top of page

UNACCEPTABLE  PROJECTS

READ THIS PAGE BEFORE ENTERING YOUR PROJECT!

ANY PROJECT IN VIOLATION OF SVSEI, SCVSEFA, ISEF, OR CALIFORNIA EDUCATION RULES AND REGULATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

​

MOREOVER, HUMAN PARTICIPANTS/BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE PROJECTS, ROCKETRY, PRODUCT TESTING, PROJECTS THAT LACK A MEASURABLE ENDPOINT*, OR THOSE TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM LITERATURE/INTERNET** WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

​

AVOID THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS UNLESS YOU FOLLOW THE NOTED EXCEPTIONS:

  1. Crystal growth UNLESS variables are included

  2. Basic chromatography UNLESS variables are included

  3. Wing/fin shape comparison UNLESS mass is taken into consideration

  4. Basic flight testing of planes UNLESS variables are included

  5. Basic solar collectors or ovens UNLESS engineering design variables are included

  6. Acid rain projects UNLESS thorough research into the composition of acid rain is included in your project entry AND a scientifically accurate simulation will be done for your project

  7. Planaria worm regeneration UNLESS variables are included AND there are greater than 10 per group

*AVOID PROJECTS THAT LACK A MEASURABLE ENDPOINT

Results need to be expressed in UNITS of growth, size, mass, speed, time, volume, frequency, replication rate, chemical analysis, or other quantifiable methods. CHANGE FROM QUALITATIVE TO QUANTITATIVE MEASUREMENTS (those that give you data with numbers in SI units) to meet the acceptability requirement.

​

**PROJECTS TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE INTERNET/LITERATURE

Projects taken DIRECTLY from the Internet or literature (books, magazine articles, etc.) is considered PLAGIARISM and will NOT be accepted.

Scientific fraud and misconduct are NEVER condoned at any level of research or competition. This includes plagiarism, forgery, data fabrication, and the use or presentation of another researcher's work as your own. The SVSEI, SCVSEFA, CSSEF, and ISEF will not allow these projects to compete, and if discovered post-competition, will revoke recognition of said projects and ban these students from future science and engineering fair participation.

You are encouraged to get inspiration from sources (see Project Resources page) and to revisit references you might have looked at during your background literature search, but the IDEA for your project MUST BE ORIGINAL. Use your creativity to add your twist to the project to make it your own - and to meet this acceptability requirement.

​

​

​

​

​

​

DO NOT SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS -THEY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY SVSEF SRC:

  1. Effect of colored light, music, or talking on plant growth

  2. Effect of cola, coffee, or other beverages on teeth

  3. Strength/absorbency of paper towels

  4. Consumer product testing ("What is the best type of ...?)

  5. Astrology projects

  6. Maze running

  7. Any project that boils down to simple preferences

  8. Effect of color on taste

  9. Optical illusions

  10. Reaction times or other human participant projects

  11. Model rocketry testing

  12. Detergents vs. stains

  13. Battery life comparisons (plug-in, then run them down)

  14. Pyramid power

  15. Color choice of goldfish, etc. 

bottom of page