not chew gum. Respect other students and judges. Also, be prepared to describe your project to a judge in a clear, succinct presentation.

Judging Criteria

Each project will be judged on the following:

Rules and Procedures

The following is a list of rules and procedures for this competition:

1. Contestant numbers and order of competition will be pre-assigned on a random selection basis.
2. Competitors shall report at the appropriate time and place designated.
3. Judges shall know the competitors by their MIST IDs.
4. Your interview will be a maximum of 10 minutes. Your presentation should allow time for the judges to ask questions.
5. A display board, research paper, and other visual aides that help your project are required as outlined above.
6. Your project will be displayed with others in a gallery.
7. Project must relate to this year's theme.
8. Judging Criteria will be based upon the official MIST National Ballot.