• On the Student Research Plan Form, the student identifies a particular problem and plans what experimental approach he/she will use to solve the problem. The completed form is submitted to the teacher who reviews it for compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and the NJAS guidelines.

• The other form(s) must be signed by the student and the student’s parent or guardian, and then by the teacher after he/she has reviewed it to make sure necessary signatures have been obtained by the adults involved in approving or supervising any part of the experiment.

• Student experimentation begins after forms are on file with the teacher.

• Additional forms and/or signatures are required only if the project requires special supervision by qualified adults because the research poses potential risk to the student and/or to the research organisms. These projects include almost all that involve the use of nonhuman vertebrate animals, human subjects, potentially pathogenic agents (all micro-organisms isolated and/or cultured from any environment are considered pathogenic, including bacteria and fungi but excluding protists), recombinant DNA, controlled substances, human/vertebrate animal tissue, and hazardous substances or devices.

• The rules and regulations for conducting experimentation with each of these "special supervision" subjects are outlined in Chapters 2-7 of Section 1 and Chapters 2-8 in Section 2 of the handbook. It is important that the teacher reads these rules and regulations before allowing students to do experimentation.

• Special supervision must be provided by a Qualified Scientist and/or a Designated Supervisor.

• Roles and Responsibilities of a Qualified Scientist: Must be thoroughly familiar with the local, state, and federal regulations that govern the student’s area of research. The Qualified Scientist and the teacher may be the same person, if that person is qualified. A student may work with a Qualified Scientist in another city or state. In this case, the student must work locally with a Designated Supervisor (see below) who has been trained in the techniques the student will use.

• Roles and Responsibilities of Designated Supervisor: The Designated Supervisor is an adult who supervises a student’s experiment. The Designated Supervisor need not have an advanced degree, but should be thoroughly familiar with the student’s project, and must be trained in the student’s area of research. The teacher may act as the Designated Supervisor.

• The teacher must evaluate projects requiring special supervision and make sure criteria for the Qualified Scientist and the Designated Supervisor adhere to those set forth in the NJAS Guidelines.

• The teacher needs to either select the Qualified Scientist and/or the Designated Supervisor for the student or provide substantial input if the student is doing the selecting.

• It is important to be aware that the guidelines are not the same for the two different age groups (junior high and senior high) when the research requires special supervision due to the potential risk to students and/or the research organisms.

• Adult Sponsor is ultimately responsible not only for the health and safety of the student conducting the research, but also for the humans or animals used as subjects.

• Adult Sponsor must be familiar with the regulations that govern potentially dangerous research as they apply to a specific student project. These may include chemical and equipment usage, experimental techniques, research involving human or nonhuman animals, and cell cultures, microorganisms, or animal tissues. The issues must be discussed with the student when completing the Student Research Plan (Form 1A).

• Some experiments involve procedures or materials that are regulated by state and federal laws. If not thoroughly familiar with the regulations, the Adult Sponsor needs to enlist the aid of a Qualified Scientist and/or a Designated Supervisor.

• Adult Sponsor is responsible for ensuring the student’s research is eligible for entry in the Nebraska Junior Academy Science Fairs held in regions across the state.

• Field research involves making careful observations in a given locale, and sometimes, comparing this survey to known data from other locales. It may involve the making of a detailed inventory of the living and non-living objects, or their characteristics, in a given geographic location, or the interaction among the objects.

• It always involves looking for the patterns in a well-defined area and the keeping of detailed field notes.

• The "controls" in this type of study are in the observational techniques that are used.

• Refer to Section 3: "NJAS Guidelines for Field Research Projects" for facilitating students doing this type of research.

• The rules and regulations for conducting experimentation with each of these "special supervision" subjects are outlined in Chapters 2-7. It is important that the Adult Sponsor read these rules and regulations BEFORE allowing students to do experimentation that requires special supervision.

• The special supervision must be provided by a Qualified Scientist and/or Designated Supervisor.

