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CSRA REGIONAL FAIR AWARDS

Numerous awards are presented at the CSRA Regional Fair to recognize outstanding science projects. These awards are provided through the generous support of organizations sponsoring the CSRA Science & Engineering Fair and also by the International Science and Engineering Fair.

Winners for all categories in each Division will receive appropriate special recognition awards. Certificates of Participation are given to all Regional Fair exhibitors.

In the Senior Division, two individual Grand Award winners and a team project winner (optional) receive a $100 Savings Bond, and an all expense paid trip to the International Science Fair to compete with others from all over the world.

In the Junior Division, the Grand Award is the Freeman E. Self Memorial Award consisting of a $100 Savings Bond.

In the Intermediate Division, the Grand Award is the J. Guyton Thompson Memorial Award consisting of a $100 Savings Bond.

SPECIAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

In addition to the awards listed above, many cooperating corporations and organizations listed below provide Special Awards for various types of exhibits. The largest of these awards can be as much as $1500 in scholarships to deserving Junior or Senior students in high School. These scholarships are presented by the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association and are awarded for excellent mathematics, physics, electronics, computer science, or communications projects.

CSRA SCIENCE FORUM

On Thursday, March 23, 2000, the CSRA Science Forum will be held at the University of South Carolina in Aiken, South Carolina. The CSRA Science Forum is held concurrently with the CSRA Regional Science and Engineering Fair, and is open to students beginning in Grade 6, whether or not they have been invited to participate in the CSRA Science and Engineering Fair. Participation in the Science Forum does not entitle a student to participate in the Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

Each student volunteering to participate in the Forum will present a 10-minute talk describing their research project on a scientific or engineering topic. The topic may be a project exhibited at the Science Fair, but it does not have to be: Other research work performed by the student (i.e., through Invention Fairs, Engineering Fair, Scouts, 4-H, etc.) is acceptable. The talk is attended by a group of judges and an interested audience. The presentation is followed by a five minute period during which the student will be asked questions by the judges and members of the audience. The time limitation is strictly observed. The use of visual displays such as charts, slides, or overhead transparencies is strongly encouraged.

Through the Forum, the young scientist can effectively demonstrate his or her ability to verbally communicate ideas and research. The Forum recognizes achievement in science and engineering topics even in the absence of an exhibit. However, it is expected that many of the Forum participants may also be Science Fair exhibitors. Group projects may be presented during the Forum. If a student wishes, an abstract (three copies) containing additional details about the project may be submitted to the judges by March 1st. The recommended format for the abstract is outlined in Section 3.

Suitable topics for presentation at the Forum include student research on a scientific subject done either in the laboratory or the library. Judges give special preference to students who present evidence of original and independent thinking. Consideration is also given to the scientific content, organization, and clarity of the presentation.

For all participants in the CSRA Forum, the judging categories are the same as those listed for the Senior and Junior Divisions of the Science Fair. If there are a sufficient number of Forum participants, the groups will be further subdivided into smaller disciplines for the purpose of presenting papers and awards. The first, second and third place awards will be presented at the Regional Fair awards ceremony.

To enter the Science Forum, the teacher-supervisor should call the Forum Director listed in the Contacts Section no later than February 14, 2000 to request application forms and information. Deadline for return and acceptance of applications (and abstracts) is March 1st.

JUDGING

In particular, judges, evaluate 1) how well a student followed the scientific method; 2) detail and accuracy of research logbook; and 3) if tools/equipment were used in the best possible way. Overall, judges look for well thought-out research. They look at how significant your project is in its field, as well as how thorough you were. Did you leave something out? Did you start with four experiments and finish only three?

At the CSRA Regional Fair, only students in the Senior Division (9-12) are interviewed by the judges. Judges applaud those students who can speak freely and confidently about their research. They are not interested in memorized speeches - they simply want to TALK with you about your research to see if you have a good grasp of your project from start to finish. Besides asking the obvious questions, judges often ask questions outside the normal scope to test your insight into your research such as "What didn't you do?" or "What would be your next step?"

Judging Criteria

Creative Ability - 30 Points
Scientific Thought and Engineering Goals - 30 Points
Thoroughness - 15 Points
Skill - 15 Points
Clarity - 10 Points

JUDGING CRITERIA FOR SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS

This list of questions is used as a guide by the judges when judging a science and engineering fair project. These should be kept in mind when developing and during the completion of your project.

1. Scientific Thought - 30 points
   • Is the problem stated clearly and unambiguously?
   • Is the problem sufficiently limited so that it was possible to attack it?
   • Is the purpose/hypothesis stated on the display?
   • Is the procedure used in developing and obtaining the solution or results explained?
   • If controls were necessary, was there a recognition of need, and were they correctly used?
   • Is the method of data acquisition or analysis explained?
   • Are there adequate data to support the conclusions?
   • Are the limitations of the data recognized?
   • Does the student understand how the project ties in with related research?
   • Does the student have an idea of what further research is indicated?
   • Did the student cite scientific literature, or cite only popular literature and encyclopedias?
2. Creative Ability - 30 points
   • Did the student design or construct any equipment?
   • Does the project display originality and/or creative application of a common idea?
   • Is the data presented uniquely?
   • How creative is the display?
3. Thoroughness - 15 points
   • How many times was the investigation performed?
   • Does the display physically demonstrate the operation or results?
   • Have the variables affecting the outcome been identified?
   • Does the project carry out its purpose to completion within the scope of the original aims?
   • How much time was spent on the project?
4. Skill - 15 points
   • Is the demonstrated skill commensurate with the student's age and grade level?
   • Does the student have the skills required to do all the work necessary to obtain the data which supports the project?
   • Where was the project done? What assistance was obtained from parents, teachers, scientists, or engineers?
   • Was the project carried out under the supervision of an adult or largely the student's work?
   • Where did the equipment come from? Was it built completely by the student? Was it obtained on loan? Was it part of a laboratory in which the student worked?
5. Clarity/Neatness - 10 points
   • Is the data clearly presented?
   • Is the display well-organized and attractive?
   • Is the material readable and arranged in a logical manner?
   • Has the written material been expressed well by the student?