Middle School Science

Howard B. Owens Science Center September 16, 2009

OBJECTIVES

• Science Fair Coordinators will visit online resources in order to plan and implement science fair activities for students, teachers, and parents

• Science Fair Coordinators will form small groups in order to establish a line of support for local school science fair coordination

AGENDA Date: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009Location: Howard B. Owens Science Center (Lanham, MD)Time: 4:30 PMInvited Attendees: Middle School Science Fair Coordinators

Science Coaches

Desired Outcome: Meet & Greet Receive Science Fair ideas

Develop small group support

Welcome and IntroductionsGetting Started with StudentsOnline Teacher ResourcesParent Resources and ActivityStudent Paper workISEF Rules and Guidelines

Opening (engagement)

Science Fair Expectations

Prince George’s County Public Schools

Middle School

It is expected that all students enrolled in Grade 6 and 7 participate in the local school science fair while 8th grade students are encouraged to voluntarily participate.

All students enrolled in Honors science courses will participate in the local school science fair.

Important Dates

November 6 Sawhorse/Table Orders DUE

February 24 Student Paperwork DUE

March 3 Scientific Review Committee meets

March 26-March 28 Prince George’s Area Science Fair

December 31, 2009 Blackboard e-orgs END

Getting Started with Students

Other County Resources

Middle School Science Teachers’ e-orgScience Fair

Science Fair Lesson PlansSFC HandbookStudent paper work for typing and saving to

print

Online Teacher Resources

Parent Resources & Activity

STUDENT PAPERWORK

NEW

Forms Required for

ALL Projects

RESEARCH PLAN

A Research Plan is required for all projects. It must incorporate all of the relevant topics listed in the Research Plan Instructions.

International Science and Engineering Fair

Rules and Guidelines

Adult roles and responsibilities

• Adult Sponsor

• Qualified Scientist

• Designated Supervisor

• Institutional Review Board (IRB)

• Scientific Review Committee (SRC)

Adult sponsor

• Oversees project

• Completes Form 1 – Checklist for Adult Sponsor

• Required for some projects

• Doctoral/professional degree related to student research

or

Masters degree with SRC approval

• Completes Form 2 – QS Form

Qualified Scientist

Designated Supervisor

• Animal Care Supervisor for vertebrate animal projects

• Supervises projects involving hazardous chemicals, activities or devices

• Supervises projects requiring a Qualified Scientist when the Qualified Scientist cannot directly supervise the student

IRB (Institutional Review Board)

• Reviews human subject studies• Membership must include:

– an educator– a school administrator– someone knowledgeable about evaluating

physical and/or psychological risk: MD, PA, RN, psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed social worker or licensed clinical professional counselor

SRC (Scientific Review Committee)

• Reviews some projects before experimentation

• Reviews all projects just prior to competition

• Membership must include:– a biomedical scientist (Ph.D., M.D., D.V.M.,

D.D.S., D.O.)– an educator– one other member

Studies conducted at a research institution, industrial setting or any work site other than home, school or field require Form 1C

• Project based on prior research in the same field of study

• Longitudinal studies are permitted– Multi-year study– Studies time-based change

• Require form 7

Continuation studies

HUMAN SUBJECTS

What are human subjects studies?

Human Subjects studies involve living individuals where there is

• Intervention or interaction with subjectsand/or

• Collection of identifiable private information

Exempt studies – do not require IRB review nor human subjects forms

• Product testing of a student invention, program, concept, etc.

