Science Day Standards

Policy statements about preventing, detecting and penalizing plagiarism in science projects:

In addition to *this statement below that must be signed by students and parents, here are additions to our Science Day Standards http://www.ohiosci.org/sds.htm regarding plagiarism:

o All written reports and log books must disclose and cite where appropriate the specific source(s) of the idea for the project. Citations must be fully documented with references such as author(s), date, publication and URL if website.

o Any claim of plagiarism in a project made prior to, during, or within one week after State Science Day shall be judged as usual, but all scores, ratings, and awards shall be retained until a review of the project is completed by the Academy office and/or its delegated inspectors. If the project is found to be plagiarized, the registration fees for State Science Day as well as awards and ratings will be forfeited. The district and school from which the project originated will be contacted. The student(s) future project(s) will be required to pass a review prior to presentation in any Academy Science Days.

* Scientific fraud and misconduct are not condoned at any level of research or competition. Such practices include plagiarism, forgery, use or presentation of other researcher’s work as one’s own, and fabrication of data. Fraudulent projects will fail to qualify for competition in affiliated fairs or the Intel ISEF.

All student research projects require a research plan. Research plans and certain special protocols must be approved before experimentation if the student research projects involve one or more of the following:

A Consent and Release Form [ http://www.ohiosci.org/consent.pdf ] must be completed by all students and signed by parents to participate in District and State Science Days. This form must be sent to the District Science Day director with registration material and to The Ohio Academy of Science for State Science Day.

Science days or science fairs are occasions for the display and evaluation of student-originated, inquiry-based scientific research projects. A successful science day program will achieve several student-learner objectives:

In published research (Ohio J. Sci. 96 (4/5):81-88, 1996), teachers rated science projects as overwhelmingly and consistently positive on each of eight contemporary educational goals:

[Except for the Buckeye Science Scholar Award at State Science Day and to fill quotas for participation in District and State Science Days] The Ohio Academy of Science does not rank students at local, District or State Science Days. Rather, judges for the Academy compare students against the judging criteria described below.

Teachers promoting local student research projects and conducting local science days leading to District and State Science Days, are expected to have their students follow the official Science Day Standards outlined here. Included in these Standards are the Judging Criteria for both individual and team projects that teachers should use locally and that must be used at all District science days. The Ohio Academy of Science discourages the assignment or use of special points or a scoring rubric unique to local science days, and does not permit their use by District or State Science Days.

[The Academy has developed several publications such as the Science Day Guide that teachers should consult to promote the development of student research projects and local science days. Guidelines for District Science Day also are available.]

Participation in a Science Day can be a rewarding experience. It offers an opportunity to learn and practice the principles of scientific research, an opportunity to meet others interested in scientific study, and a chance to earn recognition for academic excellence. Thus, those involved should not be limited to the gifted, although all should be made aware of the long and tedious work involved in scientific investigation. Accurate prediction of a student's potential is impossible until he or she has attempted a project a number of times. Most will not achieve perfection on the first attempt, but proficiency will come to those who are persistent.

When issues arise that are not covered in these standards, the student or teacher should seek guidance from the latest edition of the Rules for the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair. [See http://www.sciserv.org/isef/document ]. For specific rules questions, please email: SRC@societyforscience.org

A student research project shall be used for only one year. It must not be repeated nor given to another person to represent his or her work. Each student may enter only one project which covers research done over a maximum of 12 continuous months between January of the year before the Science Day and May of the year of the State Science Day. A project may continue only if it involves new or revised objectives, hypotheses or methods and presents substantially new or different results each succeeding year.

Participants in local science days may be in any grade level. Each Junior Academy Council District Science Day has the option of accepting participants in grades 5-12 or grades 7-12. Participants in State Science Day are limited to grades 7-12.

Participants must earn a superior rating [36-40 points for individuals; 45-50 points for teams] to submit their projects to the next-in-line science day. District and State Science Days operate on a quota system that may further limit participation even if some students at a preceding science day receive a superior rating.

Students shall be admitted to only one District Science Day per year. District Science Days shall not accept duplicate projects from the same school. To be eligible for a District Science Day, a student shall earn a superior rating from participation in a local science day. A student at a school that does not have a local science day or a home schooled or virtually schooled student shall earn a superior rating from participation in a local science day at any public or non-public school within their school district that is based on where the student lives.