• The first form completed is the Student Research Plan (Form 1A). This form is completed by the student after he/she has picked and researched his/her topic. On this form the student identifies a particular problem and plans what experimental approach he/she will use to solve the problem. The Adult Sponsor needs to provide a lot of guidance and support to help the student in completing his/her Student Research Plan. The completed form is submitted to the Adult Sponsor. The Adult Sponsor must review the student’s Student Research Plan Form (Form 1A) to make sure that experimentation is done within local, state, and federal laws and the NJAS Rules. After final approval, the Adult Sponsor should keep the original copy of Student Research Plan Form (Form 1A) on file for liability purposes and return a copy to the student. This form needs to be kept by the student and may need to be available the day of the science fair competition.

• The second form completed is the Adult Sponsor Safety Assessment and Approval Form (Form 2A). This form is also required for ALL projects. The form must be signed by the Adult Sponsor, the student, and the student’s parent or guardian. If the project requires any special supervision, the form must also have a Qualified Scientist and, if needed, the Designated Supervisor signature(s) on it (outlined in Part D above and explained in detail in the following chapters). The Adult Sponsor needs to review the student’s completed form to make sure necessary signatures have been obtained by the adults involved in approving or supervising any part of the experiment. The Adult Sponsor keeps the completed Adult Sponsor Safety Assessment and Approval Form (Form 2A) on file for liability purposes.

• The Adult Sponsor needs to read and be familiar with the information provided in this chapter before allowing any student to design/conduct experimental research involving human subjects.

• It is the responsibility of the Adult Sponsor to ensure extra support and guidance be given to junior high/middle school students doing research involving human subjects.

• Adult Sponsor may be a teacher, parent, university professor, or scientist in whose lab the student is working. This individual must have a solid background in science and should have close contact with the student during the course of the project.

• Adult Sponsor is ultimately responsible not only for the health and safety of the student conducting the research, but also for the humans used as subjects.

• Adult Sponsor must be familiar with the regulations that govern potentially dangerous research as they apply to a specific student project involving human subjects. The issues must be discussed with the student when completing the Student Research Plan (Form 1A).

• Some experiments involve procedures or materials that are regulated by state and federal laws. If not thoroughly familiar with the regulations, the Adult Sponsor needs to enlist the aid of a Qualified Scientist and/or a Designated Supervisor.

• Adult Sponsor is responsible for ensuring the student’s research is eligible for entry in the Nebraska Junior Academy Science Fairs held in regions across the state.

• Adult Sponsor must evaluate projects requiring special supervision and make sure criteria for the Qualified Scientist and/or Designated Supervisor adhere to those set forth in the NJAS Guidelines.

• Adult Sponsor needs to either select the Qualified Scientist and/or Designated Supervisor for the student, or provide a lot of input if the student is doing the selecting.

• Qualified Scientist must be thoroughly familiar with the local, state, and federal regulations that govern the student’s area of research.

• Qualified Scientist and the Adult Sponsor may be the same person, if that person is qualified as outlined above.

• Qualified Scientist must do a risk assessment while reviewing the project for approval.

• Qualified Scientist must directly supervise the experiment if risk assessment indicates "more than minimal risk", and if he/she is unable to directly supervise the experiment a trained Designated Supervisor is required.

• Student may work with a Qualified Scientist in another city or state. In this case, the student must work locally with a Designated Supervisor who has been trained in the techniques the student will use.

3) Designated Supervisor:

• Designated Supervisor is an adult who supervises a student’s experiment.

• Designated Supervisor need not have an advanced degree, but should be thoroughly familiar with the student’s project, and must be trained in the student’s area of research.

Rule 2: The Adult Sponsor must have the school administration review any tests, surveys or questionnaires to be used in the project for a risk assessment using the information provided in Part E "Evaluating Risk" before the Qualified Scientist reviews the project for approval.

Rule 3: All other human research projects (including surveys, professional tests, questionnaires and studies in which the researcher is the subject of his/her own research) must have the Student Research Plan (Form 1A) reviewed and approved by a Qualified Scientist (medical doctor or psychologist) before experimentation begins. The project may require that the human subjects sign the Informed Consent Form (Form 3A) or school policy may require that the Informed Consent Form (Form 3A) be used.

