Students
Steps for Participating in the Science Fair
- Students interested in conducting research and participating in the science fair should consult with their teachers about their school’s scheduled event.
- Students must participate in their school fair before they are eligible to advance to the county fair.
- Winning projects then compete at the assigned regional fairs. Projects that win first-place at the regional fairs are eligible to participate in the West Virginia Science and Engineering Fair (WVSEF).
- Information regarding each year’s WVSEF is made available to county coordinators who distribute it to schools in the fall. Contact your county fair coordinator for more information.
Student Resources
Science Fair Guides, categories, requirements, and forms are specific to programmatic levels. The Science Fair Guides listed below contain documents and links to resources that meet the needs of most participants. Depending on the programmatic level and the topic chosen by the students, additional forms and guidance may be needed from the ISEF Guidelines for Science and Engineering Fairs.
Students may compete individually or in teams at the WVSEF. Teams must have no more than three members. The final work should reflect the coordinated efforts of all team members and will be evaluated using the same judging criteria as individual projects. Team projects and individual projects are judged together in the category of their research at WVSEF.
Documents and Forms (by division)
General Informational Documents
Elementary School Division (3-5)
- Elementary/Middle School Categories [PDF]
- WVSEF Rules [PDF]
- Steps to a Successful Project [PDF]
- WVSEF Scorecard [PDF]
Middle School Division (6-8)
- Elementary/Middle School Categories [PDF]
- WVSEF Rules [PDF]
- ISEF Rules
- Steps to a Successful Project [PDF]
- WVSEF Scorecard [PDF]
High School Division (9-12)
- High School Categories [PDF]
- WVSEF Rules [PDF]
- ISEF Rules
- Steps to a Successful Project [PDF]
- WVSEF Scorecard [PDF]
Student Forms
Elementary School Division (3-5)
- Elementary/Middle Rules, Safety, and Media Permission [PDF] (Submit 1 per project to WVDE following regional fair.)
- Elementary Vertebrate and Human Research Form [PDF]
(Bring to fair and have available, but not on display, at project) - Elementary and Middle Human Informed Consent Form [PDF]
(Bring to fair and have available, but not on display, at the project) - Elementary Abstract [PDF]
(Bring to fair and display at project.)
Middle School Division (6-8)
- Elementary/Middle Rules, Safety, and Media Permission [PDF]
(Submit 1 per project to WVDE following regional fair.) - Middle School Research Plan [PDF]
(Bring to fair and have available at project.) - Middle Vertebrate and Human Research Form [PDF]
(Bring to fair and have available, but not on display, at the project) - Elementary and Middle Human Informed Consent Form [PDF]
(Bring to fair and have available, but not on display, at the project.) - Middle Abstract [PDF]
(Bring to fair and display at the project.) - WVSEF is affiliated with the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (JIC). Please review their site for additional information on this competition.
High School Division (9-12)
- High School Rules and Media Agreement Form [PDF]
(Submit 1 per student to WVDE following regional fair.) - Abstract [PDF]
(Include the abstract as found on page 29 of the International Rules pdf, along with the attached printed abstract, submit to WVDE following regional fair and bring a copy to state fair) - Adult Sponsor Checklist (1) [PDF]
(Submit 1 per project to WVDE following regional fair.) - Student Checklist (1A) [PDF]
(Submit 1 per student to WVDE following regional fair.) - Research Plan / Project Summary (1A2) [PDF]
(Submit 1 per student to WVDE following regional fair.) - Approval Form (1B) [PDF]
(Submit 1 per student to WVDE following regional fair.) - Research Paper
(Bring to fair and have available at project.) - Additional Forms May Be Necessary – see the ISEF Rules Wizard