Judging Handbook

Science Fair PowerPoint Presentation

Judging Process

Purposes of Judging at the Regional Fair

· Encourage students in their individual pursuits of science.

· Provide positive feedback to students regarding the soundness and validity of their research.

· Provide mentoring to students from professionals working in their fields.

· Recognize exceptional student work.

· Select projects for further competition at State and International levels.

Category Awards

· Awards in each of the 15 Categories established by ISEF.

· Awards include certificates, ribbons, trophies, and cash.

· Each Category in each Division is judged by an independent team of at least three judges.

· Each team of judges works to select the projects in its Division and Category that will receive ribbons or trophies for that Category.

· Each team of judges selects its winners by consensus and judging guidelines.

· Final decisions for Category Awards are the responsibility of the judging teams.

· Direct comparisons of any raw numeric scores or awards between Divisions or among Categories is inappropriate because of the subjective range of scoring that exists among the independent judging teams.

Special Awards

· Awards donated by individuals, businesses, or agencies.

· Awards include clothing, bags, CDs, posters, electronic and computer hardware, software, scholarships, gift certificates, savings bonds, and cash.

· Each award carries general and specific limits or criteria established by the donor.

· A team of judges works Fair-wide and independent of the Category judges to select the winners.

· Judges decisions are final.

Grand Awards

· Awards include trophies, cash, selection for further competition, and other recognition.

· Winners are selected from the pool of first place winners as selected by the Category Judges; not all first place winners will also be Grand Award winners.

· An independent team of Grand Award Judges will make selections from the First Place pool of Category winners.

· Grand Award judges will not use Category judging numeric data in their selection of winners.

· Grand Award winners will be selected with a rubric similar to the ones used at State and International competition.

Questions about Regional Science Fair, contact Rick Tully at RandolphRT@leeschools.net

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