Rule 4: Observational studies and related data collection must have the Student Research Plan (Form 1A) reviewed and approved by a Qualified Scientist (medical doctor or psychologist), but projects are not required to have the human subjects sign the Informed Consent Form (Form 3A). However, school policy may require that human subjects use the Informed Consent Form (Form 3A).

Rule 5: Any proposed changes in the Student Research Plan (Form 1A) by the student after approval by the adults on the Adult Sponsor Safety Assessment and Approval Form (Form 2A) must have subsequent approval before such changes are made and before experimentation begins/resumes.

Rule 6: Copies of the approved Student Research Plan (Form 1A) and Adult Sponsor Safety Assessment and Approval Form (Form 2A) must be available for review by the NJAS Regional Director (or his/her representative) and the judges at the Regional Science Fair competition. It is recommended these be kept in a notebook or folder.

Rule 7: It is illegal to publish or display information in a report that identifies the human subjects directly without written informed consent. (Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C., 241(d).) Use the Informed Consent Form (Form 3A).

• Parents have the right to deny participation of their child as a human subject in any study (including those involving standardized tests or student-prepared tests, questionnaires and surveys). The Adult Sponsor must have the school administration review any tests, surveys or questionnaires to be used in the project for a risk assessment using the information provided in Part E "Evaluating Risk" before the Qualified Scientist reviews the project for approval. If there is "more than minimal risks" the Informed Consent Form (Form 3A) is required for all subjects.

• Copies of tests, surveys or questionnaires that will be used in the project must be provided to parents with the Informed Consent Form (Form 3A).

• The Informed Consent Form (Form 3A) is a) required for subjects under 18 years of age (except as noted in Rule 1 in Section B), b) required for all subjects when "more than minimal risk" is determined by the Qualified Scientist (medical doctor or psychologist) and c) is strongly recommended for all projects involving human subjects.

No more than minimal risk exists when the probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the research are not greater (in and of themselves) than those ordinarily encountered in DAILY LIFE or during performance of routine physical or psychological examinations or tests.

• Studies involving animals in their natural environment as well as animals in zoological parks with no interaction between the experimenter and the subject animal(s) do NOT require "Qualified Scientist Statement" signatures on the Adult Sponsor Safety Assessment and Approval Form (Form 2A).

1) Adult Sponsor:

• Adult Sponsor is ultimately responsible not only for the health and safety of the student conducting the research, but also for the nonhuman vertebrates used as subjects.

• Adult Sponsor must be familiar with the regulations that govern potentially dangerous research as they apply to research involving nonhuman vertebrates. The issues must be discussed with the student when completing the required forms.

• Adult Sponsor needs to read and be familiar with the information provided in this chapter before allowing any students to design/conduct experimental research involving nonhuman vertebrate subjects.

• Qualified Scientist must be thoroughly familiar with the local, state, and federal regulations that govern the student’s area of research.

• Qualified Scientist and the Adult Sponsor may be the same person, if that person is qualified as outlined above.

• Student may work with a Qualified Scientist in another city or state. In this case, the student must work locally with a Designated Supervisor who has been trained in the techniques the student will use.

• Designated Supervisor need not have an advanced degree, but should be thoroughly familiar with the student’s project, and must be trained in the student’s area of research.

• Adult Sponsor may act as the Designated Supervisor.

4) Animal Care Supervisor:

• Animal Care Supervisor must be familiar with the proper care and handling of research animals used in the project.

• Qualified Scientist or Designated Supervisor usually serves as the Animal Care Supervisor.

• Adult Sponsor, if familiar with proper care and handling, can serve as the Animal Care Supervisor.

Rule 2: The NJAS Rules and the ISEF International Rules define an animal as any live, nonhuman vertebrate, mammalian embryo or fetus, bird eggs within three days (72 hours) of hatching, and all other vertebrates at hatching or birth.

Rule 3: Students performing animal research must follow local, state, and federal regulations. Research conducted at registered research institutions (e.g., university lab, medical center, NIH, etc.) must be reviewed and approved by that institution's Animal Care and Use Committee. Invasive studies which duplicate previous research by others should be avoided.

