Rules and Regulations
Who Can Participate?
The TSF is open to all Grade 5 -12 students attending a TDSB or TCDSB school, private school, or home-school provided that the school is located in Toronto (determined by the postal code – it must begin with the letter ‘M’). Home-schooled students must be residents of Toronto. Students resident in Toronto, but attending schools outside Toronto are not eligible to participate, and should contact their regional science fair organization outside Toronto.
For Grades 5-12 projects
Maximum of two students per project. A project that has been the work of more than two students will be disqualified.
The project shall be entered in the division of the oldest member of the group.
Students should not wear school uniform, or otherwise identify the school that they attend.
School Quotas
Per-School Project Quotas
Type of school Limits on project numbers
School offering grades 9-12 8 projects across all campuses
School offering grades K-12 8 projects across all campuses
School offering only grades 7-8 8 projects
School offering grades K-8 8 projects, (we suggest 4 from Gr.5 and 6 and 4 from Gr. 7 and 8)
School offering only grades K-6 4 projects - from Grades 5 and 6
Project Display
BackBoard
Projects must fit on a table measuring 30 inches wide x 24 inches deep. We will require that students use a smaller display board for their projects than in past years. Smaller boards can easily be obtained at Staples (36 tall) and Dollarama (27 inches tall). The height is up to the exhibitor. It must be a free-standing, stable board.
What else can you display?
You will have a space on the table in front of your backboard. Use it to advantage to help you explain your project. A project always looks more interesting if there is something on the table for people to look at. Here are some items that could be included.
Models or actual experiment apparatus if it fits and passes safety checks.
Your log book – your day-to-day record of what you did and what you learned
A binder or folder containing Ethics forms (if you worked with humans or animals)
Bibliography and references in a separate folder if this information is not on the display board
Any videos of your experiment in action which you can show to the judges on your cell phone or other device. WIFI access will be available in the Exhibit Hall.
Additional pictures of your experiment which are important but which didn’t fit on the backboard.
For more advice on how to display your project information effectively, take a look at the PowerPoint,
“Preparing a Science Fair Project”, which is under Resources.
Safety
Students are encouraged to consult their teachers about safe practices while conducting experiments and scientific investigations.
Ethics
If you are working with animals or using human subjects in any way, rules regarding ethics do apply. See the detailed information in the section on Ethics. Students working with live subjects will need to upload the appropriate forms as part of their registration in the virtual Toronto Science Fair.