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Designing an Intel ISEFAffiliated Science Fair Project Display Board

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What a Well-Designed Project What a Well-Designed Project Board Should AccomplishBoard Should Accomplish

Provides judges and the public with an Provides judges and the public with an overview of your project when you are not overview of your project when you are not there to explainthere to explain

Emphasizes succinctly the scope of the Emphasizes succinctly the scope of the project, the nature of the research, and project, the nature of the research, and the resultsthe results

Demonstrates your authority as a Demonstrates your authority as a researcher by the neatness and researcher by the neatness and correctness of the information presentedcorrectness of the information presented

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Considerations before You Considerations before You BeginBegin

Type of Display:Type of Display: Tabletop (Tabletop (Note: If a table is used, the height, Note: If a table is used, the height,

width, and depth of the table must be width, and depth of the table must be considered part of the project and figured in considered part of the project and figured in with the total dimensions of the project.with the total dimensions of the project.

FreestandingFreestanding

Origin of Board:Origin of Board: Commercial Commercial Self-madeSelf-made

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Tabletop DisplaysTabletop Displays

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In the examples just shown, you will note In the examples just shown, you will note that each is a project that can be easily that each is a project that can be easily assembled at the Intel ISEF and would not assembled at the Intel ISEF and would not exceed 70 lbs. in weight.exceed 70 lbs. in weight.

They are also examples of boards that can They are also examples of boards that can be reused, or at least the frameworks can be reused, or at least the frameworks can be reused, should you intend on be reused, should you intend on competing additional years.competing additional years.

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Dimensions of Project Dimensions of Project DisplayDisplay

Tables supplied to Tables supplied to Finalists at Intel ISEF Finalists at Intel ISEF are the permitted are the permitted width (side to side: width (side to side: 48”/76 cm) and 48”/76 cm) and depth (front to back: depth (front to back: 30”/122 cm). 30”/122 cm).

The permitted The permitted height (floor to top) height (floor to top) from the floor to the from the floor to the top of the project is top of the project is 108”/274 cm. 108”/274 cm.

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A Few Rules to FollowA Few Rules to Follow

Keep the display simple. Avoid clutter. Keep the display simple. Avoid clutter. Judges and the public viewing the board Judges and the public viewing the board must be able to comprehend quickly what must be able to comprehend quickly what your research involved.your research involved.

Use no more than two or three colors, and Use no more than two or three colors, and choose colors appropriate to your subject.choose colors appropriate to your subject.

Arrange the information logically.Arrange the information logically. Label all data tables, charts, graphs, or Label all data tables, charts, graphs, or

photographs you use.photographs you use.

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PowerPoints & VideosPowerPoints & VideosPowerPoints and videos can be excellent complements to the text and graphics on a project board. However, they should not be the sole presentation of the project for the following reasons:

PowerPoint and Video presentations must be reviewed for content. If there are any major violations in the content, it may be too difficult to make changes in time for judging

Judges or the public seldom take the time to view the whole presentation

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What the Board Should What the Board Should DisplayDisplay

PurposePurpose

HypothesisHypothesis

MaterialsMaterials

ProcedureProcedure

TitleTitle

(Keep it (Keep it simple)simple)

GraphsGraphs

PicturesPictures

DataData

ResultsResults

ConclusionConclusion

AbstractAbstract

Other Other RequiredRequired

PaperworkPaperwork

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The Project TitleThe Project Title Again, keep it simple Again, keep it simple

and short. It should and short. It should be readable from a be readable from a minimum of six feet.minimum of six feet.

Try to develop a Try to develop a phrasing that phrasing that captures attention captures attention but succinctly but succinctly represents your represents your research.research.

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Other Display Other Display ConsiderationsConsiderations

In addition to displaying required In addition to displaying required paperwork and a summary paperwork and a summary explanation of the research project explanation of the research project procedure and conclusions, the procedure and conclusions, the Finalist may want to include the Finalist may want to include the following:following: Graphs of data that represents depth of Graphs of data that represents depth of

research or conclusionsresearch or conclusions Pictures or illustrations of proceduresPictures or illustrations of procedures Data booksData books Mock-ups of specific designs, or laptop Mock-ups of specific designs, or laptop

illustrations of procedures, etc.illustrations of procedures, etc.

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living organisms (including plants)living organisms (including plants) taxidermy specimenstaxidermy specimens preserved vertebrate or invertebrate preserved vertebrate or invertebrate

animalsanimals human/animal foodhuman/animal food human/animal parts or body fluidshuman/animal parts or body fluids chemicalschemicals drugsdrugs and other items listed in the Rules.and other items listed in the Rules.

