Judging

Aardvark Science Exposition

March 7, 2005

HOW IS JUDGING ORGANIZED?

Judges are categorized as Category Judges, Head Category Judges, Special Awards Judges and Finalist Judges. A description of their responsibilities follows.

Intel ISEF Judging Criteria:

http://www.sciserv.org/isef/judges/judges_criteria.asp

Category Judges

Student projects are entered into either of two Divisions, based upon grade level:

1) High School Division (grades 9 – 12); and,

2) Middle School Division (grades 6 – 8).

These two Divisions are judged separately. Within each Division the projects are classified and judged in the same set of 15 Technical Categories, with a couple of exceptions noted below. Thus, two panels of Category Judges are being recruited—one to judge the High School Division; the other, the Middle School Division in each of the categories. The technical categories are as follows:

1)                  Behavioral and Social Sciences

2)                  Biochemistry     (HS Division only)

3)                  Botany

4)                  Chemistry

5)                  Computer Science

6)                  Consumer Products Testing (MS Division only)

7)                  Earth Sciences

8)                  Engineering

9)                  Environmental Sciences

10)              Gerontology

11)              Mathematics

12)              Medicine and Health

13)              Microbiology

14)              Physics

15)       Space sciences

16)              Zoology

17)              Large Team Projects

Head Category Judges and Special Awards Judges

The Judge Coordinators identify a Head Judge for each Category. The Head Category Judge has the responsibility of managing and coordinating the activities of the Category Judges within that category, insuring that decisions are made according to the supplied criteria in a timely manner, and reporting the winners to the Judge Coordinator

Special Awards are bestowed on projects by a wide range of professional societies and organizations. While the requirements differ for each of these Special Awards, Special Awards Judges are needed to determine the winners.

Finalist Judges

Once the winners in each Category are determined, a panel of Finalist Judges reviews the winning projects in all categories and selects “Best of Fair” winners in both Divisions. Best of Fair awardees will participate in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair held later in the spring. The finalist judging panel needs representation from each of the categories. Finalist Judges are often Head Category Judges. Being a Finalist Judge requires extra time and effort beyond that needed to serve as a Category Judge.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR JUDGES

The most important qualification for any judge is the willingness to commit the time and energy to honor the hard work of the students and to encourage their further interest in science, math and engineering. The most important criterion for judging is the degree to which a student has skillfully applied the processes of science or engineering.

Category Judges for the High School Division should have an MA, MS, or a PhD (preferred) in that category or in a closely related field. Category Judges for the Middle School Division should have a BA/BS (preferred) or have extensive experience in that category or in a closely related field. These are general guidelines. Past experience with science fairs and professional experience in the category being judged will be considered in assigning judges.

TIME COMMITMENT AND DUTIES OF A JUDGE

About two weeks prior to the fair, Judges will receive further information about judging, category assignments, abstracts to review and parking instructions. Judges should take time to review that information. On the day of the fair the time commitment for Judges is as follows:

FoFor registration call Tanja Horvat: 503-246-7771 or Email: horvatt@oes.edu or register on line: