General Information



general commotion

Dates and location of Science Fair

When:
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Friday, March 26: 12:00 - 5:00 pm
Saturday, March 27: 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Saturday Award Ceremonies:
8:30 - 9:30 am (Special Awards)
5:00 - 6:30 pm (Grand Awards)

Where:
Jr. High: Hilton
Sr. High: Scheman -- 2nd Floor

Hilton Coliseum and Scheman Building (Iowa State Center)
Corner of Lincoln Way & University (formerly: Elwood Drive)
Ames, Iowa

Click Here for map
Hosted by: Iowa State University

State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa Disclaimer: The State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa projects and participants are required to follow the rules, guidelines, SRC procedure, and size limitations of the State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa which follows all rules, guidelines, SRC procedure, and size limitations of the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair. These rules, guidelines, SRC procedure, and size limitations serve to promote the ethical principles of scientific research; insure the safety of participants, officials and guests; and to maintain the fair as a properly maintained and organized science fair according to international standards. A breech of these rules, guidelines, SRC procedure, and size limitation will DISQUALIFY the project from PARTICIPATION.

Ethics Statement: Scientific fraud and misconduct are not condoned at any level of research or competition. Plagiarism, use or presentation of other researcher's work as one's own and fabrication or falsification of data will not be tolerated. Fraudulent projects will fail to qualify for competition in affiliated fairs or the ISEF.

STUDENT ENTRY PROCEDURES

Student Entry Forms to participate are to be completed ONLINE
Download:  Student On-line Registration Instructions

IN ADDITION
Students must e-mail (must be in pdf format), mail, fax or hand deliver the following items:

  • SSTFI Permission Form (also available when you register on-line)
  • ALL Required SRC Paperwork
  • Electricity Fees
  • Any Additional SRC Paperwork
    • (required only when working with certain projects)
  • Abstract
  • OPTIONAL–Seminar Research Paper (electronic ONLY -- please see seminar instructions)

All Paperwork DUE:
Postmarked: Friday, February 26, 2010*
Received (e-mail (pdf only), post, fax or hand delivery): Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Seminar Paperwork DUE:
Received via e-mail to aspence@iastate.edu by Midnight, Tuesday, March 2, 2010
NO ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DEADLINE!
NOTE:  ONLY complete RESEARCH PAPERS will be accepted for entry into the seminar competition!

YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT YOUR FORMS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

Please direct ALL SRC paperwork, other required forms, seminar papers, questions, comments, or concerns to:

Andrea Spencer, Fair Director
52653 160th Street
Gilbert, Iowa 50105
E-mail: aspence@iastate.edu
Phone: 515-460-5559
FAX: 515-294-4443

LATE REGISTRATIONS & FEES

*If you will be attending a local or conference science fair after March 3rd, that is used by the teacher/school district to determine which students will be attending the state science fair you may submit papers after this date with PRIOR APPROVAL FROM THE SSTFI Fair Director.  NEW as of 2009 -- there will be fees associated with late entries EVEN if you have PRIOR APPROVAL!  

Late Entries FINAL pricing for 2010:
March 3 - 8 = $10.00 entry fee per project
March 9 - 15 = $25.00 entry fee per project
After March 9 -- NAMES will no longer be added to Official Program
March 16 - 19 = $50.00 entry fee per project
NOTE:  Any entries received during March 16th - 19th risk not having their names in the program addendum AND the possibility that the project may be located wherever space is available (so may not be with projects of the same category).

NO ENTRIES ACCEPTED AFTER MARCH 19th  

Interesting statistics from the 2009 Science Fair:

  • 27% of the students are 4H members
  • 33% of the high school students are FFA members
  • The number of students participating in the SSTFI has increased more than 25% in the last three years
  • The number of schools participating in the SSTFI has increased more than 20% in the last three years
  • 2009 had 54 schools participate (middle schools, high schools, private schools and home school associations)
  • 2009 had 423 projects exhibited by 556 students (team projects account for the number discrepancy) an increase of 24 projects and 21 students from 2008
  • 58% of the exhibitors are female, 42% are male
  • Over $76,000 in scholarships, awards and prizes are awarded to students, a total of 316 awards were handed out at the award ceremony

The SSTFI is affiliated with the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair, the world's premier pre-collegiate science fair. The SSTFI is open to any student in the state of Iowa in grades six through twelve. During the event over 350 student research projects presented by more than 450 students are judged on the following criteria: creative ability, scientific thought or technology goals, research thoroughness, technical skill, clarity and dramatic value in the oral presentation.

Many students are also involved in the seminar event which is focused on quality of the written research, ability to communicate the research orally and the quality of a multi-media presentation. Science workshops are also presented throughout the two day event for both teachers and students.

Teacher workshops focus on opportunities provided by university, college and private science organizations to enhance student learning and student research in the classroom.

Student workshops focus on career opportunities in science and provide hands-on science learning provided by various college departments.

The event culminates with the Grand Award Ceremony where over $70,000 in scholarships and prizes provided by generous Iowa sponsors are awarded to Iowa students for their excellence in research. In addition trips to the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair are awarded to the top two individuals, the top team project and their teachers.

State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa Disclaimer: The State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa projects and participants are required to follow the rules, guidelines, SRC procedure, and size limitations of the State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa which follows all rules, guidelines, SRC procedure, and size limitations of the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair. These rules, guidelines, SRC procedure, and size limitations serve to promote the ethical principles of scientific research; insure the safety of participants, officials and guests; and to maintain the fair as a properly maintained and organized science fair according to international standards. A breech of these rules, guidelines, SRC procedure, and size limitation will DISQUALIFY the project from PARTICIPATION.

Ethics Statement: Scientific fraud and misconduct are not condoned at any level of research or competition. Plagiarism, use or presentation of other researcher's work as one's own and fabrication or falsification of data will not be tolerated. Fraudulent projects will fail to qualify for competition in affiliated fairs or the ISEF.