Complete list of rules available at this site:Complete list of rules available at this site:http://societyforscience.org/isef/document/

The aforementioned are permitted in The aforementioned are permitted in a display as long as they do not a display as long as they do not include items include items Not Allowed for DisplayNot Allowed for Display, , such as the followingsuch as the following::

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Other Points to ConsiderOther Points to Consider

Credit all images/photos and provide photo Credit all images/photos and provide photo consent/release formsconsent/release forms

Make certain acknowledgments have been Make certain acknowledgments have been eliminated as they are permitted only in the eliminated as they are permitted only in the research paperresearch paper

Make backup copies of all paperwork in case any Make backup copies of all paperwork in case any is lost or misplacedis lost or misplaced

Develop a way to secure a laptop or any Develop a way to secure a laptop or any permitted piece of equipment to prevent theftpermitted piece of equipment to prevent theft

Make certain any lights or electrical equipment Make certain any lights or electrical equipment is UL-approvedis UL-approved

Provide your own UL power strip if you need Provide your own UL power strip if you need more than one outletmore than one outlet

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Examples of Items Not Examples of Items Not Allowed Allowed

The example on The example on right illustrates right illustrates soil or waste soil or waste materials not materials not properly sealed properly sealed in acrylic.in acrylic.

The example at left The example at left illustrates plant illustrates plant and soil materials and soil materials properly encased properly encased in acrylic.in acrylic.

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Photographs of Photographs of vertebrate animals in vertebrate animals in lab procedures, lab procedures, unnatural unnatural environments, or stress environments, or stress situations not allowedsituations not allowed.

Containers of Containers of plants and dirt plants and dirt not allowed.not allowed.

Glass items not Glass items not allowed.allowed.

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Sharp objects, such as Sharp objects, such as this needle, are not this needle, are not allowed.allowed.

Plant and other dried Plant and other dried materials scattered formaterials scattered fordecoration are notdecoration are notallowed.allowed.

Chemical or chemical compounds not allowed.

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How to Credit How to Credit Photos/ImagesPhotos/Images

Any photos, images, Any photos, images, and graphs used in and graphs used in the display must be the display must be credited. If the credited. If the finalist created all finalist created all photos/images, a photos/images, a single credit is single credit is sufficient.sufficient.

Photos of human Photos of human subjects must have subjects must have consent/release consent/release forms.forms.

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If your display If your display includes an electrical includes an electrical or engineering or engineering design , make design , make certain that there is certain that there is no exposed wiring no exposed wiring and connections and connections without non-without non-conducting shielding conducting shielding or a grounded metal or a grounded metal box or cage.box or cage.

The project to the The project to the right illustrates a right illustrates a display that would display that would not be approved.not be approved.

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Project 1

Unofficial abstracts displayed

Project 2

Inappropriate animal pictures

Project 3

No Photo Credits

Examples of Typical Violations

Project 4

Chemicals not allowed

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Correct DisplayCorrect DisplayUsing Table Using Table

Provided By Intel Provided By Intel ISEFISEF

Tri-fold board does not Tri-fold board does not extend over edges of extend over edges of the provided table, the provided table, which is 30” by 48”.which is 30” by 48”.Required paperwork is Required paperwork is properly displayed on properly displayed on front of table.front of table.All images properly All images properly creditedcredited

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Other ResourcesOther Resources ISEF Rules Wizard ISEF Rules Wizard

http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/students/wizard/indexhttp://www.societyforscience.org/isef/students/wizard/index.asp.asp

The Rules Wizard has been designed as a first step to help you determine The Rules Wizard has been designed as a first step to help you determine what forms and approvals are necessary before beginning a science fair what forms and approvals are necessary before beginning a science fair project intended for competition at an ISEF-affiliated fair or the Intel project intended for competition at an ISEF-affiliated fair or the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. International Science and Engineering Fair. 

D & S Inspectors Manual: D & S Inspectors Manual: http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/document/hubman.ashttp://www.societyforscience.org/isef/document/hubman.aspp

This site contains a training PPt. for Host Committee D & S Inspectors that This site contains a training PPt. for Host Committee D & S Inspectors that provides additional information on appropriate displays.provides additional information on appropriate displays.

SRC PowerPoint: http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/SRC PowerPoint: http://www.societyforscience.org/isef/ The Scientific Review PowerPoint reviews regulations for projects. Reviews The Scientific Review PowerPoint reviews regulations for projects. Reviews

role of supervisors, etc., and all required paperwork.role of supervisors, etc., and all required paperwork.

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Board WebsitesBoard Websites http://www.officedepot.com/ http://www.officedepot.com/ http://www.staples.com/http://www.staples.com/Office Depot and Staples are national suppliers of office materials used in developing Office Depot and Staples are national suppliers of office materials used in developing

project boards.project boards.

http://www.showboard.com/http://www.showboard.com/Show Board is a national supplier of boards frequently used in science fair projects.Show Board is a national supplier of boards frequently used in science fair projects.

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentoring/http://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentoring/project_display_board_advanced_design.shtproject_display_board_advanced_design.shtml ml

Science Buddies is an excellent site for free science fair project ideas, answers, and tools.Science Buddies is an excellent site for free science fair project ideas, answers, and tools.