Allowable Exhibit Size:

 Exhibits exceeding these dimensions will be disqualified at the WSSEF and ISEF. Tables are furnished (76 cm. high), but tall exhibits may be placed on the floor as desired.  

Entrant to Furnish:

The entrant is required to furnish all materials needed to setup and show his or her exhibit (e.g., 9 foot long UL approved extension cord, tape, markers). Project sounds, lights, odors, or any other display items must not be distracting to other participants. WSSEF will furnish electricity for all projects. Any surge protection is the responsibility of the student. (See further rules under the “Electrical Regulations” further down on the page.

Name of Students and Schools on Exhibits:

Where the student’s name and/or school name appears on the exhibit, in the journal, or in the abstract, it must be hidden from view (erased, taped over, or otherwise covered for the duration of the fair.

Removal of Exhibits:

Exhibits must remain in place until 5:00 PM Saturday for posting of awards and public viewing. All exhibits must be removed Saturday starting at 5:00pm. Abandoned exhibits will be destroyed!

The Scientific Review Committee, and/or the Display and Safety Committee reserve the right to remove any project for safety reasons or to protect the integrity of the WSSEF and its rules and regulations.
 

Not Allowed at Project or in Booth 

1. Living organisms, including plants

2. Taxidermy specimens or parts

3. Preserved vertebrate or invertebrate animals

4. Human or animal food

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

6. Plant materials (living, dead, or preserved) that are in their raw, unprocessed, or non- manufactured state (Exception: manufactured construction materials used in building the project or display).

7. All chemicals including water (Exceptions: water integral to an enclosed apparatus or water supplied by the Display and Safety Committee)

8. All hazardous substances or devices [for example, poisons, drugs, firearms, weapons, ammunition, and reloading devices.  Lasers are allowed with the restrictions indicated in item 5 in the rules section below entitled “Allowed at Project or in Booth BUT with the Restrictions Indicated.”

9. Dry ice or other sublimating solids

10. Sharp items (for example, syringes, needles, pipettes, knives)

11. Flames or highly flammable materials

12. Batteries with open-top cells

13. Photographs or other visual presentations depicting vertebrate animals in surgical techniques, dissections,necropsies, or other lab procedures

14. Active Internet or e-mail connections as part of displaying or operating the project.

15. Prior years’ written material or visual depictions on the vertical display board. [Exception: the project title displayed in the Finalist’s booth may mention years or which year the project is (for example, “Year Two of an Ongoing Study”)]. Continuation projects must have the Continuation Project Form (7) vertically displayed.

16. Glass or glass objects unless deemed by the Display and Safety Committee to be an integral and necessary part of the project (Exception: glass that is an integral part of a commercial product such as a computer screen).

17. Any apparatus deemed unsafe by the Scientific Review Committee, the Display and Safety Committee, or Society for Science & the Public (for example, large vacuum tubes or dangerous ray-generating devices, empty tanks that previously contained combustible liquids or gases, pressurized tanks, etc.)

Allowed at Project or in Booth BUT with the Restrictions Indicated

1. Soil, sand, rock, and/or waste samples if permanently encased in a slab of acrylic

2. Photographs and/or visual depictions if:

a. They are not deemed offensive or inappropriate by the Scientific Review Committee or the Display and Safety Committee. This includes, but is not limited to, visually offensive photographs or visual depictions of invertebrate or vertebrate animals, including humans. The decision by any one of the groups mentioned above is final.

b. They have credit lines of origin (“Photograph taken by...”or “Image taken from...”). (If all photographs being displayed were taken by the Finalist or are from the same source, one credit line prominently and vertically displayed is sufficient.)

c. They are from the Internet, magazines, newspapers, journals, etc., and credit lines are attached. (If all photographs/images are from the same source, one credit prominently and vertically displayed is sufficient.)

d. They are photographs or visual depictions of the Finalist.

e. They are photographs of human subjects for which signed consent forms are at the project or in the booth. (Human Subjects Form 4 or equivalent photograph release signed by the human subject must be included in the paperwork.)

4. Any apparatus with unshielded belts, pulleys, chains, or moving parts with tension or pinch points if for display only and not operated

5. Class II lasers if:

a. The output energy is <1 mW and is operated only by the Finalist

b. Operated only during the Display and Safety inspection and during judging

c. Labeled with a sign reading “Laser Radiation: Do Not Look into Beam”

d. Enclosed in protective housing that prevents physical and visual access to beam

e. Disconnected when not operating

Note: Class II lasers are found in laser pointers and in aiming and range-finding devices. They pose a risk if the beam is directly viewed over a long period of time.

6. Class III and IV lasers if for display only and not operated (See the description of Class III and Class IV lasers in the Radiation section of the Hazardous Chemicals, Activities, or Devices chapter of the International Rules for Pre-college Research).

7. Any apparatus producing temperatures that will cause physical burns if adequately insulated

Electrical Regulations

1. Finalists requiring 120 Volt A.C. electrical circuits must provide a UL-listed 3-wire extension cord which is appropriate for the load and equipment.

2. Electrical power supplied to projects and, therefore, the maximums allowed for projects is 120 volt, AC, single phase, 60 cycle. Maximum circuit amperage/wattage available is determined by the electrical circuit capacities of the exhibit hall and may be adjusted on-site by the Display and Safety Committee.

3. All electrical work must conform to the National Electrical Code or exhibit hall regulations.

4. All electrical connectors, wiring, switches, extension cords, fuses, etc. must be UL-listed and must be appropriate for the load and equipment. Connections must be soldered or made with UL-listed connectors.

Wiring, switches, and metal parts must have adequate insulation and over-current safety devices (such as fuses) and must be inaccessible to anyone other than the Finalist. Exposed electrical equipment or metal that possibly may be energized must be shielded with a nonconducting material or with a grounded metal box to prevent accidental contact.

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

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

7. Any lighting that generates considerable and excessive amounts of heat (high-intensity lamps, halogen lights, etc.) must be turned off when the student is not present at the project. These types of lightning should be turned off unless presenting the project to judges.

Neither the WSSEF board, its individual members, nor hosting entity, is responsible for any loss, damage, or injury associated with the fair.

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