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The California State Science Fair strives continually to improve the quality of the event for its participants throughout the State of California. As part of these ongoing efforts the changes listed below will be implemented. Some of these changes were discussed at the last County Coordinators’ Conference which was held during the 2009 California State Science Fair.
This year all projects will be on display in the California Science Center. Last year, owing to space constraints, all Senior Division projects were on display in the Wallis Annenberg Building, about a hundred yards to the northeast of the main building. Thanks to newly completed construction of facilities of the Science Center, this year all projects will be able to be sited together in the main building. In consequence of this change to display areas, one additional aspect of the Fair's operation has changed from last year:
Like last year, all ceremonies will be held in the Wallis Annenberg Building. This includes the Keynote Address on Monday night, Student Orientation on Tuesday morning, and the two Awards Ceremonies Tuesday afternoon.
Owing to limitations of space, the traditional single Awards Ceremony at the end of the Fair will again be split into two, one for each division, Junior and Senior. These Awards Ceremonies will be held in the Wallis Annenberg Building, familiar to returning participants. This building is also the site of the Keynote and Student Orientation Ceremonies.
| Division | Awards Ceremony | Project Removal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start Time | End Time | ||
| Senior Division | 4:00 pm | 5:00 pm | 3:30 - 4:00 pm |
| Junior Division | 5:30 pm | 6:30 pm | 3:30 - 5:00 pm |
Because the Senior Division Awards Ceremony will conclude after the main California Science Center building has closed, Senior Division participants must remove their projects before 4:00 pm, the start of their Awards Ceremony. Participants should be aware that some judging operations may continue until 3:30 pm, so no projects may be removed before that time without an explicit announcement by Fair officials. Owing to the separate Awards Ceremonies, separate times are provided for each division’s projects to be removed from the display areas, as described below:
The allocations to affiliated fairs of the number of projects which may be sent to CSSF have been determined. Beginning in 1998, the number of projects which each affiliated fair is allowed to qualify to CSSF has been defined as an explicit limit by CSSF, rather than loose limits determined by each fair independently. Based upon current available space, determined needs across the entire State, and discussions with our affiliates, most notably all of those participating in recent County Coordinators Conferences, here are the allocations for 2010.
Acceptances for students from fairs with early deadlines will receive notice of acceptance early. Application Deadlines are staggered across the month of April with the fairs held earliest having the earliest deadlines. Nevertheless, until 2009 all applicants received notice of acceptance (or not) at the same time, the Acceptance Date, which this year is Sunday, May 2.
In an effort to allow many families more time to make travel plans, this year acceptances will again be announced progressively over the course of the application period. Acceptances (or not) for applicants from each affiliate will be emailed 14 calendar days after the Application Deadline for that affiliate, or the Final Acceptance Date, whichever comes earlier.
While students identified as alternates have the same Submission Deadline as qualified projects, they should not pay their Application Fee until accepted. Many, if not most, students who are named as alternates from their affiliated fair to CSSF will have their applications rejected. In years prior to 2008 such students were required to pay their application fee by the same Application Fee Deadline as qualified projects. However, in consequence of the nonrefundable nature of the application fee, students who are identified as alternates are now advised not to pay their Application Fee at the time of application, but instead should wait until they are accepted by CSSF. Alternates who do pay their application fee do not enjoy any extra priority in acceptance. Priority among alternates is established by the affiliated fair and is not changed by CSSF.
Qualified projects are required to meet their Application Fee Deadline in order to certify that they will attend CSSF if accepted. In this respect, alternates have a simpler application procedure, but this is in recognition of the likelihood that their applications may not be accepted.
See also: Changes in recent years: 2009 , 2008 , 2007 , 2006 , 2005 , 2004 , 2003 , 2002 , 2001 , 2000 , 1999 , 1998 , 1997 .
Last updated:
Wed Mar 24 10:32:25 PDT 2010