The International Rules for Pre-college Science Research: Guidelines for Science and Engineering Fairs is published annually to support students doing independent research safely. They are the official rules of the ISEF and students competing at the Twin Cities Regional Science Fairs and the Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair. The rules book and forms are available under the "Fair" menu item, "ISEF Forms" sub item. See also the Ethics Policy for these competitions below.
The purpose of these rules is to:
- protect the rights and welfare of the student researcher
- protect the rights and welfare of the human participant
- ensure humane handling of any vertebrate animals studied
- ensure adherence to federal regulations
- ensure use of safe laboratory practices
- protect the environment
- determine eligibility for competition
For rules questions, please contact src@tcrsf.net. Please include the student’s name, grade in school, and if possible, the student’s complete research plan.
The rules may also be downloaded directly from Society for Science at https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/international-rules/
Additional Resources are available at the bottom of the following page: https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/international-rules/rules-for-all-projects/
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the ISEF Rules is available from Society for Science at https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/international-rules/faq/
The most common error in completing ISEF forms is understanding the date requirements. The ISEF date requirements can be found at https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/overview-of-forms-and-dates/
2023ResearchPlanInstructions.pdf Type the plan into a Word document and save as PDF or use TCRSF's Research Plan Generator.
- If you are not using humans (including simple surveys), vertebrate animals, bacteria, viruses, molds, slime molds, yeast, tissues, potentially hazardous chemicals or procedures, you may use: ResearchPlanGenerator2023nospecialcases.docx
- If you may be using one or more of the special cases, please use: ResearchPlanGenerator2023.docx but delete out the sections that do not apply - such as if you are using vertebrates, you do not need the humans section or PHBAs (potentially hazardous biological agents).
Student Handbook
Eligibility Information Any individual student or team of two to three students in grades 6-12, currently attending any school (including home school) in Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington, Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Sherburne, and Wright counties can participate.
- A student may participate in and enter only one science project per year.
- A student may participate in and enter only one research paper per year.
- The science project and the research paper may be on the exact same work, or they may be on different work.
- Team projects and team papers must include all team members in the registration, even if not all attend the fair.
- All team project members must be in the same division, grades 6-8 or grades 9-12.
- All team research paper members must be in the same division, grades 6-8 or grades 9-12.
- All research papers must comply with ISEF and JSHS rules & guidelines.
Ethics Policy Scientific fraud and misconduct are not condoned at any level of research or competition. This includes 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, TCRSF and ISEF. Society for Science & the Public reserves the right to revoke recognition of a project subsequently found to have been fraudulent.
About Us
TCRSF covers nine counties of Minnesota! Students who attend school (public, private, charter, home school) in Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington, Dakota, Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Sherburne, and Wright Counties who are in grades 6-12 are invited to participate. There are three ways for a student to participate in the Twin Cities Regional Science Fairs:
- Participate in a school science fair and be chosen to advance to the regional fair, or
- Participate in a Minnesota Academy of Science-Affiliated Science Club, or
- Obtain teacher or the adult project mentor approval and recommendation to compete at the regional level. You may also contact us directly at director@tcrsf.net if you have questions about entering the regional fair directly. If you contact us directly, please provide your name, grade level (grade 6-12) and your research plan, or a short description of your project or experiment.
Student participants in the science fair can compete in the project competition (grades 6-12) and are also encouraged to participate in the research paper competition (grades 6-12) using the same experimental work.
The Twin Cities Regional Science Fairs sends winning students from grades 6-12 on to the Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair, a program of the Minnesota Academy of Science, as well as to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) (grades 9-12 only) and Broadcom MASTERS™ Competition (grades 6-8 only). If you have questions about how to participate in the science fair, please contact the Fair Director at director@tcrsf.net.
The first Twin Cities Regional Science Fair was held in 1939.
Public Display
The Project Open House will be Sunday, March 3, 2024 10:00 am to 11:50 am at the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
The awards program will follow at 12:00 PM. Immediately after the awards program, students will remove their exhibit displays and throw the plastic table cover and all garbage! We must leave the coliseum totally clean to be able to host our science fairs in this location.
Fair Showcase: The virtual elements of both research papers and science projects may be viewed online only if you are logged in to tcrsf.zfairs.com. When logged in, choose Fair and pull down to Showcase. Because the projects are in-person this year, it is best to visit the Open House in person at the coliseum on Sunday, March 3, 2024 10:00 am to 11:50 am.
What to Expect During the Fair
Calendar of Events
Friday, March 1, 2024 - set up and competition day at Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum, Minnesota State Fairgrounds
8 am to 1 pm Volunteers ONLY
1:00 pm Doors to the Show Floor are open. Students, Judges, and Volunteers please check in at your respective registration tables to receive your name badge and information. All registration tables are inside the coliseum show floor this year - towards the Liggett end (large garage door).