If no science day exists within their school district, the student may participate in an adjacent local science day within the same or adjacent OAS District with continuation, if eligible, at the student’s local OAS District Science Day.

A virtual school may hold a real local science day for all of its students who reside within a county or all counties of a District Science Day. A local science day is expected to use the same forms, follow the same rules and criteria on safety and judging as the District Science Day and the State Science Day.

Each District Science Day is expected to accept only students who lived in the boundaries of the District, with the exception of existing agreements between districts.

Under unusual circumstances, the director of the home district may request the director of the temporary district for permission for one or more students of the home district to participate in the temporary district for one year only. The director of the home district must contact the director of the temporary district directly in order for the request to be made and permission be granted. Specifically, the director of the temporary district will NOT accept requests for transfer by any representative other than the director of the home district. If permission is granted, the home district will send to the temporary district Science Day one (1) accommodating judge for every three (3) accommodated students sent, with a minimum of one (1) accommodating judge sent.

If permission is granted, the accommodated student (1) will pay their fees to the temporary district, (2) will be eligible for prizes from the temporary district, at the discretion of the of the temporary district director, (3) will be counted in the State Science Day quota of the temporary district, at the discretion of both district directors, if they are eligible to go to State Science Day. The only exception is they will not be eligible to participate in the Regional Science and Engineering Fair (RSEF) at the home district if not permitted by the affiliation agreement of the RSEF with ISEF.

The intent of this policy is to accommodate extraordinary instances where it is not possible for a student to participate in a local science day. Using the judging criteria in the Science Day Standards, District Science Day directors shall determine the eligibility of the applicant to participate in the District Science Day in extraordinary instances: (1) where admission to a local science day is prohibited by public or non-public schools within their own district or in an adjacent school district or (2) where there is no local science day at a public or non-public school within his or her district or in an adjacent school district. Students in groups (1) and (2) must include a complete project report and all plans and protocol forms with their application to a District Science day. Two judges approved by the District science day director shall evaluate that report independently and blindly. The District science day director shall admit a student whose project meets basic criteria and research protocols required by the Science Day Standards adopted by the Junior Academy Council.

The Junior Academy Council assigns State Science Day participation quotas for each District science day based equally on the percent superiors earned by projects of that district at the most recent State Science Day and on the number of District science day participants at the previous year’s District science day. Team scores shall be converted to the 40-point scale. Projects of students that have received a superior rating at the District level will fill the District quotas to attend State Science Day by the following policy:

To meet the district’s quota, 5^th and 6^th graders will be granted eligibility to SSD as follows:

Preparation for State Science Day District science day directors shall make special efforts to meet with all eligible students, parents and teachers or mentors well in advance of State Science Day to coach and prepare students for participation in State Science Day. Special emphasis shall be given to display rules, quality of abstracts, data analysis and display, and report writing.

Lottery: If there are more student projects than spaces available within the quota, a lottery shall be used to determine the projects selected. E.g. if you have twenty (20) 7th graders each with 37 points but only ten (10) slots you would hold a lottery to determine the ten (10) projects to fill the quota.

Alternates shall be selected according to the above policy too. The District quota shall be filled equally based on the above policy for both individuals and teams participating in the District Science Day. Duplicate projects from the same school will not be accepted.

Policy on District Procedures for Registering Students for State Science Day

Students selected to enter State Science Day are personally responsible and must be present for announcement of their eligibility for State Science Day unless excused in advance of the event by the District Science Day Director. If a student anticipates that he or she will not be present for announcement and receipt of registration instructions and materials, then with permission of the District Science Day Director, he or she must designate in advance of the event and in writing an adult to be responsible for hearing the announcement, obtaining the registration materials and promptly delivering the materials to the absent student. Absence from the announcement does not relieve the student of the responsibility to meet the postmarked registration deadline. The District Science Day Director shall have final authority for selection of State Science Day registrants who are certified as eligible to the executive office of the Ohio Academy of Science by noon on the first Monday after the district science day.

