Checklist for Adult Sponsor for Science and Engineering Fairs 2026–2027

This form is required for ALL projects. This form must be completed by the adult sponsor BEFORE experimentation.

Adult Sponsor Information

Adult Sponsor’s Printed Name: ____________________

Signature: ____________________

Date of Review (mm/dd/yy): ____________________

Phone: ____________________

Email: ____________________

To be completed by the Adult Sponsor in collaboration with the student researcher(s):

Student’s Name(s): ____________________

Project Title: ____________________

Checklist

1. I have reviewed the ISEF Rules and Guidelines, including the science fair ethics statement.
2. I have reviewed the student’s completed Student Checklist (1A) and Research Plan/Project Addendum.
3. I have worked with the student and we have discussed the possible risks involved in the project.
4. The project involves one or more of the following and requires prior approval by an SRC, IRB, IACUC or IBC:
   • Humans
   • Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents
   • Vertebrate Animals
   • Microorganisms
   • rDNA
   • Tissues
5. Items to be completed for ALL PROJECTS:
   • Adult Sponsor Checklist (1)
   • Research Plan/Project Addendum
   • Student Support Disclosure Form (2A)
   • Student Checklist (1A)
   • Approval Form (1B)
   • Regulated Research Institutional/Industrial Setting Form (2C) (when applicable; after completed experiment)
   • Continuation/Research Progression Form (7) (when applicable)

Additional Forms Required

If the project includes the use of one or more of the following (check all that apply):

• Humans, including student designed inventions/prototypes. (Requires prior approval by an Institutional Review Board (IRB); see full text of the rules.)
  • Human Participants Form (4) or appropriate Institutional IRB documentation
  • Sample of Informed Consent Form (when applicable and/or required by the IRB)
  • Qualified Scientist Form (2B) (when applicable and/or required by the IRB)
• Vertebrate Animals (Requires prior approval, see full text of the rules.)
  • Vertebrate Animal Form (5A) – for projects conducted in a school/home/field research site (SRC prior approval required)
  • Vertebrate Animal Form (5B) – for projects conducted at a Regulated Research Institution. (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval required prior experimentation.)
  • Qualified Scientist Form (2B) (Required for all vertebrate animal projects at a regulated research site or when applicable)
• Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents (Requires prior approval by SRC, IACUC or IBC, see full text of the rules.)
  • Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Risk Assessment Form (6A)
  • Human and Vertebrate Animal Tissue Form (6B) – to be completed in addition to Form 6A when project involves the use of fresh or frozen tissue, primary cell cultures, blood, blood products and body fluids.
  • Qualified Scientist Form (2B) (when applicable)
• The following are exempt from prior review but require a Risk Assessment Form 3: projects involving protists, archaea and similar microorganisms, for projects using manure for composting, fuel production or other non-culturing experiments, projects using color change coliform water test kits, microbial fuel cells, and projects involving decomposing vertebrate organisms.
• Hazardous Chemicals, Activities and Devices
  • Risk Assessment Form (3)
  • Qualified Scientist Form (2B) (as applicable, see full text of the rules)
• Other
  • Risk Assessment Form (3)

I attest to the information checked above and that I have read and agree to abide by the science fair ethics statement.