LA County Science

& Engineering Fair

Largest and longest running Regional Science &
Engineering Fair in the West
 GOALS
• Opportunities to apply creativity
and critical thinking to solve
problems beyond the classroom.
• Publicly recognize achievements

• Opportunities for professional leaders to

network with students & educators
• Promote school-community
cooperation in developing
scientific potential and
communication skills
 What does a Regional or State
Science & Engineering Fair
offer students?
• Winners receive recognition for their work, and
gain the right to participate at state-level and
higher-level competitions.

• Simply being accepted to a

regional fair makes students a
better bet for college admission.
 Win Big Prizes
• The first step in competitions that lead up to the
international level, where prizes total over
$3,000,000 and the top winners take home
$50,000 scholarships.
• Besides cash prizes, students
receive recognition, scholarships,
educational opportunities such as
summer Earthwatch Expeditions,
and offers of employment and
internships.
Monetary Awards 2014 ($150 – $1,500, Internships,
Expeditions plus Category Cash Awards)
20 Million Minds
Professional Engineers in California Government
DreamWorks Earthwatch Institute
Northrup Grumman
NACE International, The Corrosion Society
Nuclear Society Amonix
Southern California Horticultural Society
Office of Naval Research
Torrance Marriott
DirectTV Dole
Southern California Paleontological Society
Greater Los Angeles Teachers Science Association
Intel Excellence in Computer Science
South Bay Business Environmental Coalition
UCLA Brain Research Institute
California Association of Professional Scientists (CAPS)
Non-Monetary Awards (Certificates, Medals, Pins,
Membership into Associations)
American Meteorological Society
American Psychological Association
ASM Materials Education Foundation
Association for Women Geoscientists
Intel ISEF
MU Alpha Theta
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Ricoh Americas Corporation
Society for In Vitro Biology
Society for Science & the Public (Intel ISEF)
Stockholm Junior Water Prize
U.S. Metric Association
U.S. Public Health Service
Yale Science and Engineering Association
 Higher Level Collaboration/
Presentation Skills
• Students practice higher-level communications
skills when fine-tuning their presentations to the
judges. (One of the NGSS SEPs)
• By participating in a more global event, it helps
develop a feeling of confidence and competence
among students, and fosters
a spirit of scientific inquiry.
LACSEF Students tend to choose
STEM Careers
• Some students find a project so interesting that
they continue to work on a different aspect of
the problem for several years,
becoming a skilled investigator as
time goes on.

• Occasionally, a project
becomes the focus for a
whole career.
– How cool is that?
Eric Zahn, Colorado Lagoon Restoration Manager, Poly grad,
2 years LACSEF science fair participant
 Who Can Enter?
• Awards and scholarships in 38
categories ranging from Biology to
Engineering to Zoology

• Open to Grade 6-12 students attending

LA County Public and Private Schools

• Must compete in a local school or

district science fair in order to qualify
for regional competition
 Team Projects
• No more than THREE people per team
– Why does this need to be a team
project?
– Every team member should have a
unique contribution to the project and
be able to justify their participation
 Regulations
• Students entries from grades 6 -12 only

• Research design based on

scientific methodology or
engineering principles

• IF the project involves tissues/cell lines,

human subjects, vertebrate animals,
hazardous chemicals or microbes, proper
paperwork must be submitted ONLINE and pre-
approved by the LA Science Fair BEFORE
beginning the research itself.
 Regulations
• Prescreened by the teacher and Science Fair
Coordinator at the school

• Adhere to all federal, state, and local laws

• Work of the entrant and work of

others is clearly distinguished

• Projects to remain during

designated times

• Display be self-supporting and not collapse

 Display Regulations
• Display fits within the prescribed space

• Uses a title descriptive of your study

– Subtitles may be used for clarification

• NO live animals or plants

• NO tissues or microorganisms on display

(use pictures or a model instead…)
• NO photos which show procedures
hurtful to vertebrate animals.
 Display Regulations
• Equipment that is small or expensive
should be brought to an interview and
removed promptly – you may leave a note
to tell judges of your equipment.
• ALL equipment is left
• Give attention to safety

Decision of the Science Fair

Committee is final
 Fair Categories
• 22 Junior Project categories
• 16 Senior Project categories
 Animal Biology
• Evolutionary origins
• Genetics

• Growth

• Morphology

• Studies of animals in
their natural habitat
 Animal Physiology
• Studies of major organ system functions
involving:
– Genetics - Sensory biology
– Immunology
– Neurobiology
– Pathology
– Reproduction
Behavioral/ Social Sciences
• Psychology SR Category
• Human or Animal Behavior/ ONLY
Attitudes
• Linguistics
• Ethnology, Societal Values
• Anthropology/Archeology
• Learned/conditioned Responses
• Chemical & Physical Stress
• Reading Problems
Behavioral/ Social Sci - Human
• Psychology JR Category
ONLY
• Human Behavior/Attitudes
• Linguistics
• Societal Values
• Ethnology
• Learned responses
• Chemical & Physical Stress
• Reading Problems
 Behavioral/ Social Sci –
Non-human
• Psychology JR Category
• Perception ONLY
• Animal Behavior
• Learned Responses
• Conditioned responses
• Group behavior
• Effects of chemicals
on behavior
Biochemistry & Molecular
Biology
• Molecular biology
• Molecular genetics
• Enzymes & Hormones
• Photosynthesis
• Blood chemistry
• Protein chemistry
• Food chemistry
 Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry
SR Category
• Inorganic Chemistry ONLY

• Organic Chemistry (other than biochemistry)

• Materials
• Pesticides
• Fuels, Plastics
• Metallurgy
• Soil Chemistry
 Chemistry (General)
• Physical Chemistry
JR Category
• Materials ONLY

• Organic Chemistry (other than biochemistry)

• Fuels
• Pesticides
• Plastics
• Metallurgy
• Soil Chemistry
 Chemistry-Applied
• Measures and JR Category
comparisons of ONLY
materials durability

• Flammability

• Effectiveness for intended

use
• Product testing
for real world
applications.
 Earth/Space Science
• Geology Geography
• Phys Oceanography Seismology
• Meteorology Speleology
• Atmospherics Geophysics
• Petroleum Geology
• Mineralogy
Topography
 Ecology
• Interaction of abiotic & biotic elements
within any environmental investigation
• Pollution sources
• Impact studies
• Resource access
• Environmental
alteration
Engineering Applications
• Project in which a potentially useful
product is created
 Engineering Research
• Engineering analysis

• Tests of efficacy of
commercial products

• Comparisons of
physical or biomedical
properties of
commercial products
Environmental Management
• Conservation of natural resources and
usage modalities
– Crop rotation
– Use of renewable energy sources
– Terrace farming
– Recycling
• Environmental
protections
 Materials Science
• Studies of materials JR Category
characteristics and their ONLY
static physical properties

– Thermal, electrical,
acoustic, optical,
electromagnetic,
etc.
Mathematics/Computer Sci
• Abstract Algebra Calculus
• Number Theory Geometry
• Statistics Logic
• Probability Complex Analysis
• Operations Research Information systems
• New developments in software or hardware
• Computer methodologies & systems
organizations
• Data structures, coding,
encryption & information theory
 Microbiology
• Bacteriology
• Studies of prokaryotes, Protists & Fungi
– Genetics, growth, reproduction, and
responses to chemical & physical
stress
 Pharmacology
• Effect of any drug or chemical on any
living animal or humans

• Studies can be at the

cellular or organismal
level
 Physics
• Experimental or theoretical studies of
the physical properties of matter in all
forms
SR Category
ONLY
– Computer
simulations
of physical
systems
 Physics - General
• Experimental or theoretical studies of
the physical properties of matter in all
forms (with the exception of fluids,
electricity, and magnetism) JR Category
ONLY
– Computer
simulations
of physical
systems
 Physics - Aerodynamics/
Hydrodynamics
• Studies of aerodynamics and
JR Category
propulsion of air, land, water, ONLY
and space vehicles; aero/
hydrodynamics of structures
and natural objects.

• Studies of the basic

physics of fluid flow.
 Physics -
Electricity & Magnetism
• Experimental or theoretical
JR Category
studies with electrical ONLY
circuits, electro-optics,
electromagnetic applications,
antennas and propagation,
and power production.
 Plant Biology
• Agriculture Plant Genetics
• Agronomy Mycology
• Horticulture
• Forestry
• Plant Taxonomy
• Phycology
• Hydroponics
 Plant Physiology
• Studies of the major plant organ system
functions involving:
– Genetics

– Immunology

– Pathology

– Reproduction
 Product Science
• Comparison and testing of JR Category
natural and man-made ONLY
products
 School Registration
1. Every LA County Middle School and
High school receives a notice for entry
to the LA County Science Fair in early
September.

2. Site Science Fair Coordinator and

and online school registration
opens mid Sept to end of January.

Every document will be posted and downloadable

at http://www.lascifair.org
 Notification
4. The Site Science Fair Coordinators will
be notified of approval/rejection of
submitted Student Research Plans.
– Check website for specific dates
Important Dates for Students
 Pre-
Approval
for
Projects
New Research Rules & Regulations
• Clearer and more detailed
regulations for project safety and procedures,
following current state and ISEF guidelines.
– Linked to government safety resources

– Linked to 5 sub-pages targeting projects involving

tissues/cell lines, human subjects,
vertebrate animals, hazardous materials and/or
microbes.

