​Project Guidance

Choosing a Project Type

Projects must fit into one of the following categories.

  • Experiment -  An investigation designed to test a specific hypothesis. Experiments typically involve controlled variables, repeated trials, and analysis of results.

  • Study -  A collection and analysis of data to identify patterns, relationships, or evidence of a scientific concept. Studies may be observational or theoretical.

  • Innovation - The design, development, and evaluation of a new or improved device, model, process, or approach, often related to engineering, technology, or computer science.

Scientific Process -  Projects are expected to demonstrate clear scientific thinking. This may include:

  • Background research

  • Purpose or hypothesis

  • Procedure and methods

  • Results or observations

  • Conclusions

  • Sources of error

  • Real-world applications

  • Acknowledgements and references

Science Fair Foundation BC has an excellent, printable guide on preparing a science project. Get it here.

Log Book  - The log book is a record of your project, including ideas, planning, observations, and data. It must be brought to the fair.

Abstract -  Each project must submit a 200–500-word abstract at registration. The abstract should summarize the background, purpose, methods, results (or expected results), and conclusions.

Poster Board and Display Requirements - Each project display must fit within the following maximum dimensions: Width: 1.1 m (44 in), Depth: 0.8 m (30 in), Height: 3.5 m (137 in) from the floor. Three-fold boards are recommended, but other formats are acceptable if they meet the size and safety requirements. Moving exhibits must stay entirely within the allocated space. Visitors looking at your backboard should be able to quickly understand what the project is about, what you did, and what you concluded. Be creative. You can use pictures, models, and even demonstrations as long as they fit within your display area and do not conflict with the ethics and safety regulations.If your project requires additional space, contact us.

Mentorship - Mentors may provide guidance, advice, and access to expertise or facilities. We strongly encourage students to find a mentor who is knowledgeable about their area of study. However, mentors may not choose the project idea or complete project work on behalf of the student. Projects are evaluated on understanding, originality, and effective use of available resources, not on access to advanced equipment.

Academic Integrity - Scientific integrity is essential. Projects will be disqualified for plagiarism, including presenting the work of others as your own without proper acknowledgment, fabricating or falsifying data, or submitting a project derived from previous work without documentation.

Ethics and Safety

Projects must not cause harm to people or animals.

  • Human participants - Surveys and skill tests are generally considered low risk and require informed consent. Projects involving ingestion, skin application, drugs, or invasive procedures are considered significant risk and require special approval before experimentation

  • Animals - Permitted activities include observation and non-stress behavioural studies. Vertebrates, embryos, and cephalopods (such as octopus or squid) are subject to strict rules. Drugs may only be used under the supervision of a qualified scientific supervisor. Ethics pre-approval is mandatory for all projects involving human or animal participants. We adhere to Youth Science Canada’s guidelines.

 For safety reasons, the following items are not permitted on project displays. Photographs may be used instead.

  • Fire and heat - Flames, candles, torches, hot plates, or heating devices.

  • Electrical - Unsafe wiring or grounding, Modified CSA-approved equipment, Wet-cell batteries.

  • Biological materials - Cultures, blood, tissue samples. Plants, soil, or organic material.

  • Chemicals - Flammable, toxic, or dangerous chemicals. Prescription or over-the-counter medications. More than 1 L of liquid.

  • Mechanical and structural - Sharp edges, exposed moving parts, pressurized containers.

  • Radiation and weapons - Firearms, ammunition, explosives. X-ray or radiation-producing equipment.

  • Living things and images - Live animals or microorganisms. Graphic or offensive images.

Guide to Completing you Science Fair Project