– No health hazards

– No personal data collected

– Feedback directly related to product

• Studies using pre-existing, publicly available human data

Additional exempt studies

• Behavioral observations in unrestricted public settings– No interaction– No manipulation of environment– No recording of any personal identifiers

• Studies using certified de-identified/ anonymous data

Human subjects research

• The IRB must review and approve the research plan before experimentation begins

• Research subjects 18 years of age or older must give informed consent

• Research subjects under 18 must give assent and their parents may be required to give permission

Human subjects research, cont’d

• The IRB evaluates the project and determines– Risk level– Requirement for Qualified Scientist– Requirement for written informed

consent/assent/parental permission

Risk evaluation

• No more than minimal riskAnticipated harm and discomfort notgreater than encountered in daily life

• More than minimal riskAnticipated harm or discomfort isgreater than encountered in daily life

• More than minimal risk studies should require written consent/assent and parental permission. Final determination for this requirement made by the IRB

Types of Risk

• Physical risks– Exercise– Ingestion, tasting, smelling, application of

substances– Exposure to potentially hazardous material

• Psychological risks• Invasion of privacy• Subject member of an at-risk group

IRB can waive requirement of written informed consent if

• Study with minimal risk and

• Anonymous data collectionand

• One of the following– Study of normal educational practices– Behavioral study with no manipulation– Surveys of perception, cognition, game theory– Physical activity with no more than minimal risk

(routine physical activities, tasting of commonly available food or drink, etc.)

IRB decisions are documented on Form 4

Written Consent

Written informed consent is obtained from the research subject on a form like the sample provided

VERTEBRATE ANIMALS

What is a vertebrate animal?

• Live, nonhuman vertebrate mammalian embryos or fetuses

• Bird and reptile eggs within 3 days of hatching

• All other nonhuman vertebrates (including fish) at hatching or birth

Prohibited studies

• Induced toxicity studies involving a poison or toxin that could impair health or destroy life

• Behavioral experiments with– Operant conditioning with aversive stimuli– Mother/infant separation– Induced/learned helplessness

• Studies of pain• Predator/vertebrate prey experiments

Additional restrictions

• A weight loss or growth retardation greater than 15% is not permitted

• A death rate of 30% or greater in any group or subgroup is not permitted

Behavioral observations of animals are exempt from SRC review if

• There is no interaction with the animals and

• There is no manipulation of the environment

and• All federal or state fish, game and wildlife

regulations are followed

Research sites

• Examples of non-regulated sites– Home– School– Farm, ranch– Zoological parks– Field

• Examples of regulated sites (must have an IACUC review and approval process)

– Universities– Government research

agencies– Private research

laboratories

Requirements for studies at non-regulated sites

• Agricultural, behavioral, observational or supplemental nutritional studies

and

• Non-invasive and non-intrusive with no negative effect on animal’s health or well-being

and

• Require SRC pre-review and approval

Additional requirements for non-regulated sites

• SRC determines level of supervision appropriate for the study:– Designated supervisor– Veterinarian– Qualified scientist

• Form 5A required

Requirements for studies at regulated sites

• Must be approved by IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee)

• Local SRC should review project before experimentation

• Experimentation must follow ISEF guidelines and adhere to restrictions regarding pain

• QS completes Form 5B which includes documentation of IACUC approval

POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS BIOLOGICAL AGENTS

Potentially hazardous biological agents include

• Microorganisms (including bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.)

• Recombinant DNA

• Human or animal fresh/frozen tissues, blood or body fluids

All studies involving potentially hazardous biological agents

• Must have prior approval by SRC/IACUC

• Most studies are prohibited in a home environment

• Studies intended to genetically engineer bacteria with multiple antibiotic resistance are prohibited

Risk assessment

• Required of all PHBA projects • Defines potential level of harm, injury or

disease to plants, animals or humans• Involves

– Assignment of biological agent to risk group– Determination of level of biological

containment– Assessment of expertise of adult(s)– Assignment of final biosafety level

Risk assessment, cont’d

• BSL 1 studies can usually be conducted in a high school or college teaching laboratory.

• BSL 2 studies are usually conducted in a regulated research institution

• BSL 3 and BSL 4 studies are prohibited for ISEF projects

• Form 6A (Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents form) required for most projects involving microorganisms, and for all projects involving rDNA and fresh human and vertebrate animal tissues

Studies exempt from prior SRC review and no additional PHBA forms required

• Studies using baker’s and brewer’s yeast (except rDNA studies)

• Studies using Lactobacillus, B. thurgensis, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, oil-eating bacteria, slime mold and algae-eating bacteria in natural environment. No exempt if cultured in a petri dish environment.