Rule 4: Procurement

• Animals should be healthy and free of diseases that can be transmitted to humans or other animals.

• Animals may not be captured from or released into the wild without approval of authorized wildlife and public health officials.

• All animals are classified as laboratory animals on the first day of study. Student Research Plan (Form 1A) must be submitted for review and approval by a veterinarian before experimentation begins.

Rule 5: Housing

• NJAS and the Intel ISEF accepts two basic animal care guides on the care and use of laboratory animals: Federal Animal Welfare Act, and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. For farm animals, use the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching (Agri-Guide). (See Part H: "Sources of Information for Animal Care and Use" for listings.) Any deviations from these guides must be approved by an Animal Care Supervisor.

• Animals must be housed in clean, ventilated, comfortable environments compatible with the standards and requirements appropriate for the species used. Animals must have adequate lighting, humidity and controlled temperature (with as little variation as possible), and have sanitizable cages of adequate sizes for the typical activities and social interactions of the species (unless individual housing is dictated by experimental protocol).

• The conditions above are especially critical with experiments involving small, common laboratory animals (e.g., mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, rabbits). The health and well-being of the animals should always be the highest consideration. Because the school setting is not always suitable, the student's home environment setting needs to be compared to the school setting by the student and the Adult Sponsor when deciding where to house the animals and conduct the experiment. Which setting is the best for maintaining the environment, housing and husbandry standards?

Rule 6: Husbandry

• Animals must be given a continuous, clean (uncontaminated) water and food supply. Food should meet the nutritional requirements of the particular species. Watering and feeding devices should be cleaned frequently.

• Proper care must be provided at all times including weekends, holidays, and vacation periods. Animals must be observed DAILY to assess their health and well-being.

• Cages, pens, and fish tanks must be cleaned frequently. A highly absorbent bedding should be used in cages and pens. Hardwood chips are recommended (do not use cedar) and can be obtained from local pet or feed stores. Do not use newspaper or paper towels because inks may be carcinogens and adversely affect liver enzyme function.

• If an unexpected illness or emergency occurs, animals must have proper veterinary medical and nursing care under the direction of a veterinarian.

• Experimental procedures that cause unnecessary pain or unnecessary discomfort or unnecessary death to any vertebrate animals, including operant conditioning with aversive stimuli and predator/prey experiments, are prohibited (e.g., mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish).

• Research on animals involving anesthetics, drugs, thermal procedures, physical stress, organisms pathogenic for humans or other vertebrates, ionizing radiation, carcinogens, mutagens, tumors, or surgical procedures must be directly supervised by a Qualified Scientist or Designated Supervisor within a hospital, school, or clinical/research institution.

• The use of alcohol, acid rain, insecticide, herbicide and heavy metal in toxicity or behavioral studies on live vertebrates is prohibited.

• Research in nutritional deficiency, ingestion, inoculation or exposure to hazardous or reputedly toxic materials or drugs is permitted to proceed only to the point where signs or lesions of the deficiency or toxicity first appear. Appropriate measures must then be taken to correct the deficiency, toxicity or drug effect, if such action is feasible. If not, the animal(s) must be euthanized.

• Food or water deprivation should be appropriate to the species, but may not exceed 24 hours.

• Weight loss is one significant sign of stress or toxicity. Maximum permissible weight loss or growth retardation (compared to controls) of any experimental or control animal(s) is 15 percent.

• LD 50: LD means lethal dose or death rate. A death rate of 50 percent or greater in any group or subgroup, by design or as an unexpected result of experimental procedure is not permitted and the project will fail to qualify for competition.

Rule 8: Euthanasia

• The Adult Sponsor keeps the completed forms on file for liability purposes. Students with projects involving vertebrates must have copies of the completed Student Research Plan (Form 1A) and the Adult Sponsor Safety Assessment and Approval Form (Form 2A) available for review by the NJAS Regional Director (or his/her representative) and the judges at the Regional Science Fair competition. It is recommended these be kept in a notebook or folder.

