TCRSF_Deadlines

The FIRST DEADLINE is for the student to have their research plan approved by an Internal Review Board, a Scientific Review Committee, or a research lab's safety and rules governing board (such as an University Laboratory Animal Care Committee (ULACC) or Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Institutional Bio-safety Committee (IBC) or Committee on Infectious Biohazards (CIB), etc. Check with your mentor and show your mentor your ISEF required forms to get the correct forms signed by the correct committee approval.) BEFORE the experiment may begin. Please see the following document from our SRC: TO ALL SCIENCE FAIR TEACHERS, ADVISORS AND STUDENTS FROM THE SRC (Scientific Review Committee) (printable PDF)

An explanation of the forms, and links to the forms themselves may be found on our Forms page. If in doubt about required forms, ASK TCRSF's SRC by emailing your entire research plan and your grade level in school (grade 6-12) to src@tcrsf.org. Absolute deadline for SRC submission to TCRSF for projects requiring review prior to the project that have not been reviewed by an IRB is January 13, 2012, for electronic submission, with hardcopy (printed paper) postmarked no later than January 13, 2012. We MUST receive at least an electronic copy of the full SRC paperwork by the January 13, 2012 deadline.

Deadlines and Important Dates Summary:

SRC Deadline for any projects that need SRC previewing before experimentation is January 13, 2012. (i.e. No IRB supervision on projects that involve Animals, Tissues, or Humans done outside of a research Lab.) Follow ISEF requirements/rules.

The research paper registration & submission deadline is Friday, February 03, 2012, by 6:00 p.m. CST.

The project registration deadline is Friday, February 03, 2012, by 10:00 p.m. CST (online).

Your registration is not complete, however, until all paperwork is in and entrance fees paid. If you have questions, please call or email! src@tcrsf.org

Mail paperwork and fees postmarked no later than Monday, February 6, 2012, to

TCRSF, 13570 Grove Drive #277, Maple Grove, MN 55311

The 2012 Fair will take place on a Friday, February 24 (set up & judging) and Saturday, February 25 (open to public & awards) at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Field House.

Here is a summary of deadlines and other important dates:

