College of Arts and Sciences

Who May Enter

All students that are in public, private, or parochial schools or are home schooled and are in Kindergarten through ninth grades have the opportunity to enter the TWU Area Science Fair. All projects entered in the Fair must be approved by teachers. The MAXIMUM number of entries will be five (5) per grade level per school campus. The method of determining entrants is left up to the local school campus. If there is still space available after the initial entry deadline an expansion of the five entries per grade level may be approved upon calling the Science Fair Coordinator, Anna Bussartat 940.898.3325.

Entry Deadline

All exhibits must be entered on the official application. Applications must be received by February 24, 2007, and include the entry fee of $4.00 per person (If there are 4 members in a group project then $16 must be attached with the application).  Acceptance will be based on a first come, first served basis.  Confirmation will be given via email after the application has been processed.

Exhibit Schedule

The Science Fair will be held on Saturday, March 3rd, 2007, in the southeast and southwest dining rooms of Hubbard Hall on the TWU Campus. From Bell Avenue, turn west onto Administration Drive. Hubbard Hall will be the first building on the right. Take a right onto Oakland and park in the library parking lot. Signs will lead you to the southeast and southwest dining rooms. Click here for an interactive map of the university.

Saturday Agenda

Purpose

• To focus attention on science experiences in school.
• To stimulate greater interest in science by all students.
• To recognize and commend youthful scientific talent and hobby pursuits.
• To stimulate interest in scientific investigation over and above routine class work.
• To offer an opportunity for display of scientific talent through exhibit and demonstration.
• To provide constructive suggestions for teachers and students of science.
• To arouse interest of the public in science abilities of students and teachers.

Planning an Exhibit

• Study the Judging Criteria in order to make the best possible showing of your exhibit.
• Study the Rules for Exhibits to be certain you understand what is expected of you.
• Since many of the interested visitors will know little about science, remember:
  • Keep your exhibit clear.
  • Develop explanatory labels (test them on your parents and friends to determine if their meanings are clear).
• Simple, clear-cut and dramatic presentation of an idea does more to show what you know than a large, exceedingly complex exhibit.
• Enter your exhibit in the TWU Area Science Fair.

Safety Precautions in Displaying the Exhibit

• No dangerous chemical substances, such as caustics, acids, highly combustible solids, fluids, or gases in pressurized tanks may be displayed.
• Any electrical apparatus must be constructed according to standard electrical laws. If in doubt consult a competent electrician or your electrical inspector.
• No live disease-causing organisms that are pathogenic to man or other live vertebrates.
• No microbial cultures, alive or dead, including unknown specimens.
• No live vertebrate animals.
• No food, neither human nor animal.
• No syringes, pipettes, and similar devices.
• The Science Fair committee reserves the right of refusal of an exhibit it considers unsafe.

General Rules

• An individual exhibit is constructed by one person only.
• All exhibits must be constructed by students.
• Each student may enter only one exhibit.
• Group projects will be eligible in the elementary division only, but each group member must pay the entry fee. Only one form per group needs to be submitted.
• Teachers or other technically trained people may give information and advice.
• All equipment and other necessary material must be furnished by exhibitor, 110 volt outlets will be available.
• If electricity is needed, exhibitor must furnish an extension cord at least 15 feet in length.
• Posters must be self-supporting.
• No exhibitor or sponsor will be allowed in the exhibit room during judging.
• Size of exhibit is limited to 30 inches in depth, 48 inches in width, and 108 inches in height from the floor to the top of the exhibit.
• Safety precautions must be strictly observed.
• No student's name or school may be displayed on exhibit.
• Judges have authority to reclassify a project if they feel it has been entered in the wrong category.
• If the above rules are not followed, the project will be disqualified and not allowed to be displayed.

Rules for Live Vertebrate Animal Projects

• If students choose to conduct experiments using live vertebrate animals, the proper forms must be completed and must accompany the project.
• The student's project will not be judged if the proper forms are not displayed with the exhibit at the TWU Area Science Fair.
• No live vertebrate animals are allowed to accompany the project.
• To receive a copy of the forms, please e-mail abussart@twu.edu.
• To download the form: Live Vertebrate Animal Form

Clarity		10 points		Judging will be based on how well an average person can understand an exhibit. Neat, brief guide marks, labels, and descriptions will be helpful. How well a spectator's attention follows through an exhibit will be important.
Skill		15 points		Good workmanship and how much an exhibit needs repairs, under normal working conditions, will be considered. In collections, skill in handling, preparing, mounting, or other treatments will be important.
Thoroughness		15 points		An exhibit will be judged on how completely the story is told. Details or working model's construction in explicit form are not necessary.
Creative Ability		30 points		Exhibits should show originality of approach or handling, regardless of the expense of the materials bought or borrowed. Weight will be given to ingenious use of materials. Collections will be considered creative if they seem to serve a purpose.
Scientific Ability		30 points		An exhibit will be judged on how well it discloses classification, accurate observation, and whether or not controls were used. It should show a verification of laws, or cause and effect, or present by models or other methods, a better understanding of scientific facts or theories. Consideration will be given to probable amounts of real study and effort which is represented. What might have been added or improved will not be considered.

Procedure

Each entry will be judged separately on its own merit. The judges will use the criteria as listed and will give consideration to the degree to which standards are met. Each entry will be evaluated on a point basis. Group projects will be judged with other group projects and not against individual projects.

Awards

Each participant in the Elementary Divisions will be awarded a ribbon indicating that the project was Outstanding, Excellent, or Commendable quality. A trophy will be given to the outstanding project in each grade K-6.  One project which is judged best in the Lower Elementary Division (Grades K-3) and one project which is judged best in the Upper Elementary Division (Grades 4-6) will be awarded Grand Prize Trophies. In the Junior Division (Grades 7-9), one project will be awarded best in division.

Each student in each group project in the Elementary Divisions will receive a ribbon. These students will not compete for a trophy.