1. Exhibits of any of the basic subject areas designated may be entered by any students enrolled in any class from grades 4 through 12 unless noted in the exceptions below. Students in any public, private, or parochial school in the in the following counties are welcome: Bath, Boone, Boyd, Bracken, Carter, Campbell, Caroll, Elliott, Fleming, Floyd, Gallatin, Grant, Greenup, Harrison, Henry, Johnson, Kenton, Lawrence, Lewis, Magoffin, Martin, Mason, Morgon, Nicholas, Owen, Pendleton, Pike, Robertson, Rowan, and Trimble.

1a. Registration Limits:

Elementary (4th - 5th) - Only the top 2 projects for each grade level from any school or local fair can proceed to SEFNK.

Middle School (6th - 8th) - 17 project limit (no more than 2 projects in a category) from any school or local fair.

Due to space limitations we reserve the right to close registration early. High School registrations will be given priority. Middle School and Elementary registrations will be handled in order of receipt.

1b. Project Limits:

Elementary and Middle School level projects will not be accepted in the following areas:

• Microbiology
• Human or Vertebrate projects that contain or make use of tissues, fluids, cells, etc.
• Projects pertaining to the use of recombinant DNA

1c. Minimum ISEF Paperwork Required by SEFNK for all projects.

This list is taken directly from the ISEF "Rules for ALL Projects". Some projects may require additional paperwork. Section 1d of the SEFNK rules refers to the ISEF tools that aid and address determining those requirements.

• ISEF form 1 - Checklist for Adult Sponsor / Safety Assesment form
• ISEF form 1A - Student Checklist / Research plan
• ISEF form 1B - Approval form

1d. Additional ISEF Regulations

ISEF Forms wizard to help determine required project forms.

Single PDF file with all possible ISEF forms.

Any accepted application for a project involving hazardous chemicals and/or devices, microorganisms, vertebrate animals, human subjects, recombinant DNA, or tissues must be accompanied by copies of all completed certification forms required by ISEF "Rules and Guidelines" to be eligible for exhibiting space. The ISEF "Rules and Guidelines" can be found at http://www.societyforscience.org/Page.aspx?pid=312. The "Fair Guidance" section at the bottom of the page provides helpful materials and answers for teachers and administrators. Please review the SRC 101 PowerPoint and utilize the Intel ISEF Rules Wizard to determine if your project(s) requires these extra forms and if your project(s) needs to be certified by the Scientific Review Committee (SRC) or Internal Review Board (IRB). If the rules apply to your project, you must have your project certified by the Scientific Review Committee (SRC) to be approved for state competition. The tools and forms provided by ISEF are intended to aid schools and local fairs manage the safety and integrity of student research. Please contact the SEFNK director regarding any questions concerning the formation and function of SRC and IRB committees. SEFNK will require documentation of the members of these local committees.

2. A contestant may participate in only one ISEF affiliated science fair in the same year. A student who will have reached age 21 on or before May 1, 2011 is not eligible.

3. A contestant may enter only ONE exhibit.

4. An exhibit cannot be an identical replica of one shown by the same exhibitor or same group at a previous regional science fair unless the project is considerably expanded or developed. This development must be explained in writing.

5. All work on exhibits must be done by the individual or group, any exhibits, which indicate the direct assistance of the teacher, or any outside help will be disqualified by the judges. Teachers or sponsors may advise, but must not construct any part of the exhibit.

6. Exhibits must be confined to a table or floor space of 61 cm front to back by 122 cm side to side, or smaller. Projects must be less than 274 cm high, floor to top.

7. Exhibitors must provide their own display surfaces, as only table space will be provided. Therefore, support should be prepared for all materials that are to stand erect.

8. Record Books outlining the purpose of the project, procedure used, source of data and information, summary and conclusions, etc., must be kept and made available for observation and examination by the judges for all exhibits. Emphasis should be placed on the project report. The report should be free of spelling and grammatical errors. Remember you must be present at the specified time during the judging of the exhibits, and your exhibit and record book must be available to the judges.

9. Construction of exhibits must be durable, and movable parts firmly attached for safety precaution. All switches and cords for 110-volt operation must be of an approved variety. Electrical outlets are available throughout the display floor but not at every table. If an electrical outlet is requested during registration every effort will be made to place the project as close to an outlet as possible. Electrical cords should be at least 10 feet long. Extension cords will not be available at the event.

10. No live animals (vertebrate or invertebrate), preserved vertebrate animals or parts, including embryos, may be exhibited. Research involving the use of animals may display drawings, charts, or graphs to illustrate the conditions, developments, and results of the investigations. Photographs of surgical techniques depicting vertebrate animals in other than normal conditions may not be displayed on the student's exhibit but may be contained in an accompanying notebook.

11. Anything that could be hazardous in a public display is prohibited. This includes live pathogens, microbial cultures, fungi, any flame or flammable material, and any chemicals including water. Use drawings, charts, or graphs to illustrate conditions. What you did and what you found out are much more important than the materials used.

12. The exhibitor's school affiliation must not be visible until judging is complete.

13. No project will be admitted for exhibition unless (1) it has been rated as of a superior quality through competition in a local science fair, or (2) rated as superior quality by the sponsoring teacher.

14. Paper copies of on-line applications with teacher signatures, verifications of exhibit entries, and entry fees must be returned to the fair director and be postmarked no later than February 15, 2012. This will be strictly enforced. All applications must be accompanied by a research plan. An individual exhibitor's fee is $15. For team exhibitors, the fee is $15 for each participant. Make checks payable to SEFNK. Fees must accompany each submitted application. Entry fees are not refundable. (Note: We are working on a credit card payment system to replace checks. Timing may not permit us to have it in place to coincide with the opening of project registration. If you are interested in paying the registration fee with a credit card but not prompted at the time of online registration please contact the Director, Charlie Bowen)

15. Exhibitors will be asked to register on-line at SEFNK web site, sefnk.nku.edu. Exhibitors are asked to make sure information submitted is complete and accurate. No exhibitor will be permitted to change categories, age groups, or exhibits the day of the event.

16. All exhibits must be placed in and removed from the exhibit hall at the time specified by the regional fair committee.

17. First, second, etc., awards will not necessarily be given in each category. Awards will be given according to minimum standards to be determined by the judges. The decision of the judges is final. Judging scores will be available upon written request of exhibitor or sponsoring teacher.

18. Neither the SEFNK Board, the cooperating groups, nor sponsors assume any responsibility for loss or damage to any exhibit or part thereof.

Questions?  Contact Charlie Bowen, SEFNK Director