All students who participate in District and State Science Days shall complete student research plans prior to beginning their experimentation or research trials. Modifications in the plans are permitted during the process of research. The modifications must be prepared and dated as a research plan. If the modifications involve new protocols that must be approved before experimentation, it must be approved before the student resumes experimentation. The initial research plan must be kept if any data obtained before the modification will be used in the final project.

A student research plan shall include the name and address of each student involved in the research, the teacher's name or name of research supervisor, whether the project is a continuation of work or a new project, where the work will be done (home, school, research institution, industry, or in the field), project title, research question(s) or problem, hypothesis or technological design statement, experimental methods or procedures, and at least five major references specifically applicable to the proposed research; e.g., science journal articles, books, or internet sites. For internet sites, research plans must cite the complete URL, a title of the report, the name of the author if known, and the date of the publication or update of the site.

If the proposed research involves vertebrate animals, then the research plan must (1) provide a detailed justification for their use, (2) briefly discuss non-vertebrate alternatives and (3) give an additional animal care reference for the species you are using.

The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair forms [ http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/document/ ] and procedures must be used. These rules require adherence to special student research protocols and supervision, including prior approval of student research projects by local scientific review committees (SRC) or, in the case of human subjects, institutional review boards (IRB). Local schools must appoint and manage these committees. Depending upon the project(s), committee members must have sufficient professional expertise by way of education and experience to review both human subjects and non-human vertebrate projects.

Teachers, other professionals, scientific organizations, industries, and parents can and will give much valuable aid if the request is made in the proper way. Reasonable response time, courtesy and consideration coupled with sincere expressions of appreciation will eliminate many of the rough spots for a young scientist. Remember, others may advise and give aid, but they must not do any work for the participant.

Mentoring of students and professionals alike is common and expected in the world of science, engineering and technology. A mentor facilitates the design, the development and execution of the project either electronically or in person. An advisor reads and approves the procedure written by the student. Although The Ohio Academy of Science expects all students to use advisors and/or mentors for projects, a project entered into a science day activity must be researched and developed by the student participant(s). The Academy cautions judges that a student's access to mentors may be limited. The Academy directs that judges shall not bias their ratings either for or against students with or without mentors.

Team Projects shall be accepted at all District Science Days. A revised 50-point rating scale [see table below] will be used to evaluate team projects. Individual and team projects shall be considered equally when District science day directors select projects to fill quotas to attend State Science Day.

A team shall consist of a maximum of three students. A District science day may allow a maximum of two students per team due to local limitations. In addition, teams may not have more than three members at a local science day and then eliminate members to qualify for District or State Science Day. In a given academic year, a team project cannot be converted to an individual project or vice versa. In a subsequent academic year, a continuing project may add or delete members as long as at least one student from the original project is retained and the maximum number of team members is not exceeded. In a subsequent academic year, a continuing team project may be converted to an individual project or vice versa.

All currently active team members must be present to be judged at District and State Science Days or the project will be disqualified. All team members are required to belong to the same school and same grade brackets (a) grades 5-6, (b) grades 7-8, and (c) grades 9-12. Each team shall appoint a team leader to coordinate the work and act as the primary spokesperson. However, each member of the team should be able to serve as spokesperson, be fully involved with the project, and be familiar with all aspects of the project. The final work should reflect the coordinated efforts of all team members.

A supplemental sheet of the contribution each member made toward the team project shall be signed by each member and shall be displayed with the project and included in the research notebook, project report and with applications to attend District and State Science Days. Full names of all team members must appear on the abstract and registration forms. The judges should ask each team member for a one or two sentence description of what they consider to be their most important contribution.

Projects must provide adequate sampling and analyze results using statistics. This may require a great deal of time and many trials. Due to the nature of projects, it is not possible to state minimum sample sizes. Consult your advisor, mentor, science or mathematics teachers, or someone familiar with statistics for further information.

Almost all scientific research involves statistics. A scientist should not draw a conclusion based on a single measurement or observation. Scientists usually repeat the same measurement three or more time and use statistics to express its reproducibility or significance. If the term “significant” is used, then the actual statistical test of significance must be stated. Other scientists may repeat the research to see if they can replicate your results. Sampling of subjects is of utmost importance. Students doing behavioral studies using vertebrates should learn what is the minimum number of subjects needed for adequate sampling. In project abstracts and reports always state the number of trials or the population samples as (N=number).