• Projects involving protists isolated from the environment are exempt and do NOT require a Qualified Scientist signature on the Adult Sponsor Safety Assessment and Approval Form (Form 2A).

• Projects involving agricultural use of animal waste as fertilizer are exempt and do NOT require a Qualified Scientist or Designated Supervisor signature on the Adult Sponsor Safety Assessment and Approval Form (Form 2A).

• Projects using micro-organisms purchased through a biological supply company and known to be non-pathogenic are exempt and do NOT require a Qualified Scientist or Designated Supervisor signature on the Adult Sponsor Safety Assessment and Approval Form (Form 2A).

• Projects using E. coli strain K12 and Baker’s and brewer’s yeasts are not considered to involve pathogens and do NOT require a Qualified Scientist or Designated Supervisor signature on the Adult Sponsor Safety Assessment and Approval Form (Form 2A).

• Adult Sponsor is ultimately responsible for the health and safety of the student conducting the research.

• Adult Sponsor must be familiar with the regulations that govern potentially dangerous research as they apply to research involving pathogenic agents. The issues must be discussed with the student when completing the required forms for ALL projects.

• Adult Sponsor needs to read and be familiar with the information provided in this chapter before allowing students to design/conduct experimental research involving pathogenic agents.

2) Qualified Scientist:

•

Qualified Scientist must be a medical doctor or medical technologist.

• The Qualified Scientist must be thoroughly familiar with the local, state, and federal regulations that govern the student’s area of research.

• Qualified Scientist and the Adult Sponsor may be the same person, if that person is qualified as outlined above.

• Student may work with a Qualified Scientist in another city or state. In this case, the student must work locally with a Designated Supervisor who has been trained in the techniques the student will use.

3) Designated Supervisor:

• Designated Supervisor is an adult who supervises a student’s experiment.

• Designated Supervisor need not have an advanced degree, but should be thoroughly familiar with the student’s project, and must be trained in the student’s area of research.

• Adult Sponsor may act as the Designated Supervisor.

Rule 1: Students are allowed to experiment with pathogenic agents as long as the students adhere to federal regulations and guidelines, which are designed to protect the safety of researchers. Carelessness and improper techniques in working with pathogenic and non-pathogenic agents can lead to laboratory- and/or field-contracted infections.

Rule 2: Research involving pathogenic agents must be approved by a Qualified Scientist (medical doctor or medical technologist)before experimentation begins.

Rule 3: Pathogenic agents are disease-causing agents such as bacteria, viruses, viroids, prions, rickettsia, fungi, or parasites. For purposes of these rules, the term "Pathogenic Agent" applies to ALL pathogenic agents whether they infect humans, vertebrates, invertebrates or plants.

Rule 4: When using pathogenic agents, student researchers and their Adult Sponsors are required to follow standard microbiological practices, as defined in Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (see reference listing in Part E "Sources of Information").

Rule 5: Organisms collected, isolated, and/or cultured from any environment during student research projects are considered pathogenic with the exception of protists. Raw or partially-processed human or animal waste is considered to contain pathogenic agents.

Rule 6: Student research with pathogenic agents may be performed only under the direct supervision of an experienced Qualified Scientist (medical doctor or medical technologist) or Designated Supervisor in an institutional laboratory, including a school if facilities are adequate and appropriate.

Rule 7: Studies involving pathogenic agents are prohibited in a home environment, but specimens may be collected at home.

Rule 8: Studies on microorganisms with multiple antibiotic resistance must be conducted at a Registered Research Institution.

Rule 9: Any proposed changes in the Student Research Plan (Form 1A) by the student after initial approval by a medical doctor or medical technologist (Qualified Scientist) must have subsequent approval before such changes are made and before experimentation resumes.

Rule 10: Copies of the two required forms must be available for review by the NJAS Regional Director (or his/her representative) and/or the judges at the Regional Science Fair competition. It is recommended these be kept in a notebook or folder.

• The Student Research Plan (Form 1A) is submitted to the Qualified Scientist for review.

• If the Qualified Scientist approves the project and agrees to supervise the experimentation, then he/she must sign the "Qualified Statement" on the Adult Sponsor Safety Assessment and Approval Form (Form 2A).

