Frequently Asked Questions
Eligability & Qualifying Fairs
Registration & Paperwork
Schedule Conficts
Project Set-up & Judging
Miscellaneous
Eligability & Qualifying Fairs
Q: Who is eligible to participate?
A: The fair is open to 5-12 grade students in the Alpine, Jordan, Nebo,
Provo and Wasatch school districts. Students who attend charter or
private schools within the boundaries of the Alpine, Jordan, Nebo,
Provo, or Wasatch school districts and home-schooled students within the
Wasatch Home Educator's Network are also eligible to participate.
Q: I have a great project, why can't I just register directly to participate at CUSEF?
A: All students must attend two pre-qualifying fairs in order to advance
on to compete at CUSEF. These fairs include a school fair and a
district science fair.
Registration & Paperwork
Q: When is the registration deadline?
A: The online registration deadline is March 6, 2009.
Q: What is the registration fee?
A: There is a $10.00 registration fee for every student participant.
Students need not generally supply the registration fee, it is supplied
by either the participating school district or the participating schools.
Q: Why do I have to register online and submit a registration form?
A: Students must register online to compete at CUSEF. The hard copy
registration forms are used as entry paperwork into the pre-qualifying
district science fairs and contain all of the appropriate signatures
and project documentation required to compete at CUSEF.
The Online registration allows you to be entered quickly into the CUSEF
database. The CUSEF database is used to create judging cards, organize
the winner lists, create certificates, etc.
Please note that you will compete in the category you pick in your online
registration (if it differs from the category you specify in your paperwork).
Q: Do I have to submit paperwork to my district science fair and to CUSEF?
A: Students only need to submit paperwork to their respective school
district science fairs prior
to competing in their district science fair. The school districts will
then forward the qualifying students' paperwork to CUSEF.
Q: What forms do I need for my project?
A: Students in grades 5-8 must submit a completed CUSEF registration form with
the appropriate signatures.
A: Students in grades 9-12 must submit a CUSEF registration form, the
accompanying Intel ISEF paperwork, and any additional Intel ISEF forms.
Additional forms are required for projects involving human subjects,
vertebrate animals, controlled substances, and/or potentially hazardous
biological agents. You can use the
Intel ISEF Rules
Wizard or call us if you are unsure which forms you will need. See the
registration page and
CUSEF Regulations for more information.
Schedule Conflicts
Q: What if I can't come to CUSEF during the judging time?
A: The judging interview is the most important component of the judging process.
If you cannot come at all, we recommend that you do not set up your project.
Q: Do I have to stay for the entire judging period?
A: Yes! The judging interview is the most important component of the judging
process. During the judging time there are category judges and special award
judges that are interviewing students. You need to give them an opportunity to
talk to you.
Q: What if I have a conflict and I have to leave the fair early or come late?
A: Please notify a science fair representative immediately of your circumstance
so we can inform your judges. We cannot gaurantee that you will be judged all
four times.
Q: Do all members of my team have to come during judging?
A: No. However, it will be difficult for the judges to understand the contributions
of each team member without being able to interview them and your team score may
suffer.
Project Set-up & Judging
Q: When should I set up my project?
A: Projects are set up and approved by the Display and Safety committee the
night before competition. See the CUSEF
schedule to find your competition and set up dates.
Q: Can my parents or teacher set up my project for me?
A: Yes. Just be certain that all materials you plan to display are present
in order to be approved.
Q: How are individual and team projects judged?
A: Individual and team projects are judged based upon the same criteria except there
is a "teamwork" criteria for team projects. Teams and individuals compete within
the same categories in the elementary and junior divisions; however, in the senior
division, while Team projects are judged by judges in their assigned category all
team projects are competing against each other in a "Team Project" category.
Please refer to the
judging criteria for more information.
Miscellaneous
Q: Can I work on my project with a friend?
A: Team projects of up to 3 members are allowed to compete at CUSEF. Be sure
that all members of the team contribute equally to and understand the project.
Q: What should I wear to the fair?
A: We recommend that you dress professionally but comfortably for the judging interview.
There will be activities for students including a rock wall after judging so you
may want to bring a change of clothes.
Q: What should I bring to the fair?
A: The judging process is lengthy with a lot of "down" time. We recommend
that you bring a book to read or homework to work on. Be sure that whatever you
bring is not a distraction to yourself or others during the judging interviews.
Q: Do I need a project notebook?
A: Yes. The judges will want to look at your project notes and raw data along with your
project write up on your display. Plus there is a special award for the most complete
project notebook.
Q: Will lunch be provided?
A: Yes. Pizza and drinks will be provided to students, teachers, and judges. Parents
and siblings of students will need to make other arrangements for food.
Q: Can my parents/family come to the fair?
A: Yes your family is welcome to come to the fair. We recommend that they come to
the fair when it is open to the public and for the
award ceremonies. Parents and the general public will not be allowed in the project
exhibit rooms during judging.
Q: Will parking be available?
A: Yes. Parking will be available in the parking lot on the west side of the
BYU Conference Center. Parents will not be able to park at the BYU Wilkinson
Student center during the elementary award ceremonies, however, they are welcome to
take the shuttle from the Conference Center with their students to the elementary
awards ceremonies.
Q: Will my valuables be secure at the fair?
A: We recommend that if you need to bring a computer or other valuable items
with you to display at the fair that you only have them out on display while
you are with your project.
Q: Will the science fair be open to the public?
A: Yes. Please see the schedule for the public
dates and times.