Students doing research projects are required to keep a bound research notebook from the very beginning of gathering ideas and references from which information will be obtained to write the research plan and eventually write a research report. Record the date on the page every time you record something in the notebook. When you begin your experimentation, be sure to record experimental setups and conditions, observations, measurements, calculations, graphing results, discussions of the results and conclusions. Include other records such as photographs and notes of discussions with your supervisor, advisor or mentors. Your judge may ask to see the records you have of your research. See this link for What makes a great science lab notebook: http://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentoring/project-laboratory-notebook.pdf

Keeping a good research notebook is extremely important for students and for professional scientists especially if they ever apply for a patent. Record any original thoughts, concepts or procedures in the bound notebook, with numbered pages. Sign and date those pages and have an adult witness sign and date the page(s) to attest to the event. Use or disclosure of this written record may be required if you ever apply for a patent and may help assure your claim of originality.

Each project must include a research report covering in detail all of the work, references consulted, and acknowledgment of assistance received. The experimental data, statistics, notes, and computations should be recorded in a research notebook. The report should include a description of the work, the results, and the conclusions. This report should follow an accepted form of technical reporting and be checked for correct punctuation, spelling, and grammar preferably by an English teacher. If possible, the report should contain illustrations in the form of photographs, sketches, graphs, data tables or charts that contribute to the effectiveness of the material presented. The Ohio Academy of Science recommends the following format for sections of the research report:

Abstracts of 250 or fewer words are required and must be submitted with applications for both District and State Science Days. The abstract must contain a heading that includes a project title and name(s) of the author(s). The heading does not contribute to the word count.

The purpose of an abstract is to provide a summary of the project that will inform interested individuals of the contents. The wording must be written in a manner that any scientifically minded individual, who may not be familiar with the topic, can quickly understand the project’s important points.

Do not be concerned with including all of the details in the abstract. The key point to remember when writing an abstract is to keep the wording brief and concise. Use complete sentences. Avoid personal pronouns like "I" and "My." Abstracts should provide only information essential to understand the project’s basic points and importance. Omit needless words, especially adjectives and adverbs that have no statistical reference or validity.

He or she must be able to give a clear and concise oral presentation of his/her project, to answer questions, and to define any terms used. This brief oral presentation should completely summarize the project. The quantity and quality of knowledge attained will be evaluated by this speech. If a question is not clear, the participant should ask the judge to rephrase it. Although the student participant should practice his or her presentation several times, he or she should not attempt to memorize a formal speech.

“The score of the student’s project may be impacted by the violation(s) if either the physical dimensions or physical items rules are not followed.”

A display consists of one lightweight, usually tri-panel, bi-fold, single-sided display board with appropriate information (including graphs, data tables, drawings, sketches, diagrams or photographs), extra copies of an abstract for judges, project research notebook, research reports, research plans and documentation of research protocols. Displays at District and State Science Days are strictly poster format only. Each project shall be limited to one, single-sided display board. This means that the physical models, samples of research materials and/or purely advertising items (whether glued or affixed in any manner to the display or not) cannot be displayed and shall not be brought to District and State Science Days.

Table-top display dimensions shall not exceed 36" (91 cm) wide by 30" (76 cm) deep. The top of the display shall not be more than 85” (216 cm) above floor level or 55” (140 cm) above a 30” high table. Free-standing floor projects are not permitted at District and State Science Days. Extension of a project beyond the stated limits will result in dismantling or severe modification of the display, and may disqualify the student’s participation. Note that the physical display size at District and State Science Days is smaller than the size allowed at the International Science and Engineering Fair. “The score of the student’s project may be impacted by the violation(s) if either the physical dimensions or physical items rules are not followed.”

Although the use of "kit" models is discouraged, such models may be used if they make a definite contribution to the research approach. Models made by students are preferred since they have a much greater instructional value and demonstrate that the participant has had a proportional gain in knowledge. Models, samples from a research project, or research equipment may not be displayed at District or State Science Days. You may use only drawings, sketches, diagrams or photographs.

