BDSF - Preparing Your Exhibit You've looked up all of your literature references. You've finished all of your experiments. The data is all plotted. Youíve written your report. Now what?
You must try to get all of that information, those experimental results, those graphs, and finally those conclusions into a format that can be presented at the Science Fair. How do you go about setting up your display so that 1) it looks good, 2) it provides enough information for people looking at it (judges) will understand what it is that you have done, 3) and it covers all of the essential pieces of your experimental or engineering work.
First of all there is a size restriction. For a table display, your project must fit within the boundaries of a box that is 30 inches deep, 48 inches wide and 72 inches high. For a floor display, the height is to be no more than 108 inches.
Second, the display can be made of any number of materials. Typically a tri-fold board is used for simple displays. Tri-fold boards can be found at places like Hobby Lobby, or Walmart, Crayon Shoppe. The display should be sturdy enough to be able to stand on its own. Some projects are simple arrangements within an open box. Some are complicated arrangements like a book on hinges. Some incorporate the experiments within the display. But everything must fit within the dimensions listed above.
Although it is not a requirement, it is convenient to have labels indicating the hypothesis (or your stated problem), an experimental section, your method of collecting data, data interpretation (most of the details should go into a notebook but you want to have the prime information on the display board), and conclusions.
Remember a neat, hand written, clearly laid out board will present your work much better than sloppy computer graphics with information laid out in a scattered fashion. In this case neatness really counts. Of course, you need to have the rest of the stuff also.
There are a number of things that are not allowed to be in the display area. Usually there are simple solutions to not having your waterfall flowing with water (How about a picture or photograph). And yes, water is one of those things that are not allowed at the booth.
Not Allowed in Project or Booth
1) Living organisms2) Taxidermy specimens or parts
3) Preserved vertebrate or invertebrate animals
4) Human or animal food
5) Human/animal parts or body fluids (for example, blood, urine) (Exceptions: teeth, hair, nails, dried animal bones, histological dry mount sections, and completely sealed wet mount tissue slides)
6) Laboratory/household chemicals including water (Exceptions: water integral to an enclosed apparatus or water supplied by the Display and Safety Committee)
7) Poisons, drugs, controlled substances, hazardous substances or devices (for example, firearms, weapons, ammunition, reloading devices)
8) Dry ice or other sublimating solids
9) Sharp items (for example, syringes, needles, pipettes, knives)
10) Flames or highly flammable display materials
11) Batteries with open-top cells
12) Awards, medals, business cards, flags, etc.
13) Photographs or other visual presentations depicting vertebrate animals in surgical techniques, dissections, necropsies, other lab techniques, improper handling methods, improper housing conditions, etc.
Allowed at Project or in Booth, BUT with the Restrictions Indicated
1) Dried plant materials if permanently sealed in acrylic or other similar material2) Soil or waste samples if permanently sealed in acrylic or other similar material
3) Empty tanks that previously contained combustible liquids or gases must be certified as having been purged with carbon dioxide.
4) Personal photographs, accomplishments, acknowledgments, addresses other than the Finalistís address, telephone and FAX numbers, and e-mail and Web addresses are allowed only inside research papers or data books.
5) Any apparatus with unshielded belts, pulleys, chains, or moving parts with tension or pinch points may not be operated.
6) Class II lasers:
a) May be operated only by the Finalist.b) Posted sign must read "Laser Radiation: Do Not Stare Into Beam."
c) Must have protective housing that prevents access to beam.
d) Must be disconnected when not operating.
7) Class III and IV lasers may not be operated.
8) Large vacuum tubes or dangerous ray-generating devices must be properly shielded.
9) Pressurized tanks that contained noncombustibles may be allowed if properly secured.
10) Any apparatus producing temperatures that will cause physical burns must be adequately insulated.
Projects requiring 120 A.C. electrical circuits must provide a UL-listed 3-wire extension cord which is no more than nine feet in length and which is appropriate for the load and equipment.
Questions? Contact the Director, Lee Carvell, at 918-661-3450.
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