• After completion, the two forms (Forms 1A and 2A) are submitted to the Adult Sponsor.

• Experimentation begins only after the two forms are on file with the Adult Sponsor.

• The Adult Sponsor should keep all the forms on file for liability purposes. Students with projects involving pathogenic agents must have copies of the completed Student Research Plan (Form 1A) and the Adult Sponsor Safety Assessment and Approval Form (Form 2A) available for review by the NJAS Regional Director (or his/her representative) and the judges at the Regional Science Fair competition. It is recommended these be kept in a notebook or folder.

• Adult Sponsor is ultimately responsible for the health and safety of the student conducting the research.

• Adult Sponsor must be familiar with the regulations that govern potentially dangerous research as they apply to research involving controlled substances. The issues must be discussed with the student when completing the required forms for ALL projects and the special forms required for research involving controlled substances.

• Adult Sponsor needs to read and be familiar with the information provided in this chapter before allowing any students to design/conduct experimental research involving controlled substances.

2) Qualified Scientist:

• Qualified Scientist should possess an earned doctoral/ professional degree in the biomedical sciences. However, a master’s degree with equivalent experience and/or expertise in the student’s area of research is acceptable. Qualified Scientists include medical doctors.

• Qualified Scientist must be thoroughly familiar with the local, state, and federal regulations that govern the student’s area of research.

• Qualified Scientist and the Adult Sponsor may be the same person, if that person is qualified as outlined above.

• Student may work with a Qualified Scientist in another city or state. In this case, the student must work locally with a Designated Supervisor who has been trained in the techniques the student will use.

3) Designated Supervisor:

• Designated Supervisor is an adult who supervises a student’s experiment.

• Designated Supervisor need not have an advanced degree, but should be thoroughly familiar with the student’s project, and must be trained in the student’s area of research.

• Adult Sponsor may act as the Designated Supervisor.

Rule 1: Students are allowed to experiment with controlled substances as long as the students adhere to federal regulations and guidelines, which are designed to protect the safety of researchers.

Rule 2: Student researchers must adhere to all federal regulations governing controlled substances. For further information, contact the regulatory agencies listed in Part E "Sources of Information".

Rule 3: Production of alcohol is federally regulated and students must contact the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for regulations (see Part E "Sources of Information" for contact information).

Rule 4: Only under the direct supervision of a Qualified Scientist or Designated Supervisor may a student use any federally-controlled or experimental substances for experimentation.

Rule 5: Any proposed changes in the Student Research Plan (Form 1A) by the student after approval by a Qualified Scientist and/or Designated Supervisor must have subsequent approval before such changes are made and before experimentation begins/resumes.

Rule 6: Copies of the two required forms must be available for review by the NJAS Regional Director (or his/her representative) and/or the judges at the Regional Science Fair competition. It is recommended these be kept in a notebook or folder.

• The Student Research Plan (Form 1A) is submitted to the Qualified Scientist for review.

• If the Qualified Scientist approves the project and agrees to supervise the experimentation, then he/she must sign the "Qualified Statement" on the Adult Sponsor Safety Assessment and Approval Form (Form 2A).

• After completion, the two forms (Forms 1A and 2A) are submitted to the Adult Sponsor.

• Experimentation begins only after the two forms are on file with the Adult Sponsor.

• The Adult Sponsor should keep all the forms on file for liability purposes. Students with projects involving controlled substances must have copies of the completed Student Research Plan (Form 1A) and the Adult Sponsor Safety Assessment and Approval Form (Form 2A) available for review by the NJAS Regional Director (or his/her representative) and the judges at the Regional Science Fair competition. It is recommended these be kept in a notebook or folder.

1) Adult Sponsor:

• Adult Sponsor is ultimately responsible for the health and safety of the student conducting the research.

• Adult Sponsor must be familiar with the regulations that govern potentially dangerous research as they apply to research involving hazardous substances and devices. The issues must be discussed with the student when completing the required forms for ALL projects and the special forms required for research involving hazardous substances and devices.

