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Contra Costa Science & Engineering Fair Judging Process & Criteria
   
Every Intel ISEF affiliated fair has its own methodology for judging projects at their fair. The International organization provides the following recommendations for judging criteria which the Contra Costa Science & Engineering Fair will follow. In addition, judges will consider the following points of value as they go out to review and score projects.

Judging Criteria Point System:
We have new Judging Guidelines and a new point system. You may download the summary of our new judging system here:

The individual judges will:

— Examine the quality of the finalist's work, and how well the finalist understands his or her project and area of study. The physical display is secondary to the student's knowledge of the subject. Look for evidence of laboratory, field or theoretical work, not just library research or gadgeteering. · Judges should keep in mind that competing in a science fair is not only a competition, but an educational and motivating experience for the students. The high point of the fair experience for most of the students is their judging interviews. The interviews allow students to demonstrate the knowledge that they've gained by completing the project.
— Students may have worked on a research project for more than one year. However, for the purpose of judging, ONLY research conducted within the current year is to be evaluated. Although previous work is important, it should not unduly impact the judging of this year's project.
— As a general rule, judges represent professional authority to finalists. For this reason, judges should use an encouraging tone when asking questions, offering suggestions or giving constructive criticism. Judges should not criticize, treat lightly, or display boredom toward projects they personally consider unimportant. Always give credit to the finalist for completing a challenging task and/or for their success in previous competitions.
— Compare projects only with those competing at this fair and not with projects seen in other competitions or scholastic events.
— It is important in the evaluation of a project to determine how much guidance was provided to the student in the design and implementation of his or her research. When research is conducted in an industrial or institutional setting, the student should have documentation, most often the Intel ISEF Form 1C, that provides a forum for the mentor or supervisor to discuss the project. Judges should review this information in detail when evaluating research.
The Fair will:
— Be discreet when discussing winners or making critical comments in elevators, restaurants, or elsewhere, as students or adult escorts might overhear. Results are confidential until announced at the awards ceremony.
— Provide the students with a brief explanation of the judging process. Provide information such as the rules for student conduct and attendance, the estimated number of judging interviews to expect, and any information possible about the levels or tiers of judging taking place. · Provide an explanation to judges and students about the different types of judging and any rules for each type of judge. Many fairs, including the Intel ISEF have both category (or grand awards) judging and special awards judging. Category judging is considered the primary judging process that provides the place winners of the fair and the special awards judging is most often done by the professional scientific organizations, colleges and universities, or governmental agencies who sponsor their award. Understanding who is on the floor helps everyone work together.
— Take all steps possible to provide a just and equitable judging process without bias. Develop a judges' code of conduct and a clearly defined set of criteria that your fair judges must follow. Have procedures in place to eliminate any potential conflict of interest and always have a sufficient number of fair representatives available during judging to handle any problems that may arise.
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Would you like to become a judge? Time commitment includes:
  —Work with about 50 to 60 other judges to ensure interaction with every participating student.
—Block calendar all day on April 4th
—Review judging criteria and student project one-page abstracts (only 250 words per project) which will be given to you prior to the Science Fair. Abstracts will be available after March 15.
—Arrive at 7:30 a.m. on April 4th. Judges will attend a "Logistics of Judging" Session and an overview of the judging process for the day. Then they will break into teams of 4 to 6 to view the student project boards. From Noon-2 p.m., judges will talk directly with students at their project boards to ask questions and have students demonstrate their knowledge of the project they submitted.
—If possible, participate in the April 5th Awards Ceremony and cheer on the student participants!
Please contact Patty Deutsche, Chair-Judging Committee, if you would like additional information. We thank DOW for generously supporting Ms. Deutsche in this effort.
Let us know you're interested by completing the on-line form below.
Name

Organization
Address
City, Zip
E-Mail Address
Phone #
What categories are you able to judge? What categories would you be most interested in judging? There are six judging categories, so please indicate your first preference (1) through your sixth (6) by using the drop-down menu below.
Preference
    
Math/Computer Sciences
Biological (includes Biochemistry, Microbiology, Zoology, Botany, Medicine & Health)
Physical (Chemistry, Earth & Space, Physics)
Behavioral/Social Sciences (includes Gerontology)
Environmental Sciences
Engineering
Share with us your past experience with Science Fair competitions:
YES! I have been a Science Fair judge before.
No, I have never judged in a Science Fair.
Would you be interested in serving in a judge leadership capacity? If so, please check below your interest:
Team Leader: A Team Leader serves as a facilitator of one team (usually about 5 judges) on judging day. Tabulates the team's final scoring of individual student projects, identifies judging anomolies and works with Chief Judges to resolve, and submits the final Judging Sheet to the Science Fair Scoring Center. Six Team Judges will be asked to remain on site to work with Chief Judges on identifying top finalists and/or major awards.
Chief Judge: A chief judge works closely with the Science Fair officials to identify anomolies in scoring from team to team; discusses those with individual scoring teams throughout the day; and works with other Chief Judges to determine final winners of the Fair competition.
If you have any questions, please let us know below:

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