Dell Young, Director, 2505 Indian Hill Road, Va. Beach, Va. 23455-1515 757-460-2863

61ST ANNUAL TIDEWATER SCIENCE FAIR Science Fair – Saturday, March 10, 2012 Old Dominion University, Webb Center http://www.cs.odu.edu/~scifair/RegionalFair/

Dell Young, Director, 2505 Indian Hill Road, Va. Beach, Va. 23455-1515 757-460-2863 [email protected]

Greetings, Designated Contact People, Dec., 2011

Hope this finds you and your plans for your science fairs going strong. Just for a few reminders. Red = updated info.

There are a number of required forms for the application. Where appropriate, these are the official forms of the Tidewater Science Fair and the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). To access these, go to the TSF’s website (sponsored by ODU) http://www.cs.odu.edu/~scifair/RegionalFair/ (or conduct an internet search for “Tidewater Science Fair”); and for the official ISEF forms, go to www.societyforscience.org/isef and look under DOCUMENTS. The updated forms are now available along with safety and display information. The ISEF’s forms and websites can also be accessed by using links through the TSF’s website. There is even a Power Point from the ISEF that might help you with the forms.

NEW CHANGES FOR 2012 - Although most changes are minor, please use all updated forms:  Risk Assessment Form (3) page 34 from ISEF The major change to the TSF application is the requirement for all projects to have this form. Please review the procedure carefully. Last year we were missing over 100 of these forms, mostly for glass or heat. If you have a project that does not seem to need this form (ex. a survey), write NA in the 5 required areas and have the Adult Sponsor complete and sign the boxed area. EVERY project must include this completed form.

 Human Informed Consent Form page 36 from ISEF If students are using humans, they will still need to have a completed ISEF form 4 - Human Participants Form. It should be completed by the Instructional Review Board (IRB) before the project is conducted. The IRB will decide if consent forms are needed (and that decision is noted on Form 4). The IRB should carefully follow the ISEF’s guidelines http://www.societyforscience.org/page.aspx?pid=317 before deciding if a consent form is needed or not. As usual, you may develop your own consent form if one is needed. The set of signed forms are to remain in a secure place within your school. Requests for these might occur at a later time. If used, only send in one blank form.

PLEASE check dates and signatures on all forms. For example, most dates are when the project is approved (not completed). Incomplete or incorrect forms will lead to a project not being accepted. Important Dates for the Designated Contact Person: . Monday, Jan. 23, 2012 – Student Database entered on the TSEF’s website You will (by early January) receive an email with instructions. You will be able to login at the TSEF’s

1 website and enter the student data at that time. Please use this year’s updated student database template. (Will be at the TSEF website by mid-Nov.) . Wed., Jan. 25, 2012 – completed student applications should be dropped off in person at New Horizons (Hampton) from 8 to noon OR at the Advanced Technology Center (Va. Beach) from 2:30 to 5 a. Hard (printed) copy of the Tidewater Science and Engineering Fair Student Database Please use this as a cover sheet for the set of applications. b. Student Applications (2 copies) PLEASE CHECK dates and signatures carefully. c. Hard copy of the SRC and/or IRB members, if appropriate

NOTE: The TSC, Inc. will not be responsible for any part(s) of the required submission materials not received by the deadlines. . Saturday, March 10, 2012 - the Tidewater Science Fair (TSF) will be held at Old Dominion University . Friday and Saturday, April 6 – 7, 2012 – Va. State Science and Engineering Fair at ODU Since the established dates are tight, you need to get started quickly with your interested students.

Just a few observations from last year’s event

1. Please help your students choose the correct category. Several judges felt that projects were misplaced. Some categories are more popular than others. Look at the TSEF’s website for a list of last year’s projects. 2. Please type the student data correctly. The titles, categories, students’ names, etc. will be printed in the program and on all certificates the way the data appears on the Student Database (due Monday, Jan. 23, 2012) that the designated contacts send to us. We generally do not have time to send you information, asking for clarification.

We will be updating the TSEF website (ODU – science fair) periodically. You can now find: Photos and results from 2011 Students and projects from 2011 Student Application for 2012 This letter (under the side menu for CONTACTS) Links to the websites for TSEF and ISEF Solicitation letter and other resources

Please take any opportunities to hand out copies of our solicitation letter since we are totally dependent upon donations from the community. Any suggestions are welcomed.

We are currently working with local groups to establish dates for upcoming TSEF and we are also working with our host, ODU, in arranging this event, Sat., March 10, 2012. Volunteers will be needed to help set up on Friday afternoon (March 9) as well as Saturday for the event. If you know of a group that might be interested, please let me know with contact information.

Thank you for your continued support of the Tidewater Science Fair.

2 If you are not serving as your school’s designated contact, please pass this to the current contact.

Dell Young, Director, Tidewater Science and Engineering Fair 2505 Indian Hill Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23455-1515 [email protected] http://cs.odu.edu/~scifair/RegionalFair/index.html