Does every student need a teacher sponsor?

Yes, but the sponsor doesn't have to be the student's current teacher. It can be a mentor or the school's science fair coordinator.

What happens if I miss a deadline for submitting my registration or having my project approved by the Scientific Review Committee?

All participants must complete the registration process by the due date and submit their abstract to the Scientific Review committee according to the 2010 Fair Timeline. NO EXCEPTIONS to this process.

If I'm doing a project involving humans, how do I use the Informed Consent Forms?

Have them filled out and signed by the parents of every student participating in the study. Keep the forms in a safe place in case they are needed. They are for your protection and the protection of your school.

Do students need to file animal papers even if they are only observing live animals?

Yes. Please see the "Special Projects" section in the Student Guide Book.

Is electricity available for projects at the Fair?

No it is not.

Do some projects require the filing of special papers?

Students doing projects involving invertebrate or vertebrate animals, human subjects, recombinant DNA, tissue, pathogenic agents, or controlled substances, need to file Scientific Review Committee Proposal Papers with the Santa Cruz County Fair before they begin their research. These papers are available from sponsoring teachers, or from our website. These papers must be filed before February 1st. Students who are hoping to participate in Santa Cruz County Fair should file papers even though they do not know whether they will be eligible for the Fair this year.

Are school quotas the same from year to year?

Yes. The base allotment for elementary, junior high, and middle schools is limited to a maximum of 10 projects. Schools that host school science fairs with more than 100 participants may submit additional project applications. (One for every 50 students over the 100 participation number.)

Are there items that I should not put on my project display?

Yes. Plants, animals, plant parts, dirt, liquids, chemicals, bacteria samples should not be brought to the Fair. If you're not sure, leave it at home. Use pictures instead.