Science Fair
Rules and Forms
*** The Piedmont Science Fair is on hiatus
until a new coordinator and location can be found.
If you would like to participate in another fair,
please contact the regional director for your county.
All projects entered in the Piedmont Science Fair for Non-public Schools must adhere to the rules for the NC Science and Engineering Fair (NCSEF) as well as the ISEF rules and guidelines.
Please take the time to read the NCSEF General Rules. There are important changes for projects that involve culturing microorganisms.
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DIVISIONS: There are three divisions: Elementary (grades 3-5), Junior (grades 6-8), and Senior (grades 9-12).
INDIVIDUAL OR TEAM PROJECTS: Each project may be the work of an individual student or of a team of up to 3 students.
CATEGORIES: Junior & Senior Division projects must be entered in one of seven categories: (1) Biological Science A, (2) Biological Science B, (3) Earth/Environmental Science, (4) Chemistry, (5) Physics/Mathematics, (6) Technology, and (7) Engineering. For descriptions of these categories, see the following websites:
http://ncsef.org/index.php/rules/categories
https://student.societyforscience.org/intel-isef-categories-and-subcategories.
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FORMS: Before any experiment, all students must complete Forms 1, 1A (including the Research Plan), and 1B. Other forms may also be required before experimentation depending on the nature of the project. Projects that involve human subjects or vertebrate animals, hazardous chemicals or equipment, or micro-organisms will require additional forms.
After experimentation, the student will need to write an abstract, plus rewrite the Research Plan to reflect what was actually done for the project. If applicable, Form 1C and/or Form 7 will need to be completed.
An explanation of when the forms need to be completed, which forms need to completed, and who needs to complete the forms can be found at the NCSEF Forms page. http://ncsef.org/index.php/rules/forms
See the following links if your project has...
Hazardous chemicals http://ncsef.org/index.php/rules/src/hazardous-chemicals-activities-or-devices
Human Participants http://ncsef.org/index.php/rules/src/human-participants
Vertebrate Animals http://ncsef.org/index.php/rules/src/vertebrate-animals
Microorganisms http://ncsef.org/index.php/rules/src/microorganisms
Hazardous Biological Agents http://ncsef.org/index.php/rules/src/potentially-hazardous-biological-agents-phba
The Society for Science has created a Rules Wizard site to assist students in determining which forms are necessary. https://ruleswizard.societyforscience.org/
NOTE: Students who advance to the Regional fair will need to complete the Official Abstract Form.
Students advancing to the NC Region 5 Science Fair must reside in one of the counties that make up our region: Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rockingham, and Stokes. Students not living in these counties must check with the Regional Fair Director in their county regarding participation in their Regional fair.
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If you have any questions about the categories, rules, or forms, please contact us at piedmontsciencefair@gmail.com