All science projects MUST comply with the Science Exhibit Rules and the Science Display Guidelines.
Exhibit Size
Grades 9-12
- Select either standard size exhibit or ISEF size exhibit. (It is recommended that serious contenders for ISEF use the ISEF size exhibit):
- Standard size exhibit – Exhibit not to exceed 65 cm (25″) in width, 60 cm (2′) in depth, and 120 cm (4′) in height.
- ISEF size exhibit – Exhibit not to exceed 122 cm (4′) in width, 76 cm (30″) in depth, and 274 cm (108″) in height. Electricity is only available for Intel-ISEF finalists during the interviews.
Not Allowed At Exhibit:
Animals
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- Living organisms
- Taxidermy specimens or parts
- Preserved vertebrates or invertebrates
- Human/animal parts or body fluids
- Photos or other visual presentations depicting vertebrates in surgical techniques, dissections, necropsies, or other lab procedures
Plants
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- Living plants
- Plant materials (living, dead or preserved) in their raw, unprocessed or non-manufactured state.
Miscellaneous
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- Human or animal food
- Laboratory/household chemicals, including water
- Poisons, drugs, controlled substances, hazardous substances or devices (Examples: firearms, weapons, tobacco products and enriched radioactive materials.)
- Dry ice or other sublimating solids
- Sharp items (Example: knives)
- Flames or highly flammable materials
- Batteries with open-top cells
- Awards, medals, business cards, flags, endorsements, and/or other acknowledgements (graphic or written) unless the item is an integral part of the exhibit.
- Active Internet or e-mail connections as part of displaying or operating the exhibit.
- Glass or glass objects unless deemed by the Science Director to be an integral part of the exhibit.
- Any apparatus deemed unsafe by the Scientific Review Committee or the Science Director. (Example: lasers, large vacuum tubes, or empty tanks previously containing combustibles)
Allowed At Exhibit (with Restrictions):
- Soil or waste samples if permanently encased in a slab of acrylic
- Photos and/or other visual depictions if:
- Deemed non-offensive by the Science Director
- Credited sources (“Photograph taken by…” or “Images taken from…”) are attached. If all images are from a single source, one credit is sufficient.
- Signed consent forms for photographs of human subjects are included at the exhibit.
- Electrical devices or any apparatus with unshielded belts, pulleys, chains or moving parts with tension points MUST be INOPERABLE AND FOR DISPLAY ONLY.
- Nature collections must be sealed behind acrylic making the materials inaccessible to the public. (Plastic wrap is NOT good enough.)