Guidelines to Sharing Research

The following guidelines must be followed for your project display to be approved during the display and safety check prior to the start of the STEM Fair. If these guidelines are not met, your project cannot be judged. 

• Size: 
  • Single Panel Board (36" tall x 24" wide x 3/16" thick)
  • Trifold Board (Maximum of 48" tall x 48" wide when unfolded. Typically 36" tall)
• Name:
  • individual or team name(s) and school only 
  • no co-authors, mentors, teachers, affiliations (i.e. Mayo/IBM) 
  • no contact information, website URLs, QR codes 
• Visual Images (photographs/charts/tables/graphs):
  • cited sources or credit line for all photos, images, clip art, tables, graphs, etc.
  • no person except individual/team without written consent (student/parent)
  • not inappropriate or offensive
  • no depiction of animals in surgical, necrotizing, or dissecting procedures 
• Logos/Awards: no logos (corporate, product, packaging, etc.), awards, medals, flags, business cards
• Life:
  • no living, dead or preserved organism or materials (plant or animal) Life 
  • no plants, seeds, soil, micro-organisms 
  • no human or animal parts (teeth, hair, nails, animal bones, bodily fluids)
• Food: 
  • no human or animal food (including candy, popcorn, and drinks)
• Chemicals:
  •  no chemicals or items that have been in contact with hazardous chemicals 
  • no water, liquids, filters (unless not used), growth media
• Hazardous Substances or Devices:
  • no poisons, drugs, firearms, weapons, ammunition, reloading devices, grease/oil, sublimating solids (i.e. dry ice), flames or highly flammable items 
  • no glass or sharp items (i.e. syringes, needles, pipetts, knives) 
  • no batteries with open top or wet cells
• Internet: 
  • no active internet connections
• Equipment Restrictions:
  • no 3D printers or drones (unless power source removed) 
  • no moving parts with tension/pinch points (unless shielded) 
  • no apparatus that can produce dangerous temperatures (unless insulated)
  • no highly distracting items (sounds, lights, odors) 

STEM Fair Research Papers follow the rules set by the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. Full guidelines can be found on their website. 

Papers should be a minimum of 5-6 pages and a maximum of 20 pages, including appendices. Length assumes a 12-point, Times New Roman font. There is no set outline for papers, but National JSHS recommends using the following:

1. A title page or cover page stating the student’s name, school address, and title of the research

2. Acknowledgement of major assistance received

3. Table of contents

4. Any applicable disclaimers and statements (e.g. “research involving non-human vertebrates or human subjects was conducted under the supervision of an experience teacher or researcher and followed all state and federal regulatory guidance applicable to the human and ethical conduct of such research”).

5. Introduction

6. Materials and methods

7. Results

8. Discussion and conclusions

9. References

10. Appendices (if needed)

Examples

Abstracts from past national students

Abstracts and Papers from past Minnesotan students

Judging Presentation Guidelines 

• PLEASE have your slideshow presentation on a USB drive. 
• Photography may be used in oral presentations. Graphs, tables, diagrams, charts, or other graphic representations of data should be kept as simple as possible.
• Students will have no more than 12 minutes to present their scientific research in an oral presentation followed by a few minutes for questions asked by judges only. Room moderators will keep time and let students know how much time they have remaining using visual cues.

The Rochester Regional STEM Fair will not require submission of a video presentation, however we encourage students to do so. Students who advance to the Minnesota State Science & Engineering Fair must record a video. This is an excellent way for students to practice their presentations.

Students who advance from the Rochester Regional STEM Fair to the state fair will have approximately one week to submit required materials. There are additional documents that must be prepared beyond the requirements of the Rochester Regional STEM Fair. Learn more at the Minnesota Science and Engineering Fair website.

One additional requirement is to submit a video presentation. We encourage students to create a video before the Rochester Regional STEM Fair, allowing ample time to practice the presentation and edit the video.

• Watch a sample high school video/narrated slideshow:
  • by James Kung, 2020 Minnesota State Science Fair
  • by Jennifer Oettinger, 2021 International Science and Engineering Fair
• Watch a sample middle school video/narrated slideshow:
  • by Annika Bartucz, 2021 Minnesota State Science Fair
  • by Tej Bhagra, 2021 Minnesota State Science Fair
  • by Isadora Kohler, 2021 Minnesota State Science Fair
  • by Tahe Liu, 2021 Minnesota State Science Fair

Questions to Cover in Your Narrated Slideshow or Video Presentation

Science Project Purpose of study and contribution to the field of study Experiment plan and data collection methods Variables and controls for the experiment Data analysis and interpretation (reproducibility, repeatability, statistics) Conclusions What would you do differently? What would you do next? Who worked with you on this project and how did they help? For teams: what was your major contribution to this project? TEMPLATE

Engineering Project Share need or problem to be solved Exploration of alternative methods Developed plan and prototype/model Creation of prototype from design plans Prototype testing results What would you do differently? What would you do next? Who worked with you on this project and how did they help? For teams: what was your major contribution to this project? TEMPLATE

Judges will evaluate projects based on the display made by the student and a short interview. Judges will make decisions based on a rubric similar to the ISEF judging criteria. Students, as you prepare your display and presentation, use this checklist to ensure you have included all information that judges will ask you about. 

Judging Criteria for Science Projects

I. Research Question

      Clear and focused purpose

      Identifies contribution to field of study

      Testable using scientific methods

II. Design and Methodology

      Well designed plan and data collection methods

      Variables and controls defined, appropriate and complete

III. Execution: Data collection, analysis and interpretation

      Systematic data collection and analysis

      Reproducibility of results

      Appropriate application of mathematical and statistical methods

      Sufficient data collected to support interpretation and conclusions

IV. Creativity

      Project demonstrates significant creativity in one or more of the above criteria

V. Presentation

a. Poster

      Logical organization of material

      Clarity of graphics and legends

      Supporting documentation displayed

b. Interview

      Clear, concise, thoughtful responses to questions

      Understanding of basic science relevant to project

      Understanding interpretation and limitations of results and conclusions

      Degree of independence in conduction project

      Recognition of potential impact in science, society and/or economics

      Quality of ideas for further research

      For team projects, contributions to and understanding of project by all members

Judging Criteria for Engineering Projects

I. Research Problem

      Description of a practical need or problem to be solved

      Definition of criteria for proposed solution

      Explanation of constraints

II. Design and Methodology

      Exploration of alternatives to answer need or problem

      Identification of a solution

      Development of a prototype/model

III. Execution: Construction and Testing

      Prototype demonstrates intended design

      Prototype has been tested in multiple conditions/trials

      Prototype demonstrates engineering skill and completeness

IV. Creativity

      Project demonstrates significant creativity in one or more of the above criteria

V. Presentation

a. Poster

      Logical organization of material

      Clarity of graphics and legends

      Supporting documentation displayed

b. Interview

      Clear, concise, thoughtful responses to questions

      Understanding of basic science relevant to project

      Understanding interpretation and limitations of results and conclusions

      Degree of independence in conduction project

      Recognition of potential impact in science, society and/or economics

      Quality of ideas for further research

      For team projects, contributions to and understanding of project by all members