Pre-Collegiate Competitions

How to qualify for GSEF

To be eligible for the statewide Georgia Science & Engineering Fair (GSEF), Georgia students in grades 6-12 must:

• Conduct STEM research in compliance with the International Rules for Pre-College Science Research; and
• Compete in a school fair and be selected by that fair to advance to the appropriate GSEF-affiliated Regional Fair and
• Compete in the Regional Fair and be selected by that Regional Fair to advance to GSEF.

Scientific Integrity: Students & Adults

The Georgia Science & Engineering Fair upholds the Society for Science’s principles of scientific integrity and Ethics Statement. Student researchers and their supporting adults are expected to hold themselves to the highest ethical standards and adhere to principles of honesty, transparency, and objectivity.

• Scientific fraud and misconduct are prohibited.
• Students must not fabricate data or images, plagiarize or present someone else’s work as their own.
• Students must differentiate their own work from the work of others and cite sources.
• Students must respect confidentiality and intellectual property.
• Students’ supporting adults must ensure students adhere to above.

Qualifying Research

To be eligible for competition in a Regional Fair and GSEF, projects must follow the International Rules for Pre-College Science Research (“ISEF Rules & Guidelines”), including completion of all required research forms and approvals.

Note the following:

• Forms 1, 1A, 1B and a Research Plan are required for all projects. Forms 1C through 7 may be required depending on the type and setting of the research.
• Projects involving any of the following must receive official approval from a Scientific Review Committee (SRC) / Institutional Review Board (IRB) before experimentation/survey/data collection begins:
  • HUMAN PARTICIPANTS (including surveys)
  • VERTEBRATE ANIMALS (including pets)
  • POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS BIOLOGICAL AGENTS (including samples swabbed from common surfaces)
• It is the responsibility of the student and supporting adults to know the ISEF Rules & Guidelines and evaluate the project to determine which forms and approvals it will require.
• None of the following adults may serve on the SRC/IRB reviewing the project or provide SRC/IRB approval signatures on forms: Adult Sponsor (often a teacher), Qualified Scientist, Direct Supervisor, or any parent/relative of the student.
• Students are advised to consult with an SRC at their school or Regional Fair to ensure compliance with rules and completion of required forms.

Team Projects

Students may do their research individually or as part of a team with up to three members. A team project may not be entered as an individual project, or vice versa, at any level of competition. All team members must meet GSEF eligibility. Teams may be represented at GSEF by one or more members; however, judges have the freedom not to consider a team if they have not had the opportunity to meet and interview all members.

Advancing from School and Regional Level Fairs

To be eligible for GSEF, students must first advance from a school-level fair to the appropriate Regional Fair, and then they must be selected by that Regional Fair to advance to the state level. See Advancing from School & Regional Fairs for more details.