Rules and Regulations:

Restricted Projects

Students involved in research in any of these restricted areas must read

and follow the rules in this section.

  1. Human subjects

  2. Vertebrate animals

  3. Potentially hazardous biological agents

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **

  4. Hazardous chemicals, activities or devices (includes tobacco & alcohol )

  5. Research in off-campus facilities or programs


A.    Projects Requiring Prior Approval

Students planning on conducting an experiment in any of the first three areas listed above must submit a Research Proposal, which includes a written Research Plan detailing the project, to the Scientific Review Committee/Institutional Review Board for approval before actual experimentation begins.

The proposal must include the following:

  •  Checklist for Adult Sponsor (Form 1)
  •  Student Checklist & Research Plan Instructions (Form 1A)
  •  the complete, detailed written Research Plan (which follows the Research Plan Instructions)
  •  Approval Form (Form 1B)
  •  any other forms applicable to the project (Form 4, Form 6A, Form 7, etc.)   
  •  Do not include Form 1C (Regulated Research Institution Form) at this time. 

The appropriate certification forms should be attached to the Research Proposal (as well as to the final Project Synopsis). All forms may be accessed from the MRSF website menu.

Experimentation may not begin until the Approval Form, signed by the Chairman of the SRC/IRB, is returned to the student. 

An exception to the prior submission of a research proposal to the SRC is if the research is being done under the direct supervision of a Qualified Scientist in an institutional setting.  Visit Research Conducted in Regulated Research Institutions for more information.

 

Middle School Scientific Review Committees

Middle schools may choose to have their own SRC if they have participated in the Metro Richmond Science Fair for at least 1 year, or if the committee members are trained by the Coordinator. Otherwise, research proposals must be submitted to the Fair SRC/IRB. Experimentation may not begin until the Approval Form, signed by the Chairman of the SRC, is returned to the student. 

For more information, see Rules for the Middle School SRC.

 

B.    Projects That Do NOT Require Prior Approval

If students are working with hazardous chemicals or devices (such as firearms, strong chemicals, electricity, lasers, etc.), or if their project involves hazardous activities, they do not have to submit a Research Proposal to the SRC before they begin their experiment. They must, however, submit an additional form (or two) and be working with a Qualified Scientist or a Designated Supervisor who:

    1. has training in the subject area of the experiment,
    2. discusses safety concerns with the student before the experiment begins,
    3. conducts a formal written Risk Assessment (Form 3) with the student based on those safety concerns,
    4. directly supervises the experiment.

See the specific rules section below for additional information.

 

Rules for Specific Restricted Projects
Updated 8/23/11