Image of a horseshoe magnet
Display & Safety
 Image of a microscope
Home
Who is Eligible?
Divisions
Registration
Getting Started
Forms
Display & Safety
Judging
Awards & Prizes
2004 Pictures
2005 Pictures
2006 Pictures
2007 Pictures
2008 Pictures
2009 Pictures
2010 Pictures
2011 Pictures
2012 Pictures
2013 Pictures
Contact Us
  
Click HERE for the official, complete display and safety manual.
  1. All equipment, including a grounded extention cord, and other necessary material must be furnished by the student when setting up his/her exhibit. The Science Fair will provide exhibit tables and electricity, only.
  2. All exhibits must be self supporting and must not exceed the following size requirements:
    30 inches (76 cm) deep (front to back).
    48 inches (122 cm) wide and 108 inches (274 cm) high from floor to the top of the exhibit.
    Any exhibit exceeding these dimensions will be disqualified.
  3. All research requiring a federal and/or state permit must have the permit prior to the start of research. A copy of the permit MUST be attached to the project.
  4. All controlled substances must be used according to existing local, state and federal laws. Check with your local pharmacist or, for more information, write the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, 211 E. 7th St., Suite 1121, Austin, TX 78701.
  5. All research involving the production of gasohol must conform to the federal regulations of the Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Spirits A Unit, 8002 Federal Office Bldg., 550 Main, Cincinnati, OH, 45202, 1-800-398-2282 or (513) 684-3334.
  6. Students under 21 years of age are prohibited by federal and most state laws from purchasing and or handling smokeless powder or black powder. For further regulations contact the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
  7. The practice of medicine by students is illegal and will not be permitted without documentation of direct, complete and involved supervision of a licensed professional.
  8. All research involving animals must be conducted with respect for life and an appreciation of the humane considerations that must be afforded all animals.
  9. Teachers and students must indicate a familiarity and understanding of all rules involving vertebrate animals, human subjects, recombinant DNA, tissues, pathogenic agents and controlled substances prior to the start of research.
  10. All research involving human subjects should be reviewed by teachers prior to the investigation to determine that there is no risk of harm to the subjects, either physically or psychologically, and that privacy is ensured. All research involving Human Subjects must be approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB).
  11. All research involving human subjects must comply with federal regulations. This information should be available through your congressman or, for more information, write to the Office of Protection from Research Risks, National Institutes of Health, Building 31, Room 4B-09, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892 or call (301) 496-7005
  12. All research involving recombinant DNA technology MUST be carried out in accordance with the revised NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules. For information, write to the Office of Recombinant DNA Activities, National Institutes of Health, Building 31, Room 3B-10, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892 or call (301) 496-6051.
  13. The use of firearms in a research project requires a Designated Supervisor.
  14. Display of photographs or other visual images, including videotapes, of human subjects from a study is permitted as long as the student researcher obtains informed consent from the subject(s).
  15. UNACCEPTABLE FOR DISPLAY
    • ANYTHING THAT COULD BE HAZARDOUS AS A PUBLIC DISPLAY IS PROHIBITED.
    • Awards, medals, business cards, flags, etc. may not be displayed.
    • Photographs or other visual presentations depicting vertebrate animals in other-than-normal conditions (i.e. surgical techniques, dissection, necropsies or other lab techniques).
    • Living organisms (e.g. plants, animals, microbes).
    • Plant materials (living, dead or preserved).
    • All chemicals, including containers filled with water for display. Empty chemical containers and nonfunctional apparatus are also discouraged.
    • Preserved vertebrate or invertebrate animals (includes embryos).
    • Human or animal parts (except teeth, hair, nails and dried animal bones, histological dry mount sections and completely sealed wet mount liquid tissue slides).
    • Human blood, human blood products or other body fluids.
    • Live, disease-causing organisms which are pathogenic to human or other live vertebrates.
    • Microbial cultures and fungi, live or dead, including unknown specimens.
    • Food, either human or animal.
    • Poisons, drugs, controlled substances, hazardous substances or devices (For example, firearms, weapons, ammunition and reloading devices).
    • Dry ice or other sublimating solids.
    • Sharp items (for example, syringes, pipettes, needles and knives).
    • Any flames, open or concealed.
    • Highly flammable display materials.
    • Dangerous chemicals, including caustics and acids.
    • Highly combustible solids, fluids, or gases. Inert substitutes MUST be used if such materials are required for display.
    • Tanks which have contained combustible gases, including butane and propane, unless they have been purged with carbon dioxide.
    • Liquid and solid gases.
    • Batteries with open top cells.
    • Taxidermy specimens or parts.
    • Personal photographs, accomplishments, acknowledgments, address, phone and fax numbers are not permitted.
  16. ACCEPTABLE FOR DISPLAY ONLY
    (Do not operate any of these.)
    • PROPER ATTENTION TO SAFETY IS EXPECTED OF ALL SCIENCE FAIR PARTICIPANTS.
    • Projects with unshielded belts, pulleys, chains and moving parts with tension or pinch points.
    • Class III and IV lasers.
    • Any device requiring voltage over 110 volts.
  17. ACCEPTABLE FOR DISPLAY AND OPERATION (With Restrictions)
    • Soil, sand or waste samples and materials if permanently sealed in acrylic or other similar material.
    • Dried plant materials if permanently sealed in acrylic or other similar material.
    • Any exhibit producing temperatures that will cause burns or exceeds 100 degrees Celsius (212 F) MUST be adequately insulated from its surroundings.
    • Empty tanks which have contained combustible liquids or gases, including butane and propane, must be certified as having been purged with carbon dioxide.
    • High voltage equipment MUST be shielded with a grounded metal box or cage to prevent accidental contact. Wiring, switches and metal parts must have adequate insulation and overload safety features and must be inaccessible to others.
    • Large vacuum tubes or dangerous ray-generating devices MUST be properly shielded.
    • Only Class I and Class II lasers may be displayed and operated at the Science Fair. If a Class II laser is operated, it must be done under the following restrictions:
      1. A sign MUST be displayed reading "LASER RADIATION - DO NOT STARE INTO BEAM."
      2. The Class II laser must have a protective housing or barricade which, when in place, prevents human access to the beam during operation.
      3. The power source to the Class II laser should be disconnected when the laser is not being operated. Class III or IV lasers may be displayed BUT NOT OPERATED AT ANY TIME.
      4. The Class II laser must be student operated.
    • Electric circuits for 110-volt AC MUST have an Underwriters Laboratories-approved cord of proper load-carrying capacity, that is at least 15 feet long. If the load requires a separate ground, a three prong conductor power cord is required.
    • All wiring MUST be properly insulated. Nails, tacks or uninsulated staples MUST NOT be used to fasten wiring.
    • Bare wire and exposed knife switches may be used only on circuits of 12 volts or less: otherwise, standard enclosed switches are required.
    • Electrical connections in 110-volt circuits MUST be soldered or fixed under approved connectors and connecting wires properly insulated. Voltage greater than 110 volts is not permitted.
    • Pressurized tanks that contain noncombustibles may be allowable if secured.
    • Safety precautions for substancescan be found in the American Chemical Society (1155 16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036) booklet "Safety in the High School."