• FAQ pages specifically targeting

problem areas for approval
 Online Project
Certification Pre-Approval
• Only for students with potential
projects involving tissues/cell
lines, human subjects,
vertebrate animals,
hazardous materials
and/or microbes.
– Check website for instructions
http://www.lascifair.org/eligibility-categories/
project-pre-approval/#applying
Research Plan for Submission
• Objective/Problem/Hypothesis (include evidence of
search for alternative to vertebrate animals)
• Materials: (detailed)
• Bibliographic References (a minimum of 3
references, not exclusively Internet):
• Procedure/Research Techniques
– Provide a clear and detailed description/outline of
proposed procedure, including equipment to be
used, safety measures, and disposal of hazardous
chemicals.
• Risk Assessment: detail any possible risks
• 2-3 more pages of information, digitally verified by
return email from Supervising Adults
 Example:
Certification Complete before going
online to submit proposal

Online
Template
(both Jr/Sr)

Enter online
registration
webpage here
http://
app2.lascifair.org/
 Sr. Div.
Forms
(same as
Intel ISEF)
have to be
brought to
the fair
itself, with
signatures
 Student Online
Registration

6. Student online registration opens

in early January at:
http://www.lascifair.org/registration

7. Site Science Fair Coordinators must submit

online student verification information and
ADHERE TO ALL DEADLINES.
 General Fair Schedule
Pasadena Convention Center
• Registration & Set Up Day 1 2:00pm - 9:00pm
• Judging & Interactive Science: Day 2 9:00am - 5:00pm
– ALL students present for interviews
– Interactive Science Activities – students Day 2 10:00am- 3:00pm
• Interactive Science Activities Day 3 10:00am- 4:00pm
and Exhibit Hall open to the public

• Presentation of Awards Day 3 6:00pm - 9:00pm

• Students Remove Projects Day 3 4:30pm- 5:30pm

9:00pm-10:30pm

Check http://www.lascifair.org for specific dates, locations

and special events.
 The Day of the Fair
• Have good directions to the site
• Bring money for parking & food

• Arrive early

• Know where to
register
 The Day of the Fair
• Bring a book for waiting time
• Bring a camera to snap friends’ projects
 The Day of the Fair
• Set up quickly

• Relax, view other projects

• Be positive! You’ve done the very best

you could, given the
present circumstances.

• Don’t miss an
interview!
 Awards
• Students compete for first, second,
third and honorable mention place medals

• Special awards and scholarships

provided by the business
community.

• First, second and third place

winners qualify to compete in the
California State Science Fair.
 International
Science & Engineering Fair
• Top 2-7 student projects in the Senior Division
may be selected for international competition!

Courtesy of the Intel ISEF

Judging
 Judging
• Clothing: Neat, preferably business style–
it shows your respect for the judges
 Judging
• Introduce yourself to
each judge, shake
their hands

• Courtesy: If able,
stand when judges
come to your exhibit
and remain standing
until they leave
What Judges Expect from Students
• Enthusiasm! An interview can be fun!

• Pride in your projects and accomplishments

• Give as much information as

possible, BUT…

• Be able to explain your

projects clearly and concisely

• To be able answer questions

appropriate to your grade
level and age
The Judges Will Want To Know:
• How was your project topic selected?
• Did you receive help and if so, how much?
• What has been previously known about the
project’s general subject area?
• What would the you do if there
were additional time to spend on
the project?
• What have you learned through the
investigation?
• If this project was continued, what
would be the next step(s)?
 Judging
• Rehearse Your Presentation
– You will more composed if you are
prepared.

• Do your BEST!
– Be calm, confident
and professional.
– Know what you are
talking about and
you will do fine!!!
 Judging Standards-Science
• Creativity
– Originality, uniqueness of approach

• Scientific Thought
– Depth of study and effort in using scientific
procedures to solve a clearly defined problem

• Thoroughness
– Study is complete within the
scope of the problem.
 Judging Standards-Science
• Special skills
– Construction or equipment use;
computational and design skills

• Clarity
– Clearly explained orally and
through the display.
– Project notebook is well
organized, neat and accurate.
– Sources of ideas, data and
assistance are clearly identified
 Judging Standards-Math
• Math & Computer Creativity
– Concepts used ingeniously, new viewpoint or
interpretation of results
• Analytical Methods
– Depth of study and effort, clarity, refining
• Presentation
– Good visuals, clear explanations
• Background
– Appropriate literature search, special skills
evident, detailed notebook
 Judging Standards-Teams
• Team Aspects
– Why is this a team project?
– Do all understand objectives & outcome?
– Unique contributions of team members?
• Good Science Aspects
– Creativity, scientific thought, thoroughness,
skill, clarity
• Research Notebook
• Quantitative Analysis
• Qualitative Analysis
Exhibit Hall Open to the Public
Day 3, 10am- 4 pm
 Interactive Science Exhibits
Day 2, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (general public)
Day 3, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (general public)
Awards Ceremony
Day 3 6:00- 9:00pm
 Awards Ceremony
• ALL students should plan to be
present
• 1st, 2nd, 3rd place or Honorable mention
in each category
• Special Awards from professional
organizations
– or prizes from fair sponsors
• Decision of the judges is FINAL
Junior Sweepstake Winners!
 After Public Viewing
• Take down projects promptly

• All projects must be

removed by 10:30 pm

• No storage space:
uncollected projects
go in the trash
 Developed by
Anne Maben
Science Consultant, UCLA Science Project

Dean Gilbert
Former President, LA County Science Fair

© 2016 LA County Science & Engineering Fair

Photography by Anne F. Maben ©2015