Seminars

Eligibility:

All entered SSTFI exhibitors meeting Scientific Review Committee (SRC) and Rule & Safety Committee approval are eligible to participate in seminar competition in one of six divisions.

Seminar Divisions:

Junior Individual

To compete in this division a student must currently be enrolled in grade 6 and be displaying an individual science fair exhibit at the current year SSTFI.

Junior Team

To compete in this division a student must currently be enrolled in grade 6 and be displaying a team science fair exhibit at the current year SSTFI.

Intermediate Individual

To compete in this division a student must currently be enrolled in grades 7 or 8 and be displaying an individual science fair exhibit at the current year SSTFI.

Intermediate Team

To compete in this division a student must currently be enrolled in grades 7 or 8 and be displaying a team science fair exhibit at the current year SSTFI.

Senior Individual

To compete in this division a student must currently be enrolled in grades 9-12 and be displaying an individual science fair exhibit at the current year SSTFI.

Senior Team

To compete in this division a student must currently be enrolled in grades 9-12 and be displaying a team science fair exhibit at the current year SSTFI.

Project Class:

Individual divisions may enter in one of two classes:
  • Biological Science
  • Physical Science
Team divisions may enter in one class:
  • Team

Seminar Entry Procedures:

To enter the student(s) must submit:
  • SSTFI Seminar Entry Form &
  • Research paper that clearly states:
  • Research Problem
  • Procedure or Experimental Design
  • Research Data
  • Research Summary & Conclusion

ONLY COMPLETE PAPERS WILL BE CONSIDERED

Continuing Project Rule:

Students who are presenting a project that is a continuation of a project exhibited last year may present a paper based on additional research conducted this year. The focus of the presentation must be the result of the additional research that has been conducted.

Research Paper Submission Guidelines:

Use 8.5”x11” high quality white paper.

Papers should be typed.

Attach the SSTFI Seminar Entry Form to the front of the Research Paper.

Preferred method of shipment (in order of preference)
  • 1. Stapled
  • 2. Binder Clipped
  • 3. Binder of suitable size (NOT too large) Note: Binders/notebooks will not be returned.

It is not necessary to use fancy or expensive binding materials.

Presentation Selection (Based on Research Paper Review)

The best eight papers in each class of each division will be selected for presentation.

There will be up to 72 research papers selected for presentation.
  • (8) Junior Individual Biological
  • (8) Junior Individual Physical
  • (8) Junior Team
  • (8) Intermediate Individual Biological
  • (8) Intermediate Individual Physical
  • (8) Intermediate Team
  • (8) Senior Individual Biological
  • (8) Senior Individual Physical
  • (8) Senior Team

These students will be notified by the SSTFI Seminar Chairperson either by:

Telephone call (in following order until someone is notified)
  • 1. School
  • 2. Teacher Home
  • 3. Student Home
  • 4. E-mail notification

E-mail addresses and home phone numbers are encouraged to speed the notification process.

The research paper will be evaluated by a panel of judges on the basis of scientific merit.

Presentation Submission:

On Friday of the fair, students must submit their electronic presentations at the registration table by 10:00 AM.
PLEASE LABEL – include name, school, seminar division & classification and exhibit. ONLY ONE presentation per CD or Flash Drive (unless all presentations are in the same division – in other words same room).

Presentations will be loaded onto computers in each presentation room before the seminar event. Students will not be allowed to utilize personal laptops or LCD projectors during their presentation. Students may bring a personal laptop to practice with before their scheduled presentation.

Electronic Submission Format:
  • Burned to a CD
  • Saved on a Flash Drive

NOTE: ONLY ONE presentation per CD or Flash Drive (unless all presentations are in the same division – in other words, in the same room, i.e. – Junior Individual Biological)

The Presentation:

Presentation Format:
  • Each student will have a scheduled time
  • Ten minutes will be allowed for the presentation
  • Five minutes for questions.
  • Only judges will be allowed to ask questions of the presenter.
  • Use of audio-visual aids is encouraged.
  • Room Set-Up
  • Each room will be equipped with:
  • Screen
  • Laptop Computer
  • LCD Projector

The presenter must provide any other equipment such as easels, slide projectors, overhead projectors, etc.

The research paper will be evaluated by a panel of judges on the basis of scientific merit and excellence of presentation.

Alternate Presentation:

Students must have an alternate presentation method in case of equipment failure.

Example: Student(s) should have power point presentation also printed as overheads as an alternate method of presentation.