S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)

Guidelines for all sciences

THESE GUIDELINES APPLY TO: BIOLOGY/MICROBIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY/BIOCHEMISTRY, COMPUTER SCIENCE, EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCES, ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS, MEDICINE AND HEALTH AND PHYSICS

Requirements

1. Only one (1) project can be entered per area.

2. Six (6) copies of a typed 8-. inch by 11 inch, double-spaced scientific paper must accompany the project to be submitted. The content of the paper, which should not exceed five (5) pages, should include: a short introduction describing the background and purpose of the work, an experimental section including both methods and results,and a concluding section discussing the results and their implications. Tables, graphs,charts, maps, photographs, raw statistical data, etc. should be included whenever possible. They must also include references used and acknowledgements of anyindividuals who served as direct academic resources. The student’s name, page number and unit name and number must be on the top of each page. Six (6) copies of the supporting documents, as well as the six copies of the paper must be submitted on or before the specified deadline.

3. The contestant is to make an oral presentation explaining his or her project. The oral presentation should not exceed five (5) minutes. This time limit does not include the time required for the judges to ask question and for the contestant to respond to the judges’ questions.

4. Contestants are responsible for providing their own equipment.

5. The NAACP ACT-SO Program will provide electrical power and display tables.

6. Contestants must submit a Science Verification Form from a qualified scientist or science teacher with an earned professional degree or license. This person can also serve as a coach, working closely with the student during the course of the project to ensure the accuracy of the student’s research and qualifications for entry.

NOTE: The deadline for submission of National registration documents is the first Friday in May. No materials or copies will be accepted at the National Competition.

Scientific Projects will be judged by the following criteria:

Quality of Research (40 pts)

a. Scientific Approach/Method

b. Validity of Information

c. Validity of Conclusion(s)

Depth of Understanding (40 pts)

a. Oral Presentation

b. Knowledge Gained and Creativity

c. Thoroughness

d. Individual Work

Written Report (10 pts)

Visual Presentation (10 pts)

Biology / Microbiology
The science of life or of the origin, structure, reproduction, growth and development of living organisms collectively.

Chemistry / Biochemistry
The science that deals with the composition, structure and properties of chemical processes and phenomena of substances and the transformation that they undergo.

Computer Science
The science that deals with the theoretical aspects of computers including storage and the transformation of data using computers.

Earth and Space Sciences
The body of sciences that include geology, mineralogy, physiography, oceanography, meteorology, climatology, astronomy, speleology, seismology, geography, etc.

Engineering

Technology. Projects that directly apply scientific principles to manufacturing and practical uses.

Mathematics

The science of numbers and their operations, interrelations, combinations, generalizations, and abstractions of spaced configurations and their structure. Development of formal logical systems or various numerical and algebraic computations and the application of these principles.

Medicine and Health
The study of diseases and health of humans and animals.

Physics
Theories, principles and laws governing energy and the effect of energy on matter.