Texas Science & Engineering Fair

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Display and Safety

Read the 2023 TXSEF Guidelines

Contact Information

Display & Safety Questions: txsef_ds@tamu.edu

Avoiding Display & Safety Violations

  1. Only the Official Embossed/Stamped Abstract may be displayed and must be displayed vertically. Any other summary of the research must be labeled “Discussion” or “Summary.”
  2. Display the following forms vertically:
    a. Form 1C if a research institution was used
    b. Form 7 if it is a continuation project
  3. All pictures, graphs, data tables/charts must be credited. A single credit stating “All Visual Graphics/Photos by Student” is sufficient.
  4. No logos or acknowledgments are allowed on the display.
  5. Photos of animals and/or human subjects must be in natural surroundings. No lab/surgical procedures of either are allowed.
  6. Photographs of anyone other than the finalist require a completed photo consent form.
  7. Any photo/graphic taken from a source requires a URL or appropriate credit, including images in background.
  8. Project must not exceed allowed dimensions:
    a. Depth (front to back): 30 inches
    b. Width (side to side): 48 inches
    c. Height (floor to top) 108 inches

The Display and Safety Team will review each project after they have passed the Science Review Committee and are set up. Display and Safety officials determine whether project displays contain all the required paperwork and refrain from using any extra items. Officials also ensure there are no unsafe components. Each project must pass inspection before judging is allowed. TXSEF will be enforcing ISEF rules and guidelines.

Not allowed:

  • Living organisms including plants
  • Taxidermy specimens or parts
  • Preserved vertebrate or invertebrate animals
  • Human or animal food
  • Human/animal parts or body fluids
  • Plant materials that are in their raw, unprocessed or non-manufactured state
  • All chemicals including water
  • All hazardous substances or devices
  • Dry ice or other sublimating solids
  • Sharp items
  • Flames or highly flammable materials
  • Batteries with open-top cells
  • Awards, medals, business cards, flags, logos, endorsements and /or acknowledgements
  • Photographs or other visual presentations depicting vertebrate animals in surgical techniques, dissections, necropsies, or other lab procedures
  • Active internet or e-mail connections as part of displaying or operating the project
  • Prior years’ written material or visual depictions on the vertical display board
  • Glass or glass objects unless deemed by the Display and Safety Team to be an integral and necessary part of the project
  • Any apparatus deemed unsafe by the SRC or Display and Safety

Display and Safety Pro-tips for the Day of TXSEF

Please read this thoroughly before requesting to have your project inspected by Display and Safety at the fair.

Project Dimensions:

  • Depth (front to back): 30 inches or 76 centimeters (nothing beyond front of table)
  • Width (side to side): 48 inches or 122 centimeters
  • Height (floor to top): 108 inches or 274 centimeters (including the table)

All About Forms!

All the following forms must be vertically displayed at your project:

Abstract

  • The only abstract allowed to be displayed on your project is the official abstract stamped upon SRC approval via Scienteer. (The word “abstract” cannot be used other than on the official abstract, per SSP rules.)
  • The abstract must be displayed vertically (i.e. taped to the table, in a picture frame (no glass is allowed), taped on the project display).

Regulated Research Institutional/Industrial Setting Form(1C) (WHEN APPLICABLE)

  • Do you need to display this form? If your project was completed in a regulated research institution, work site, etc. other than home, school, or field during the current project year then you must use you must display your form 1C

Continuation/Research Progression Projects Form(s) (7) (WHEN APPLICABLE)

  • Do you need to display this form? If your study is a continuation of a previous year’s project, then you must display the form 7, one for each previous academic year the project was completed

All these forms must be present at your project but should not be displayed:

  • Checklist for Adult Sponsor (1)
  • Student Checklist (1A)
  • Research Plan
  • Approval Form (1B)
  • Photograph/Video Release (signed by participant)

NOTE: You cannot have completed Informed Consent Forms for Human Participants present in the exhibit hall at any time, for any reason

Crediting Displayed Images and Photographs

  • Every photograph, visual image, chart, table and/or graph must be properly cited. How do you cite these?
  • If it is a graph, chart, table or image made by you or someone you know: “Photograph taken by …” or “Graph/Table/Chart/Image made by…”
  • If it’s material you found on the internet you must cite the website you got it from: “This image was taken from [insert website address]”

What are not acceptable resources to cite?

  • Search engines (examples: Google, Bing)
  • General websites (For example, if you used an image from a page from Texas A&M , you may not cite the image to www.tamu.edu, it must be to the specific article on the Texas A&M website.)

Items not to be Displayed

  • Logos, student generated logos, institution crests, trademarks, flags
  • Any reference to institutions which may have supported your work (unless on official SRC paperwork—specifically the form 1C)
  • Any items intended for distribution (CDs, brochures, business cards)
  • Any awards or medals
  • Living organisms (plants, animals, microorganisms, etc)
  • Glass
  • Human or animal food
  • Taxidermy specimens
  • Soil, sand, rock, cement, waste sample (even if encased in acrylic)
  • All chemicals, including water
  • All hazardous substances or devices
  • Sharp items
  • Flames and highly flammable materials
  • Any flight capable machines unless propulsion power source is removed
  • 3D printers unless the power source is removed
  • Any apparatus which has been deemed unsafe by Display & Safety, SRC, or any other TXSEF official

Will electricity be provided at TXSEF? No, electricity will not be provided

Adapted from The Society for Science and the Public (ND), Intel ISEF Display and Safety Regulations, Retrieved from: https://www.societyforscience.org/isef/international-rules/display-safety-rules/ on February 1st, 2019. © Grace Ranft-Garcia – 2019