Salt Lake Valley Science and Engineering Fair

Scientific Review Committee

The SLVSEF Scientific Review Committee (SRC) is a group of adults knowledgeable about regulations concerning experimentation.

Beginning in the fall of 2009, the SRC will begin evaluating all senior division projects before experimentation may begin. The SLVSEF SRC will also review the documentation for these projects shortly before competition to ensure that students have followed all applicable rules and that the project is eligible to compete. Senior division projects using regulated research institutions or involving human subjects, vertebrate animals, potentially hazardous biological agents, and DEA-controlled substances will require additional forms and evaluation.

Approval Before Experimentation

The SLVSEF SRC will pay special attention to the following items:
Evidence of proper supervision
Use of accepted research techniques
Completed forms, signatures and dates
Alternatives to animal use
Humane treatment of animals
Compliance with rules and laws governing proper care and housing of animals
Appropriate use of recombinant DNA, pathogenic organisms, controlled substances, tissues and hazardous substances and devices
Adequate documentation of the substantial expansion of continuing projects

After the forms have been reviewed, the SRC will deliberate, resulting in one of the following decisions for ALL senior division projects:

Approval:
If a project is approved, the SRC chairperson signs the appropriate box on the Approval Form (1B). The approved forms will be returned to students as soon as possible, so that they can begin experimentation.

Disapproval:
The SRC Chairperson will provide the student and sponsor with a list of reasons for disapproval and suggestions for changes needed for approval. If suitable corrections are made, the revised project forms should be re-reviewed. If the project is approved, the student and sponsor will be notified immediately so that the student can begin experimentation.

Projects that are not allowed:
Some projects are unethical or should not be done by pre-college students. Examples would be projects designed to kill vertebrate animals, toxicity studies using vertebrate animals, improper treatment of animals, proposed use of pathogens at home, violations in the use of controlled substances, and lack of appropriate supervision. Students may not grow any type of bacteria at home.

The SRC will notify the student and sponsor promptly and provide them with a complete list of reasons the project may not be done.

SRC Review Shortly Before Competition

The SLVSEF SRC is required to reconvene before the fair to review and approve all projects with supporting documentation.

The SLVSEF members will carefully review all documentation, particularly for research that required prior review and approval. If the project documentation does not attest to this prior review and approval, the project is in violation of the International Rules. Such projects should only be approved if an acceptable written explanation is provided.