California State Science Fair
Changes from 2010 - 2011

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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 2010 California State Science Fair.


Operations
Fair Date
Intel ISEF Affiliation
Broadcom MASTERS Competition
Fair Venue
Awards Ceremonies
Project Removal Times
Annual Update
Project Allocations for 2011
Recent Changes (from previous Fairs)
Rolling Acceptances
Modified Application Procedure for Alternates

Fair Date

For 2011 the California State Science Fair will take place three weeks early compared to its traditional schedule. Traditionally CSSF has been scheduled on the Monday and Tuesday preceding Memorial Day Observed Day. However, this year owing to the fact that the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair is coming to Los Angeles for the first time in its 60+ years, and will be held in mid-May, the California State Science Fair has decided to push forward to the first week in May.

Attendant this change, several related issues arise, including whether or not CSSF will become an ISEF affiliate, and whether in future years CSSF will be scheduled still earlier or return to its traditional time in late May. This issue was discussed at the 2010 Affiliated Fairs Conference with opinions expressed on both sides. While a final decision has not been made, at the moment (see the timestamp at the bottom of the page), in recognition of the difficulties imposed by the early date on CSSF's affiliated fairs throughout the State, we expect not to become an ISEF affiliate, and that we will return next year to our traditional late May schedule.


Intel ISEF Affiliation

This year the California State Science Fair has established an affiliation with the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. As a result of this affiliation, five projects from the Senior Division will be qualified to participate in this year's ISEF, and will be given an all expenses paid trip to the fair which will be held in Los Angeles on May 8-13. Intel ISEF is the premier global science competition for students in grades 9-12, and gathers more than 1600 students from nearly 60 countries in competition for over $4 million in awards and prizes.

In consequence of the eligibility of Senior Division students to Intel ISEF the application process for Senior Division students will be slightly changed this year with Intel ISEF safety and certification forms being preferred, but not required, for everyone in the Senior Division. While not using the Intel ISEF forms will not affect any student's participation in CSSF, no student will be eligible to be selected for Intel ISEF without completed Intel ISEF forms.

Further, owing to the short time between the selection of students at CSSF and the opening of Intel ISEF, the selected students will need to complete the application to Intel ISEF immediately following the CSSF Awards Ceremony. CSSF will assist in this process and will effect the submission of the applications immediately.


Broadcom MASTERS Competition

This year the California State Science Fair has established an affiliation with the Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology, and Engineering for Rising Stars) Competition. As a result of this affiliation, all projects in the Junior Division which receive a category award of First or Second Place will be automatically qualified into 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. Complete details will be provided to the selected students at the Awards Ceremony.


Fair Venue

This year all projects will be on display in the California Science Center. In some years, owing to space constraints Senior Division projects have been on display in the Wallis Annenberg Building, about a hundred yards to the northeast of the main building. Last year, space was made available to the Fair thanks to the timely departure of a traveling exhibit. That space, however, is not available this year. Fortunately, newly completed construction of more facilities in the Science Center will enable us again this year to place all projects together in the main building.

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.


Awards Ceremonies

As in the past two years, 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. Compared to last year, however, the schedule will change in two ways. First, the order of ceremonies will be reversed, with the Junior Division ceremony occuring first. Second, the start time of each ceremony has been pushed back 30 minutes.

Schedule of Awards Ceremonies
Division Start Time End Time
Junior Division 4:30 pm 5:30 pm
Senior Division 6:00 pm 7:00 pm


Project Removal Times

Unlike 2010, all projects may be removed from the display area beginning at 3:30 pm. This removal time is the same for both Junior and Senior Divisions. If possible due to early completion of judging functions in the afternoon, an announcement will be made that removal may begin earlier — possibly as early as 3:00 pm.


Project Allocations for 2011

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 2011.


Rolling Acceptances (Changed in 2009)

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 17.

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.


Modified Application Procedure for Alternates (Changed in 2008)

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: 2010 , 2009 , 2008 , 2007 , 2006 , 2005 , 2004 , 2003 , 2002 , 2001 , 2000 , 1999 , 1998 , 1997 .

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Last updated: Mon Mar 14 12:30:29 PDT 2011
California State Science Fair / Changes for 2011 / CalifSF@usc.edu