ISEF Student Checklist (1A) and Research Plan Guidelines

Vocabulary flashcards covering the required forms, research plan instructions, and subject-specific guidelines for ISEF science projects.

Student Checklist (1A)

A form required for ALL projects that captures basic student and project information, approval requirements, project continuation status, experimentation dates, and work sites.

Continuation/Research Progression Form (7)

A form used to explain how a project is new and different from previous years when a study is a continuation from a prior year.

Abstract

A document required for all projects that must be completed after experimentation.

Research Plan

A document written prior to experimentation detailing the rationale, research questions, methodology, risk assessment, and bibliography of proposed research.

Project Summary

A summary appended to the original research plan explaining changes made during research or detailed work completed, such as in engineering design or mathematics projects.

Rationale

A brief synopsis of the background supporting a research problem, explaining why the research is important and any applicable societal impacts.

Bibliography

A required list of major references from literature review included in the research plan; must include an animal care reference if using vertebrate animals.

Informed Consent Process

The protocol used to inform human participants about the study purpose, tasks, voluntary participation, and their right to stop at any time.

Vertebrate Animal Research

Research requiring justification for vertebrate use, assessment of alternatives, detailed procedures, housing/oversight, and animal disposition plan.

Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Research

Research requiring documentation of organism source, BSL assessment/determination, safety precautions, and disposal methods.

Hazardous Chemicals, Activities & Devices

A research category requiring risk assessment details, supervision, safety precautions, and disposal methods without requiring MSDS submission.