DVSF Rules and Policies
Fair Rules
The Delaware Valley Science Fairs (DVSF) is affiliated with the Society for Science, which runs the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. DVSF follows the International Rules for Pre-College Science Research (ISEF Rules) which are set by the Society for Science. The ISEF Rules are reproduced on the DVSF website under Student Resources and Techer Resources.
Who Can Attend DVSF
There are twelve local fairs throughout southeast Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and the state of Delaware that send students to DVSF. Students must participate in and win at their local fair to advance to the Delaware Valley Science Fair. The top three local fair winners in each category in the high school divisions are eligible to advance to the Delaware Valley Science Fair. The top two winners in each category in the middle school division are eligible to advance to the Delaware Valley Science Fair.
Categories at DVSF
There are 13 categories in the High School divisions and 14 categories in the Middle School division. In the high school divisions, the categories are Behavior and Social Science, Biochemistry, Botany, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth and Space Sciences, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Medicine and Health, Microbiology, Physics, and Zoology. In the middle school division, in addition the above categories, there is a Consumer Science category.
Selection of DVSF Winers
The Delaware Valley Science Fairs (DVSF) has six divisions: 12th Grade, 11th Grade, 10th Grade, 9th Grade, Middle School (Grades 6 through 8), and Teams. There are 13 categories in the High School divisions and 14 categories in the Middle School division. There is a single Teams division for High School students and one Teams division for the Middle School division. Category Judges select first place, second place, third place and honorable mention in each category in each division.
Selection of ISEF Finalists
The Delaware Valley Science Fairs (DVSF) is allowed to send 12 students to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). DVSF sends three 12th graders, three 11th graders, three 10th graders, and three 9th graders. After the Category Judges select the first place winner in their category, a separate set of judges, Medals Judges, interview each first place winner and select the top three students as the ISEF finalists. There are Medals Judges for each grade level/ division.
Grievance Policy
Any complaint or grievance regarding the fair, the rules, judging or awards must be submitted in writing or email to the Fair Director, Bob Solomon, at bsolomon@dvsf.org. The submitter must identify himself or herself. No anonymous submissions will be addressed. All concerns or accusations will be investigated, and a response will be returned to the submitter.
Artificial Intelligence Policy
Scientific fraud and misconduct are not condoned at any level of research or competition. This includes plagiarism, forgery, use or presentation of other researcher’s work as one’s own, and fabrication of data. Student researchers must clearly document in their procedure, logbook, or poster how Artificial Intelligence was used in their project. Fraudulent projects will fail to qualify for competition in affiliated fairs and Regeneron ISEF. DVSF reserves the right to revoke recognition of a project subsequently found to have been fraudulent.