Studies exempt from prior SRC review that require Form 3

• Studies involving protists, archae and similar microorganisms

• Research using manure for composting, fuel production, or other non-culturing experiments

• Studies using commercially available color change coliform water test kits

Studies involving unknown microorganisms

• BSL 1 if– Organisms cultured in plastic petri dish– Culture dish remains sealed throughout

experiment– Culture dish disposed of in appropriate

manner

• BSL 2 if petri dish is opened

rDNA technologies

• Experiments with BSL 1 organisms can be done in BSL 1 lab with a QS or trained DS

• Experiments with BSL 2 organisms must be done in a regulated research institution with a QS

Tissues

• If animal is euthanized solely for student project – vertebrate animal study which requires IACUC approval

• If animal is euthanized for a purpose other than student project – tissue study

• Classification as BSL 1 or 2 based on source of tissue and possibility of containing infectious agents

• All studies with human or wild animal blood are BSL 2. Studies with domestic animal blood are BSL 1.

• Studies with human body fluids which can be associated with a person must have IRB approval

– Plant tissues

– Established cell and tissue cultures

– Meat and meat by-products – grocery stores, restaurants, packing houses

– Hair

– Sterilized teeth

– Fossilized tissue/archeological specimens

– Prepared fixed tissue slides

Exempt as PHBA tissues

Form 6B

• Required for all projects using – Fresh/frozen tissue– Primary cell cultures– Blood and blood products– Body fluids

Hazardous Chemicals, Activities or Devices

Hazardous chemicals, activities or devices include

• Chemicals

• Equipment

• DEA-Controlled Substances

• Prescription Drugs

• Alcohol and Tobacco

• Firearms and Explosives

• Radiation

General Rules

• Studies do not require prior SRC review and approval

• All studies require a Risk Assessment documented on Form 3

• DEA - controlled substances require a Qualified Scientist

• All other studies require a Designated Supervisor

DEA-Controlled Substances– Consult DEA list of controlled substances– All studies require Qualified Scientist– Controlled substances on Schedule 1 require

DEA protocol review

Firearms and Explosives– Must adhere to local training and certification

requirements

– Must follow local laws for purchase, possession and consumption

– Home production of ethyl alcohol (wine or beer) must follow U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) regulations

– Alcohol distillation for fuel production can be conducted at school with TTB permit obtained by school officials

Alcohol and Tobacco

Prescription Drugs– Cannot be administered to human subjects– Animal administration must follow ISEF

vertebrate animal guidelines

Hazardous Chemicals– Refer to MSDS Sheets for safety and

handling guidelines

Hazardous Devices– Involve level of risk beyond that encountered

in student’s everyday life

Radiation– Non-ionizing– Ionizing

Form 3

• Required for all projects involving– DEA-Controlled Substances– Prescription Drugs– Alcohol and Tobacco– Hazardous Chemicals– Hazardous Devices– Hazardous Activities– Radiation

Science Fair Quiz

Science Office Reminders

• Some project ideas are considered too dangerous for middle school students (i.e. projects involving bacteria and recombinant DNA are inappropriate).

• TEAM projects are new to middle school and should require more in depth research and investigations.

• All members of the team must be able to articulate all aspects of the project.

Science Office Reminders

• Make sure teachers understand the protocol for the local school fair.

• Please have students to sign and date a research plan and an approval form before the experiment begins.

• Inform parents that a science fair investigation must have a control, dependent, and independent variable.

• Seek support from administration, custodial staff, science team, parents, and community.

Secondary Science Team

Scott Hangey, Secondary Science Point Person shangey@pgcps.org

Treesa Elam-Respass, Middle School Instructional Specialist treesa.elamrespass@pgcps.org

Godfrey Rangasammy, High School Instructional Specialist godfreyr@pgcps.org

Secondary Science OfficeTelephone 301-918-8750Fax 301-918-8753