Scientific Review Committee Deadline	Deadline: January 13, 2012 - All projects that must be reviewed PRIOR to experimentation must have been approved by a school or university IRB with the dates on the forms 1 and 1B dated BEFORE the projected and actual start of the project (form 1A, number 6, and as indicated in the experimental lab notebook/data log book). Read all forms carefully. If required for the project, forms 2, 3, 4, 5A, 6A, & 6B must all be approved before experimentation has started. Note: this is the date the experiment is APPROVED as safe & compliant with all ISEF rules, not the date physically signed. Projects that involve animals, tissues, or humans done outside of a research lab must be submitted to our SRC. IF you do not have an IRB, and you need prior approval, email your name, school & grade in school, and your complete research plan (question or problem, hypothesis, detailed procedure, and bibliography including at least 5 major sources; if you are working with animals, at least one source must be relating to care of that animal) to src@tcrsf.org. Remember, if we are reviewing your paperwork, we may need a couple of weeks to review your plan as a committee before you can start your experimentation. If in doubt, ASK!!! We are here to help and advise! Asking early is much better!
Research Paper Competition Deadline	Students must now register their papers on-line. Electronic submission of both research papers and research paper online registration is due Friday, February 03, 2012, by 6:00 p.m. CST Research papers must comply with ISEF rules for safe research. TCRSF is now accepting both individual and team papers, as long as the "team" follows all ISEF definitions & qualifications of "team" (2 or 3 person, all contribute to the research & paper). IF the online registration & submission deadline is met, then all signed paperwork and registration fees must be postmarked NO LATER than Monday, February 06, 2012, at the absolute latest. Registration fee: $20 per student Follow the registration paper submission directions and size constraints, and mail a parent-signed Registration Confirmation and Media Release form plus registration fee for each student.
Research Paper Competition	TCRSF Competition papers are read & scored online by judges February 04-15, 2012. All research paper awards (as in previous years) will be presented at the awards program for TCRSF on Saturday, February 25, 2012, 10:00 am-12:30 pm. Winners in grades 9-12 advance to the JSHS (Junior Science & Humanities Symposium) North Central Region. Winners in grades 6-8 advance to present their papers at the Minnesota State Science & Engineering Fair. (If they win with both their projects and their papers, they will be able to compete in BOTH competitions at state.) Students in grades 9-12 may enter EITHER the TCRSF regional research paper competition OR the Open Competition (available to all grades 9-12 in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota), but NOT BOTH. Students in grades 6-8 may enter the TCRSF regional research paper competition. Open Competition Deadline is January 15, 2012 (limit to first 50 papers). Link to state at: http://jshs.mnmas.org/OpenRegistration/jshsOpen.asp http://www.jshs.mnmas.org/jshsHome.asp
Project Registration Deadline	Students must register their projects on-line. Register all students and projects on-line beginning November 21, 2011 and no later than Friday, February 03, 2012, by 10:00 p.m. CST. ALL project registrations must be submitted on-line before 10:00 p.m. CST on February 03, 2012. The fees and signed paperwork to be mailed in must be POSTMARKED no later than Monday, February 6, 2012. Early submission of paperwork is PREFERRED! Mail Required Forms, Registration Fees, Printed Abstract & parent/guardian signed media release form (print after online registration) to be postmarked no later than Monday, Feb.6, 2012 sent to: TCRSF, 13570 Grove Drive #277, Maple Grove, MN 55311 Registration fee: $20 per student (add $5 per project if electricity is requested, not refundable) Follow the project registration submission directions, and mail a parent-signed Registration Confirmation and Media Release form plus registration fee for each student, plus a copy (KEEP YOUR ORIGINALS WITH YOUR PROJECT!!!) of your complete SRC paperwork. ALL project entries must have a form 1, form 1A, complete research plan (minimum 5 major references), form 1B, and printed abstract (in addition to the abstract submitted electronically during registration), a parent-signed Registration Confirmation & Media Release form for EACH student, and additional forms as needed by special projects which use human subjects, vertebrate animals, bacteria, and potentially hazardous or controlled chemicals or procedures, and the complete fees paid.
The Twin Cities Regional Science Fair	February 24-25, 2012, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis NOTE: TCRSF requires that ALL TEAM members of a team project must all be present at judging on Friday night and that ALL ISEF winners must be at the Saturday Award Ceremony and the Sunday afternoon (Feb. 26) Twin Cities ISEF team meeting (location & time will be announced just after the award ceremony).
JSHS North Central Region	(Sat./Sun.) March 17 - 18, 2012, at the Doubletree by Hilton (formerly Sheraton Bloomington) 7800 Normandale Boulevard, Minneapolis, MN 55439 (NEW VENUE: (Tall white hotel off of 494/100)
Minnesota State Science & Engineering Fair	(Sun.-Tues.) March 18 - 20, 2012, at the Doubletree by Hilton (formerly Sheraton Bloomington) 7800 Normandale Boulevard, Minneapolis, MN 55439 (NEW VENUE: (Tall white hotel off of 494/100) ROOM RATE quoted to JSHS and State: 99.00 (up to 4 people per room) and FREE PARKING for everyone
ISWEEEP	May 02-07, 2012 Houston, Texas
JSHS: National Junior Science & Humanities Symposium	To Be Announced
International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)	May 13-18, 2012 – Pittsburgh May 12-17, 2013 – Phoenix May 11-16, 2014 – Los Angeles May 10-15, 2015 – Pittsburgh May 8-13, 2016 – Phoenix May 14-19, 2017– Los Angeles May 13-18, 2018 – Pittsburgh May 12-17, 2019 – Phoenix