Please see below for details regarding the Physical Display Board and Judging Criteria for TXSEF 2024. Finalist Registration Packet will be available in January 2024.
- Physical Display Board (Judging – In-Person – Live Interviews) March 23, 2024
- Finalists who advance to TXSEF will be required to provide a physical display board (project poster)
- The physical display board MUST include the Official SRC Approved Abstract from Scienteer as well as Form 1C (Regulated Research Institutional/ Industrial Setting Form) and Form 7 (Continuation/ Research Progression Projects Form), if required for the project. These forms are found on the Scienteer Dashboard (left side of screen) and can be downloaded as PDFs. Failure to include these required documents may result in points being deducted during judging.
- All physical display boards must conform to D&S rules to be displayed for judges and the public. Passing a Display & Safety inspection will be required to compete.
- Presentation
- Project Presentation: Interview (Judging – In Person – Live Interviews)
- Finalists will be interviewed during initial judging at Texas A&M University.
- Finalists should convey an understanding of their project’s basic science, interpretation and limitations of the results and conclusions.
- If a team project, all team members should demonstrate significant contributions and understanding of the project.
- Reference the Judging Rubrics: Science/Engineering located in these guidelines.
Lab Notes (OPTIONAL)
- TXSEF does not require any project to submit a laboratory notebook. However, a finalist may upload a maximum of four individual pages (saved as four separate PDF files; one page = one PDF file) from a lab notebook to provide evidence of its use for online judging of Special Awards.
- Special Award judges reviewing projects online will have access to these optional lab notes, just as they would at a finalists’ booth during an in-person fair. However, key information must be provided in the required materials as previously outlined since lab notes are supplemental. A maximum of four pages is allowed in order to protect your intellectual property.
- Lab notes may be provided for in-person judging and must conform to the Display & Safety guidelines.
Judging Criteria for Science Projects
I. Research Question (10 pts)
- clear and focused purpose
- identifies contribution to field of study
- testable using scientific methods
II. Design and Methodology (15 pts)
- well-designed plan and data collection methods
- variables and controls defined, appropriate and complete
III. Execution: Data Collection, Analysis, and Interpretation (20 pts)
- systematic data collection and analysis
- reproducibility of results
- appropriate application of mathematical and statistical methods
- sufficient data collected to support interpretation and conclusions
IV. Creativity (20 pts)
- project demonstrates significant creativity in one or more of the above criteria
V. Presentation (35 pts)
a. Poster (10 pts)
- logical organization of material
- clarity of graphics and legends
- supporting documentation displayed
b. Interview (25 pts)
- clear, concise, thoughtful responses to questions
- understanding of basic science relevant to project
- understanding interpretation and limitations of results and conclusions
- degree of independence in conducting project
- recognition of potential impact in science, society and/or economics
- quality of ideas for further research
- for team projects, contributions to and understanding of project by all members
Judging Criteria for Engineering Projects
I. Research Problem (10 pts)
- description of a practical need or problem to be solved
- definition of criteria for proposed solution
- explanation of constraints
II. Design and Methodology (15 pts)
- exploration of alternatives to answer need or problem
- identification of a solution
- development of a prototype/model
III. Execution: Construction and Testing (20 pts)
- prototype demonstrates intended design
- prototype has been tested in multiple conditions/trials
- prototype demonstrates engineering skill and completeness
IV. Creativity (20 pts)
- project demonstrates significant creativity in one or more of the above criteria
V. Presentation (35 pts)
a. Poster (10 pts)
- logical organization of material
- clarity of graphics and legends
- supporting documentation displayed
b. Interview (25 pts)
- clear, concise, thoughtful responses to questions
- understanding of basic science relevant to project
- understanding interpretation and limitations of results and conclusions
- degree of independence in conducting project
- recognition of potential impact in science, society and/or economics
- quality of ideas for further research
- for team projects, contributions to and understanding of project by all members