Use commercial equipment especially when it would be impossible to conduct the research without it. However, if such equipment is used, the participant must be prepared to describe its operation, function and the reason(s) for its use. Research equipment may not be displayed at District and State Science Days. You may use only drawings, sketches, diagrams or photographs. “The score of the student’s project may be impacted by the violation(s) if either the physical dimensions or physical items rules are not followed.”

Displays should be neat, attractive, and stable but readily portable. Refrain from using metal, plywood, pegboard, Masonite™, string, wire, thin tape, metal or plastic pipe, flimsy construction materials or props. Light weight, tri-fold foam core or display board, for example, joined securely with tape or Velcro™ strips makes a lightweight yet rigid, readily portable display. Avoid the use of small print, indefinite colors, and crowded elements. These detract from the effectiveness of the project.

Project titles should be succinct, descriptive of the project and reflect the research objective or question. Project titles should enable the reader to determine what was studied in the project. Often colonated titles work well for student research projects. Colonated titles use one to five short, attractive words first, followed by a colon and an added descriptive phrase.

[For example: Artificial wetlands: A model for microbial sequestration of copper; Battle of the brains: Which gender has the most effective short-term memory?; Bottled spring water: Can you taste the difference?; Breaking the mold: The effects of pozzolanic admixtures on the compressive strength of concrete; Bursting the bubble: Antibacterial soap vs. regular soap; Corrosion: The effects of certain liquids on metals; Cryogenics: Determination of the cell membrane breaking point; Feathers, fur or fat: which will keep an animal the warmest?; Golf balls: Rebound height vs. distance; Get a grip: Hand grip strength versus forearm circumference; Handedness: why we choose our left or right hand]

Do not use short, vague, trick, pet, "cute or comic” names for project titles, experimental organisms, or specimens. Identify research subjects or individuals in sampled populations by letters or numbers.

Project displays shall not involve materials or elements that might be dangerous to exhibitors, judge or onlookers. Explosives, toxic elements, injurious chemicals or gases, open flames, or any unprotected moving parts, etc. may be necessary in the research project. The experimenter should always exercise the greatest care and conduct these phases of the work under qualified supervision and follow all protocols required by the Rules of the Intel International Science and engineering fair. However, these materials or elements cannot be on the display poster, on the display table, or under the table, at a science day.

Students are expected to present the results of research. They are not expected to perform, demonstrate or repeat an experiment for judges or visitors. Students should have already done an experiment or conducted many research trials and thus have adequate results in the form of charts, graphs, data tables, and a research notebook—all recorded with dates—which should be with the project display. Equipment used in research is not needed for a presentation and must be left in the laboratory or at home. Use photographs or drawings of equipment on the poster boards, in the technical report and in the research notebook to document and explain the equipment used. Items on the display backdrop, or poster boards, should be used as visual cues to keep the student's oral presentation to the judges on track or to refer to when responding to questions. The whole project, in simple form, should be visible on the poster boards. Abstracts, a research notebook, technical reports, and additional data should be in folders or for immediate reference. “The score of the student’s project may be impacted by the violation(s) if either the physical dimensions or physical items rules are not followed.”

Battery-powered computers may be used only for simulation, modeling, animation or data display integral and essential to understand, analyze or interpret the project results and not for general PowerPoint™ or other visual or sound presentations. Electricity will not be provided.

Posters should display an abstract and data tables, diagrams, charts, photographs and graphs that summarize results. Research notebooks, research reports, research plans and documentation of research protocols are expected and may be in notebooks or folders on the table for use by science day officials and judges. Information such as postal, web and e-mail addresses, telephone and fax numbers is allowed only for the exhibitor. The only photographs or visual depictions of identifiable or recognizable people allowed are photographs of the exhibitor, photographs taken by the exhibitor (with permission of individuals received), or photographs for which credit is displayed (such as from magazines, newspapers, journals, etc.).

Battery-powered computers may be used only for simulation, modeling, animation or data display integral and essential to the project results and not for general PowerPoint™ presentations.

Students shall complete and post the following in 14pt type on the front of their displays. “Outside sources” below means the student did not create the graphics himself or herself. They came from or were modified from computer clip art, the internet, books, journal articles or other printed or digital sources.

