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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 Affiliated Fair Conference which was held during the 2011 California State Science Fair.
The California State Science Fair is not an affiliate of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for 2012. As a result of this decision, the final science fair competition for CSSF participants in the Senior Division will be CSSF unless they have already qualified to ISEF through a more local ISEF-affiliated fair.
No decision has been made with respect to an ISEF affiliation for 2013 and into the future. When any decision about any such affiliation has been made we will announce that decision on this web site. Owing to the importance of this decision to our affiliates, this decision will be communicated directly with each affiliate through our usual means at the earliest possible time.
The California State Science Fair is affiliated with the Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology, and Engineering for Rising Stars) Competition for 2012. As a result of this affiliation, all projects in the Junior Division which receive a category award of First or Second Place will be qualified into, and receive entry packages for, the Broadcom MASTERS competition. This is a nationwide competition for students in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. From the total entrant pool, 300 Semifinalists will be selected, including 30 Finalists who win an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., where they will compete for awards and prizes, including the top education award of $25,000, which last year went to a Californian. For further information see the Broadcom MASTERS web site.
ISEF Certification Forms will be accepted in place of the CSSF Safety/Certification form. Students whose projects involve research on human subjects, vertebrate animals, or potentially hazardous biological agents are required, as a precondition for participation in CSSF (as well as most science fairs), to certify that they have followed all applicable regulations during the execution of their research project. In recognition that Senior Division students from some CSSF-affiliated fairs are already required to complete the more comprehensive ISEF forms, CSSF will accept these completed ISEF forms in place of our own Safety/Certification form.
There is no requirement at CSSF to use the ISEF forms. In particular, Senior Division students in ISEF-affiliated fairs may choose to submit the simpler CSSF form. Naturally, Junior Division participants, who are not eligible for ISEF, are expected to submit the CSSF form, as well as are all participants from non-ISEF-affiliates. In brief, all participants who are required to provide certification may choose to submit either form.
The only ISEF forms which are relevant to this discussion are those numbered 2, 3, 4, 5 (A or B), 6A, and 6B. If you elect to submit the ISEF forms, do not submit the originals. Instead, keep the originals with your project notebook or display, and submit only copies to us as part of your application.
All participants are requested to be present for Public Viewing on Monday, 3:00 - 4:30 pm. Central to the California State Science Fair's mission is the promotion of its participants and recognition of their accomplishments. One way we do this is by inviting the general public to view the projects entered into the Fair. While there has always been a Public Viewing time, this year we have changed Public Viewing to a relatively short period in the late afternoon, thus assuring that almost all projects will be entirely set up. Public Viewing has been scheduled so as to make it convenient for all participants to move to the Opening Ceremony and Keynote Address immediately following it.
Please note that no participant is required to be present at the Public Viewing. The invitation to the general public is meant to showcase your work which will be on display, whether or not you choose to be present to explain your work. While we have termed this period “Public Viewing,” it is expected that most students will avail themselves of this opportunity to see other projects. This opportunity will not repeat itself later during the Judging Period on Tuesday because all students will need to be at or near their projects for that entire time.
Due to space limitations, the Junior Division Awards Ceremony will be closed to the general public. Historically the Awards Ceremonies of CSSF have been open to any and all who have wanted to attend. However, there are so many people who would like to attend the Junior Division Awards Ceremony that, if not limited, attendance would exceed the building capacity set by the Fire Marshal.
Therefore, admission to the Junior Division Awards Ceremony will be limited to:
A “guest” is anyone other than a Junior Division participant and includes Senior Division participants, family members of participants, and the general public. While Junior Division participants are guaranteed seating at the ceremony, an Admission Ticket is good only for admission to the Annenberg Building, and does not guarantee a seat. Seats are on a first-come basis and cannot be reserved.
In order to fairly apportion the Admission Tickets to all who would like to attend the Junior Division Awards Ceremony, every Junior Division participant will be given one (1) such ticket at Registration where he/she will also collect the nametag, Program of Projects, and other relevant materials. Responsibility for determining to whom that Admission Ticket will be given rests solely with the registered Junior Division participant.
| Division | Start Time | End Time |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Division | 4:30 pm | 5:30 pm |
| Senior Division | 6:00 pm | 7:00 pm |
In contrast, since the Senior Division Awards Ceremony follows the Junior Division, and attendance is known to be smaller from experience in prior years, the Senior Division ceremony will be open to the public. No Admission Ticket will be required.
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 Affiliated Fairs Conferences, here are the allocations for 2012.
Acceptances for students from fairs with early deadlines will receive notice of acceptance early. Application Deadlines are staggered across the months of March and April with the fairs held earliest having the earliest deadlines. Nevertheless, before 2009 all applicants received notice of acceptance (or not) at the same time, the Final Acceptance Date, which this year is Sunday, April 15.
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 rejections) 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 previous years: 2011 , 2010 , 2009 , 2008 , 2007 , 2006 , 2005 , 2004 , 2003 , 2002 , 2001 , 2000 , 1999 , 1998 , 1997 .
Last updated:
Thu Mar 15 14:58:53 PDT 2012