• Adult Sponsor needs to read and be familiar with the information provided in this chapter before allowing any students to design/conduct experimental research involving hazardous substances and devices.

2) Designated Supervisor:

• Designated Supervisor is an adult who supervises a student’s experiment. Appropriate individuals might include: chemistry teachers (for research involving flammable or explosive compounds), physic teachers (for research involving lasers or radiation), or police (for research involving firearms).

• Designated Supervisor need not have an advanced degree, but should be thoroughly familiar with the student’s project, and must be trained in the student’s area of research.

• Adult Sponsor may act as the Designated Supervisor.

Rule 1: The use of hazardous chemicals and equipment, firearms, radioactive substances and radiation require proper supervision by a Designated Supervisor. The Designated Supervisor must be directly responsible for overseeing the student experimentation.

Rule 2: Student researchers working with hazardous substances or devices must follow proper safety procedures for each chemical or device used in the research. Flammable, explosive or highly toxic chemicals are of particular concern. Also included are mutagens and carcinogens as well as chemical mixtures found in pesticides.

Rule 3: For all research requiring a Federal and/or State Permit, the student/Designated Supervisor will be expected to have the permit prior to the onset of experimentation.

Rule 4: Use of radiation and radioactive substances are tightly regulated. Students should strictly adhere to safety standards of the authorized institution where such substances/devices are used in the research.

Rule 5: Students under 21 are prohibited by federal and most state laws from purchasing and/or handling smokeless powder or black powder for science projects. (For further regulations, contact the Firearms & Explosives Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms listed in Part E "Sources of Information".)

Rule 6: Differentiation between hazardous and non-hazardous chemicals can best be determined by utilizing the Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).

Rule 7: Copies of all signed forms, certifications, and state or federal permits (if required) must be available for review by the NJAS Regional Director (or his/her representative) at the Regional Science Fair competition. It is recommended these be kept in a notebook or folder on the display table.

• The Student Research Plan (Form 1A) is submitted to the Designated Supervisor for review.

• If the Designated Supervisor approves the project and agrees to supervise the experimentation, he/she must sign the "Designated Supervisor Statement" on the Adult Sponsor Safety Assessment and Approval Form (Form 2A).

• After completion, the two forms (Forms 1A and 2A) are submitted to the Adult Sponsor.

• Experimentation begins after the two forms are on file with the Adult Sponsor.

• The Adult Sponsor should keep all the forms on file for liability purposes. Copies of both completed forms (Forms 1A and 2A) and copies of any state or federal permits (if required) must be available for review by the judges and the NJAS Regional Director (or his/her representative) at the Regional Science Fair competition. It is recommended these be kept in a notebook or folder on the display table.

• Taxidermy specimens or parts

• Preserved vertebrate or invertebrate animals

• Human or animal food

• Human/animal parts or body fluids (for example, blood, urine)

• Plant materials (living, dead or preserved) usually which were part of the scientific experimentation and which are in their raw, unprocessed, or non-manufactured state (Exception: manufactured construction materials used in building the project or display)

• Laboratory/household chemicals including water

• Poisons, drugs, controlled substances, hazardous substances or devices (for example, firearms, weapons, ammunition, reloading devices)

• Dry ice or other sublimating solids

• Sharp items (for example, syringes, needles, pipettes, knives)

• Flames or highly flammable materials

• Batteries with open-top cells

• Photographs or other visual aides depicting vertebrate animals in surgical techniques, dissections, necropsies or other lab procedures, improper housing conditions, etc.

• Lasers, except for the use of laser pointers during presentations

• Any scientific apparatus or invention may be displayed, but not operated. Apparatus must conform to the other display safety rules, such as no water or flames.

• All electrical work must conform to the National Electrical Code or exhibit hall regulations. The guidelines presented here are general ones, and other rules may apply to specific configurations. The on-site electrician may be requested to review electrical work.

• There must be an accessible, clearly visible on/off switch or other means of disconnect from the 120 or 220 Volt power source.

• Wiring which is not part of a commercially available UL-listed appliance or piece of equipment must have a fuse or circuit breaker on the supply side of the power source and prior to any project equipment.