If an item is not listed in the paragraphs above it is not permitted at District or State Science Days. Scientific equipment and supplies, other apparatus or research paraphernalia are not permitted at a display at District or State Science Days. [See http://www.ohiosci.org/not.htm ]

The attitudes and conduct of the judges determine the success of any Science Day activity. Therefore, it is vital that each judge understands thoroughly his or her duties and obligations. He or she should also have knowledge of all the requirements of the participants. All judges need to have a genuine interest in young people combined with a desire to offer encouragement and guidance in their efforts to pursue learning in the various fields of science.

Minimum number of points for each rating:

Individual Projects:

Superior 36, Excellent 24, Good 12, Satisfactory 4 (Not given at State Science Day).

Team Projects:

Superior 45, Excellent 30, Good 15, Satisfactory 5 (Not given at State Science Day).

All students at local, District or State Science Days shall have an abstract and a written report, which documents that the student has searched relevant literature, stated a question and/or tested a hypothesis or technological design statment, collected and analyzed data, and drawn conclusions. For a superior rating, an individual student shall receive a minimum of 36 points, or 45 points for a team, based on the criteria of (1) knowledge achieved, (2) effective use of scientific method, (3) clarity of expression, and (4) originality and creativity. A fifth criterion, teamwork, consisting of a maximum of 10 points, shall be applied to team student research projects. Thus, a team research project needs a minimum of 45 points for a superior award.

The following paragraphs interpret the various criteria on which the student’s project or exhibit will be judged.

1. Knowledge Achieved (considering student's age and grade level)

Has there been a correct understanding and use of scientific terms?
Is there evidence of an acquisition of in-depth knowledge through the research or has he or she merely acquired a manipulative technique?
Does he or she show evidence of knowing what the underlying principle(s) is?
In brief, has he or she actually learned scientific content through his/her study and research?
Mentoring of students and professionals alike is common and expected in the world of science, engineering and technology. Although The Ohio Academy of Science expects all students to use advisors and/or mentors for projects, a project entered into a science day activity must be researched and developed by the student participant(s). The Academy cautions judges that a student's access to mentors may be limited. The Academy directs that judges shall not bias their ratings either for or against students with or without mentors.

2. Effective Use of Scientific Method or Technological Design

Does the student have a clear-cut idea of the purpose of his/her project, or is it something thrown together and manipulated? While the mere assembly of a "kit" is frowned upon, there can be a definite research approach wherein there may be an effective use of scientific method (s). However, it should not be the principal element of the project.
Is he or she aware of other approaches or theories relative to this problem or project?
Is there evidence of both contemporary literature search and actual experimental research with results?
Has he or she been thorough and have there been prolonged or sustained experimentations?
Has he or she observed any basic phenomena?
Has he or she experimented sufficiently to have collected an appropriate amount of data?
Has he or she analyzed observations or results in a logical manner and drawn valid conclusions?
Has he or she used an adequate sample to be able to generalize?

3. Clarity of Expression

Can he or she orally explain the project concisely and answer questions well? Try to weigh evidence of a student’s nervousness. Listen carefully to a student’s presentation for understanding of scientific principles or relevance to actual, unique results derived from experimentation.

Has the participant expressed himself or herself well in all written material, such as the abstract and research report? Ask student about words or terminology in the abstract or report to validate that he or she clearly understands their use and that he or she actually wrote the report. Ask what specific knowledge or information came from specific references.

Is the physical display neat and sufficiently definitive to act as a stand-alone summary of the student’s entire project?

Note misspelled words and weak or imprecise grammar.

Does the research report include a literature review, experimental data, statistics, results, and conclusions? Does it follow an accepted form of technical reporting?

4. Originality and Creativity

It is true that the approach may not be new to the judge, but is the problem or the approach to the problem developed in a particularly significant or unique manner?

Has he or she a new approach to an old subject?

Has he or she a unique presentation or organization of materials?

The assembly of a "kit" may not be original or creative but again, it may be a new and unique approach to a problem and may economize on time and effort.

Is there evidence of initiative? Place a premium on the ingenious uses of available materials. Collections and manufactured apparatus can be creative if they are assembled and used to achieve, show, or support a stated purpose or provide effective comparison with previously collected or published data.

5. Teamwork

Team Projects shall be accepted at all District Science Days. A revised 50-point rating scale (see table above) shall be used to evaluate team projects.
A team consists of a maximum of three students. A District science day may allow a maximum of two students per team due to local limitations.
All team members must be present to be judged at District and State Science Day or the project will be disqualified.
All team members are required to belong to the same school and same grade brackets (a) grades 5-6, (b) grades 7-8, and (c) grades 9-12.
Each team should appoint a team leader to coordinate the work and act as spokesperson. However, each member of the team should be able to serve as spokesperson, be fully involved with the project, and be familiar with all aspects of the project. The final work should reflect the coordinated efforts of all team members.
A supplemental sheet of the contribution each member made towards the team project must be signed by each member and must be included in the project display and in the research notebook.
Full names of all team members must appear on the abstract and registration forms.
The judges should ask each team member for a one or two sentence description of what they consider to be their most important contribution.

Additional prompts for judges.

NOTE: Bullets do not have pre-determined numerical value.

1. KNOWLEDGE ACHIEVED (10 points maximum)

· Correct use and understanding of terms and principles

· Project exceeds classroom level for the student’s grade level based upon the judge’s opinion

· Adequate depth of knowledge

· Literature search: extent of scientific, engineering or medical journals /sources or just popular literature citations

· Supplements answers with additional relevant information

2. USES OF SCIENTIFIC METHOD or TECHNOLOGICAL DESIGN (10 points maximum)

· Experimental design: specific problem or question, clearly stated hypothesis or technological design statement; clear method(s) with correctly defined and measured variables and controls; sufficient understanding of methods from related studies in the literature

· Data handling, data tables, graphs, statistics; sufficient number of trials or samples for the problem

· Valid conclusion(s) or discussion of results

· Well-document lab journal/data record book

· Student effectively used professional equipment or correctly constructed/used home-made apparatus, equipment, experimental materials or models

3. CLARITY OF EXPRESSION (10 points maximum)

· Abstract with clear statement of results

· Written report: unambiguous title, organization, results, correct grammar and spelling, citations, references

· Visual display: neatness, conveys essence of the idea, hypothesis or design statement, results and conclusion(s)

· Oral presentation: understanding or from memory; questions answered correctly and clearly

4. ORIGINALITY & CREATIVITY (10 points maximum)

· New idea, concept, principle, hypothesis, insight or non-obvious approach or problem definition

· Novel association or relationship of previous discoveries or knowledge

· Rigorous and exhaustive analyses of extensive or robust data or results that reveal previously unknown relations

· Inquiry or design-based rather than a summary of knowledge

5. TEAMWORK subtotal points (maximum of 10)

· All members have shown active participation and understanding of the entire project

· Team members participate equally in presentation

· Individual expertise or contributions are explained

· All team members participate in correctly and clearly answering questions

Uniform Procedures for Rejudging at Local and District Science Days

Teachers promoting local student research projects and conducting local science fairs or science days leading to District Science Days and to State Science Day are expected to have their students follow the official Science Day Standards outlined herein. Included in these Standards are the following Rejudging Criteria for both individual and team projects that teachers should use locally and that must be used at all District and State Science Days.

Two judges will judge each project for The Ohio Academy of Science ratings.
If each judge grants a total score within any one rating category (Superior, Excellent, Good, or *Satisfactory), that specific rating (Superior, Excellent, Good, or Satisfactory) will be granted to the student and no rejudging is permitted.
Rejudging is automatic and is permissible only if all three of the following conditions apply:
- the judges' final ratings are in different categories,
- the average of the judges' scores is in the lower category, and
- if the judges differ in their total points by more than five points.

---

*Satisfactory category is not used at State Science Day

These general Standards for Science Days incorporate all actions of the Junior Academy Council as of January 2010.

Please direct questions to:

The Ohio Academy of Science

1500 West Third Ave. Suite 228

Columbus, OH 43212-2817

Phone (614) 488-2228

FAX (614) 488-7629

Email oas@iwaynet.net

Website for Standards: http:///ohiosci.org/sds.htm