STUDENT, PARENT AND TEACHER INFORMATION

Path to GEARSEF

• GEARSEF is a regional competition open to all public, private and homeschool students from any of the counties in our region. All Alabama science fair participants will be required to utilize the Scienteer system to manage all forms and paperwork required to participate. If your program is not familiar with Scienteer, please contact our office to establish your account prior to beginning any projects.
• All GEARSEF participants are required to complete Auburn University's Minors On Campus Form
• All GEARSEF participants are required to submit the Project Payment Form and associated fees prior to the event.

Confirm Project Category

• Regardless of what category the project competed in at the school or district level, all students advancing to GEARSEF will need to log in to the Scienteer System and select their their project's category from the GEARSEF category list online.

Project Poster Submission

• All GEARSEF projects will be required to submit a project poster via the Scienteer System.
• This single slide virtual display board is what the judges will use to preview projects prior to the student interviews.  Be sure to check for errors and typos!
• The template for this poster may be found here: This is a poster template. Students must not change the dimensions of the poster. It is currently 48″ x 36″ (3456 x 2592) and must remain this size. Students may add and and remove content as needed. All of the sections are required, but may be repositioned as needed to fit the project information.
• If the final file size is larger than 5MB, students may need to reduce the size or number of pictures in the presentation.
• This Virtual Display Board will be used by judges during the Judges' Preview prior to the student interviews in order to assist judges in determining their focus questions.

Project Video Submission

• All GEARSEF projects will be required to submit a short video synopsis presentation. This material will be viewed by the judges prior to the student interviews in order to assist judges in determining their focus questions.
• In the event that a student cannot attend GEARSEF in person, the judges may also use the video to serve in place of the student interview.
• Student videos will not be evaluated for the quality or the creativity of the video.
• Video content should address:
  • Relevance of topic and how this is applicable to the real world
  • Demonstration of authentic student work
  • Creative/appropriate/accurate methodology of data collection
  • Brief summation of the results/conclusions
• Junior Division videos are limited to 5 minutes; Senior Division videos are limited to 7 minutes
• All video files should be submitted to the apprriate Regional Fair Director using the file format show below:
  • Division (Jr or Sr) - Student(s) Name - "Project Title"
  • Ex. Sr - Sally Sue - "Which type of music promotes growth in bean plants?"
• School Fair Admininstrators will forward student videos to the Assistant GEARSEF Director, Matt Grilliot, mgrilliot@aum.edu, for uploading to the Virtual Exhibit Hall.

Prior To (In Person) Judges’ Interviews

• Review the ISEF project display rules to avoid bringing materials which may result in violations.
• Students should practice delivering a prepared synopsis of their project for the judges in front of classmates, teachers and administrators.
• Judges may ask questions regarding originality of topic, technique and methodology used, data collection and analysis as well as broader impacts and application of the results.  

Day Of The Event (In Person)

• Teachers should check in at the registration desk and recieve a packet of information for their students.
• Students will be allowed to set up their projects once the Ballroom has officially opened.
• No students are allowed in the Ballroom during Judges' Preview.
• Students must remain with their project until they have been interviewed by their assigned judges. Jr. Division Projects are judged by at least 2 judges while Senior Division projects are judges by at least 3 judges. 
• Students may see Special Awards Judges circulating throughout the Ballroom looking for projects that fit their specific award criteria.  

Awards Ceremony

• Once all of the category judging has been completed, judges will meet by category to tally scores and determine category winners.
• Senior Division – Category Heads and Best of Fair Judges will meet to determine which projects will be called back for a second round of interviews during the lunch break to determine which Best of Fair projects will advance directly to compete at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). 
• The Awards Ceremony will be held after lunch and conclude in time for teachers and students to return to school before their official dismissal.