Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the requirements for a lab journal?
Each student team is required to submit a lab journal for part of their project evaluation. The type of lab book required is one that is easily obtainable at stores such as Staples or Office Depot. The recommended type is a Blueline Hard Cover Flush-cut Composition Book (7 ¼” x 9 ¼”). They sell for under $10.

For a scientist the lab book is a record of everything connected with his or her research. It is a record of the procedures, observations and results of ongoing research and it is a place to record those ideas that occur to a scientist as he or she thinks about the work. It is a record of when ideas were born in case there is a dispute over patents or intellectual property. There are some standard procedures common to most institutions. These are listed below and are the organizational and procedural aspects of keeping a lab book. As well, there are some expectations as to the kinds of content expected. These are in the checklist that judges will use to assess your lab books.

Laboratory notebook checklist

• Before you begin any entries, number every page of your lab book consecutively in the upper right hand corner of each page. Do not leave out any pages.
• Date every page of the book as you use it and every entry if doesn’t start on a new page. If you make a mistake, cross it out with a single stroke and initial it. Do not remove any pages from the book.
• Do not use white out or liquid paper.
• Glue a copy of the experimental procedure or protocol in the notebook the first time you use that procedure.
• Do not leave empty pages between experiments. Just write “continued on page ##” where you end and “continued from page ##” where you begin again.
• Start a new page for each different experiment or project.
• Glue diagrams and photos in at the appropriate place and initial the corner of the photo or diagram.
• IMPORTANT: Have your mentor sign the lab book indicating that he or she has seen it.

2. What should my display be like?
* SBCC reserves the right to assign available display space to exhibitors equally and to exclude exhibits that may be dangerous to exhibitors, visitors and the premises.
* A safety checklist is included in this FAQ section.
* The SBCC regional coordinator or designated safety inspector has the authority to disqualify a display.
* The display should be a presentation of results, not a demonstration of the experiment.

• Backboards

Check with your regional coordinator to see if backboards will be provided in your region. For the National SBCC, foam core backboards will be provided. It is strongly suggested that your poster be printed on one large sheet (preferably laminated) that can be rolled up for easier transportation. It then can be attached in a temporary fashion to the backboard.
If you are providing your own backboard, all exhibits, including all accessories, must be confined to a table or floor space not to exceed 0.8 metres, front to back; 1.2 metres side to side; and 3.5 metres maximum height from the floor. All measurements will be made from the outermost points, including framework and appendages, and will be verified during the safety check. Exhibits exceeding these dimensions must be modified or will not be accepted (see Exceptions below).

• Posters

The best way is to do your poster is in PowerPoint, or similar, and then have it printed at a print shop. It should be printed on a large sheet, (e.g. 90 cm. x 120 cm). There are many sites on the Internet that provide instructions on how to do a poster in PowerPoint. If you type “How do you do a science poster in PowerPoint?” into your search engine, you will get several sites that can help. Some have free templates that can be downloaded and others have tutorial videos.
Make sure that your Mentor has reviewed your poster before you have it printed.

Exceptions
From time to time, an exhibitor may wish to go beyond the normal limits of the regulation project display space to demonstrate an aspect of their project. This can only be done with the approval of the SBCC Science Coordinator in your region. Any consideration given may not give the exhibitor an unfair advantage.

The following guidelines will govern these circumstances:

• Any demonstration that exceeds the regulation project display space may be limited to the judging sessions, or to the public viewing, at the discretion of the SBCC Coordinator.
• All material should be contained within the designated space when it is not being demonstrated. Students may not bring supplementary material to the display solely for the demonstration. To do so may give them an unfair advantage.
• Safety of people in the exhibit hall and of other exhibits must not be jeopardised by the demonstration.
• Where project work utilises materials or devices that exceed the regulation space, students may represent such devices through models, drawings, videos, etc. It is not necessary to replicate research results for the judges.

Damage waiver
Although every effort will be made to prevent damage to exhibits, SBCC and its supporting organisations or co-operating groups will accept no responsibilityfor loss or damage to any exhibit or part thereof.

3. Do I have to submit a final report?
You should be prepared to provide your regional coordinator with an electronic version of a final report. Your report should be between 4-6 pages and should be a shortened version of what is on your poster.

It should include the following headings.

• Project No., Title, and Student and School Names
• Abstract
• Project Introduction: (background, rationale, possible applications, etc.)
• Materials & Methods;
• Results: (graphs, photographs, tables, descriptions etc.)
• Discussion (and Conclusion);
• References;
• Acknowledgment (to Principal, Teacher, Advisor/Mentor and others deemed appropriate)

4. How do I write an Abstract?

• Summarize your experiment in a single paragraph of not more than 250 words.
• Write in third person and use the past tense.
• Use one sentence to describe the general topic to be investigated and why it is important. Describe in one or two sentences, the specific question or relationship that you are investigating.
• Tell how you did the investigation in one or two sentences, avoiding a detailed description of procedure.
• Explain in one or two sentences the main point(s) of what you found out. Remember that negative results are useful as well. (If you haven’t collected or analyzed all of your data yet, indicate that and then modify your Abstract when you do your final report and poster board).
• Write a single sentence that summarizes your conclusions about the general topic, question or relationship that you investigated.

5. SBCC Safety Regulations
General Safety
The primary concern at the SBCC competition is that of public safety. Many subject organisms and materials that may be used acceptably in your research under the supervision and approval of your mentor and his/her institution, are not permissible for exhibition purposes at the SBCC competition. Simulations or photographs can be substituted. The display is a presentation of the results, NOT a demonstration of the experiments. In some cases, working models may be used with permission of the SBCC regional coordinator or designated safety officer.

• Exhibits must be of a safe design, with moving parts firmly attached and approved for safety.
• Each exhibit must be self supporting.
• Aisles and exits should not be obstructed.
• Packing material must not be stored in the exhibit hall.

Chemical Safety

• No containers of toxic or flammable chemicals are allowed.
• Exhibits involving hazardous materials and equipment (e.g. toxic and corrosive chemicals, lasers, etc.) should use simulation at the SBCC competition.
• Dangerous chemicals are not allowed this includes prescription drugs and over the-counter medication.
• Substitutes for toxic and corrosive chemicals must be used. When chemicals are simulated, they should be labeled with the names of the substance they represent preceded by the word “simulated”. No project will be penalized because the key (but potentially dangerous) components were not on display..

Electrical Safety

• As low a voltage as possible must be used.
• Electricity (AC 110 Volt, 60 Hertz) will be supplied, if requested. Switches and cords must be of the approved variety and circuits must be protected by fuses or circuit breakers. Cell or battery fed circuits should be both safe in design and operation.
• Only CSA approved extension cords and electrical appliances in good repair shall be used.
• The length of extension cords is to be kept to a minimum and out of the way to eliminate tripping hazards. Use tape for securing.
• At the end of the day or the viewing period, all electrical exhibits must be disconnected, and power bars switched off.

Micro-organism Safety and Biohazards

• Living cultures cannot be part of your display. This would include cell cultures or micro-organisms of any type.
• Cells and animal parts (including organs, tissues, plasma or serum) purchased or acquired from biological supply houses or research facilities may be used in science fair projects, but should not be displayed at the fair. Evidence of the source of the materials (e.g., bill of sale) must be available at the display;
• Plant tissues that have been infected with viruses;
• Biological toxins;
• Toxic and corrosive chemicals;