TCRSF_Tips_for

Check out: Tips and Advice from ISEF Alumni (link to ISEF website article)

Students: You can maximize the return on your effort by entering both the project fair and the research paper competition with the same work! Also, check our LINKS page for additional competitions that you might be able to enter all with the same project!

You may want to consider holding the dates of the state science fair open in your schedule in case you are able to advance. Some students forget about state when they book spring break trips or major family vacations.

TIPS for the fair:

Take photos as you do your experiments. A good photo may help illustrate clearly what you did for the judges.
Students have a copy of your research paper at your exhibit during the fair. Be sure it has an excellent Bibliography to indicate the depth of your background research. You can create a paper using much of the information that you have on your display boards if you didn't write one earlier.
Students have a full set of your ISEF project forms available at your project for judges to see.
Make sure that you have your lab notebook available for judges to see at your display. Do not re-copy or type your notebook. It is expected that this is your original notes and if it is "decorated" with coffee stains or a smear of dirt from field work, then that is totally acceptable. (Read up on how to keep an excellent lab notebook. See our page.)
It is optional, but many students like to print their abstracts with their project title and name as handouts for the judges. Some write their project number on each so the judges can find them even by project number.

What Happens to Forms After the Fair?

Whether or not you are advancing to state or international competition, you must collect your forms (Form 1, 1A, 1B and so on) that you sent to TCRSF. Make sure you or your sponsor pick up your forms -- the forms will not be saved for you and you likely will need them again. If you are an alternate for state competition that is elevated to presenter status, you must send a copy of your forms to the Minnesota Academy of Science (MAS) after you are invited by TCRSF to do so. SEND A COPY AND KEEP THE ORIGINALS! TCRSF is not responsible for forms or other materials left at the fair. Even if you do not advance to the next level, you should pick up your forms and file them if you are in grades 6-11 in case you do a project in a later year.

Save and file your original forms after the fair because they may be required if you do a project in a similar field of science the following year (even if you do not intend the project to be a continuation, and even if it is not a continuation, but it is in a similar field of study/science or if you used information that you learned in doing a previous project)! For team members, each team member should keep their own copy of the paperwork. Some students who have done a team project have needed their team paperwork even when doing an individual project in a similar field of study in a subsequent year. ISEF wants to see evidence of continuing work, even if your work is totally new and different than in the previous year(s).

Notice About Shoes

You must wear rubber-soled, flat shoes at the University Field House. The building has an athletic floor surface that can be damaged by high heels or non-rubber soles. If your shoes don't comply with this requirement, you will be asked to remove your shoes.