1:00 - 3:15 pm Students check in, set up exhibit in assigned spot, and must clear Display and Safety by 3:30 pm.
Most judges arrive by 3:30 pm.
4:00 pm until MS or HS division is released over intercom by TCRSF official. JUDGING. No teachers, no parents, no friends on the show floor during judging. (Teachers, parents, and others may wait in the concourse hall or in the seats above the show floor.)
Saturday, March 2, 2024 - ONLY Volunteers and Awards team (NO students)
Sunday, March 3, 2024 - Open to the Public & Awards & Clean up
9:00 am - Doors to Show Floor are open. Students may pick up ribbon at their leisure between 9 am-noon.
10:00 am - 11:50 am - Open to the Public (see exhibits, talk with students)
12:00 pm - AWARDS program - ALL students are eligible for special awards no matter what ribbon color that they have received!
IMMEDIATELY following the Awards - ALL HELP Clean up, tear down, and pack out the entire fair!
Monday, March 4, 2024 - 6- 8 PM meeting for all ISEF Finalists and Alternates and any adults interested in joining team Twin Cities to ISEF in May in Los Angeles, CA. Location to be announced at end of awards on Sunday. (at a Hennepin County library meeting room to be announced). This is REQUIRED for anyone who is interested in being in our group to ISEF 2024. ISEF competition is only in-person this year.
Research Papers
The research paper competition will be held online where judges will read and score the students' research papers. Comments by judges will be available for students a few days after the judging is completed. The results will be announced during the Awards Ceremony. Students will receive judge comments via email on February 26.
Project Competition
Project Competition 2024 is March 1 and March 3 at the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
Animal Sciences
This category includes all aspects of animals and animal life, animal life cycles, and animal interactions with one another or with their environment. Examples of investigations included in this category would involve the study of the structure, physiology, development, and classification of animals, animal ecology, animal husbandry, entomology, ichthyology, ornithology, and herpetology, as well as the study of animals at the cellular and molecular level which would include cytology, histology, and cellular physiology.
Behavioral and Social Sciences
The study of cognitions (thought processes), emotions, behavior, and/or learning of humans and animals. BEHA may include the study of individuals, groups and/or cultures through observational and experimental methods.
Biochemistry
The study of the chemical basis of processes occurring in living organisms, including the processes by which these substances enter into, or are formed in, the organisms and react with each other and the environment.
Biomedical and Health Sciences
This category focuses on studies specifically designed to address issues of human health and disease. It includes studies on the diagnosis, treatment, prevention or epidemiology of disease and other damage to the human body or mental systems. Includes studies of normal functioning and may investigate internal as well as external factors such as feedback mechanisms, stress or environmental impact on human health and disease.
Biomedical Engineering
Projects that aim to improve human health and longevity by translating novel discoveries in the biomedical sciences into effective activities and tools for clinical and public health use. Bi-directional in concept, projects can be those developed through basic research moving toward clinical testing (bench-to-bedside) or projects that provide feedback about the applications of new treatments and how they can be improved (bedside-to-bench).
Cellular and Molecular Biology
This is an interdisciplinary field that studies the structure, function, intracellular pathways, and formation of cells. Studies involve understanding life and cellular processes specifically at the molecular level
Chemistry
Studies exploring the science of the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter not involving biochemical systems.
Computational Biology and Bioinformatics
Studies that primarily focus on the discipline and techniques of computer science and mathematics as they relate to biological systems. This includes the development and application of data-analytical and theoretical methods, mathematical modeling and computational simulation techniques to the study of biological, behavior, and social systems.
Earth and Environmental Sciences
Studies of the environment and its effect on organisms/systems, including investigations of biological processes such as growth and life span, as well as studies of Earth systems and their evolution.
Embedded Systems
Studies involving electrical systems in which information is conveyed via signals and waveforms for purposes of enhancing communications, control and/or sensing.
Energy: Sustainable Materials and Design
Studies/processes involving the production and/or storage of energy.
Engineering Technology: Statics and Dynamics
Studies that focus on the science and engineering that involve movement or structure. The movement will be a result of forces; the structure will be stable due to the equilibrium of forces.
Environmental Engineering
Studies that engineer or develop processes and infrastructure to solve environmental problems in the supply of water, the disposal of waste, or the control of pollution.
Materials Science
The study of the integration of various materials forms in systems, devices, and components that rely on their unique and specific properties. It involves their synthesis and processing in the form of nanoparticles, nanofibers, and nanolayered structures, to coatings and laminates, to bulk monolithic, single-/poly-crystalline, glassy, soft/hard solid, composite, and cellular structures. It also involves measurements of various properties and characterization of the structure across length scales, in addition to multi-scale modeling and computations for process-structure and structure-property correlations.
Mathematics
The study of the measurement, properties, and relationships of quantities and sets, using numbers and symbols. The deductive study of numbers, geometry, and various abstract constructs, or structures.
Microbiology
The study of micro-organisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, prokaryotes, and simple eukaryotes as well as antimicrobial and antibiotic substances.
Paper: Biomedical Sciences; Cell / Molecular Biology
Biomedical medicine, Microbiology, Molecular/cellular, Genetics, Immunology, Pharmacology, Virology
Paper: Chemistry, including Physical Chemistry, Materials Science, Alternative Fuels, Geochemistry
Physical Chemistry, Materials, Alternative Fuels, Organic Chemistry (possibly in life science), Chemical Engineering, Earth Science--Geochemistry, Energy--Alternative Fuels, Material Science
Paper: Engineering and Technology
Aerospace, Aerodynamics, Electrical Engineering, Energy - Solar, Vehicle Development, Devices, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics
Paper: Environmental Science
Environmental Science/Engineering: Bioremediation, Ecosystems management, Environmental engineering, Land Resource Management, Pollution, Toxicity; Impact upon ecosystem
Paper: Life and Behavioral Sciences
Developmental Biology, Plant Physiology, Population Genetics, General Biochemistry, Microbiology, Behavioral Sciences
Paper: Math and Computer Science, Computer Engineering
Probability and Statistics, Math, Computer Science - Algorithms, Databases, Networking, Computer Engineering
Paper: Medicine & Health
Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Epidemiology, Immunology, Neuroscience, Physiology, Pathology
Paper: Physical sciences, including Physics, Astronomy, Internet of Things
Astronomy, Physics-theoretical, Physics-Solid state, Acoustics, Optics, Thermodynamics, Particle physics, Quantum physics, Nuclear; Internet of things--network of physical objects or "things" embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity.
Physics and Astronomy
Physics is the science of matter and energy and of interactions between the two. Astronomy is the study of anything in the universe beyond the Earth.
Plant Sciences
Studies of plants and how they live, including structure, physiology, development, and classification. Includes plant cultivation, development, ecology, genetics and plant breeding, pathology, physiology, systematics and evolution.
Robotics and Intelligent Machines
Studies in which the use of machine intelligence is paramount to reducing the reliance on human intervention. For studies designed for artistic purpose please consider Technology Enahances the Arts (TECA).
Systems Software
The study or development of software, information processes or methodologies to demonstrate, analyze, or control a process/solution. For studies designed for artistic purpose please consider Technology Enhances the Arts (TECA).
Technology Enhances the Arts
The use of technology to ignite new concepts, visualization tools and/or media to enhance our enjoyment of the arts.
Translational Medical Science
Projects that aim to improve human health and longevity by translating novel discoveries in the biomedical sciences into effective activities and tools for clinical and public health use. Bi-directional in concept, projects can be those developed through basic research moving toward clinical testing (bench-to-bedside) or projects that provide feedback about the applications of new treatments and how they can be improved (bedside-to-bench).
Judge Criteria
We have two kinds of judges.
- Ribbon Judges: All projects will have judges that are scoring their project according to our scoring rubric which is available on our website (Judging Criteria). This is the same rubric as is used at state science fair.
- Special Awards Judges: There are special awards judges who are selecting projects based on the criteria for the award. Any project many win a special award regardless of their ribbon score, if they happen to best match the award criteria. These special awards come from 3 areas:
- Regional affiliated awards from our affiliations with international
- Sponsor awards which are in honor of the annual financial donations that pay for 80% of the costs of running Twin Cities Regional Science Fairs (registration fees cover only about 17% of our annual budget). Remember, we are an ALL-volunteer 501c3 educational nonprofit, so our sponsors are donating directly into the costs of this youth program!
- Awards from Individuals/Groups.
We ask that our High School judges have a minimum of a science or engineering bachelor's degree, or six years of science/engineering work experience. We prefer that our middle school judges meet the same criteria, but we will permit upper division undergraduates to judge 6th and 7th grade.
No parents or teachers may judge in the division (middle school or high school) in which they have students competing. If you have students in both, please consider volunteering for another position. We still need your help and there are many jobs that you could do!
Judge score sheets (grading rubrics) and categories are provided below for your information. They represent the rubrics used in the judging. Students: review these score sheets in advance to know the grading standard!
Project Judging Rubric
Research Paper Rubric