Iris Science Fair- Rules & Tools

Rules & Tools

HOW TO PARTICIPATE?
In order to participate in IRIS, you need to follow the 4 simple steps. If you have an idea that is original and innovative, you are eligible to participate, individually or in a team of 2. Research-based projects alone qualify to participate at the IRIS National Fair. Hence, your project must be original in content and should be substantiated with data.

Step 1: Eligibility
In order to participate in IRIS you need to fall in the either of the following categories:

• Category I: 5th – 8th Std.
• Category II: 9th – 12th Std.

Step 2: Subject Category
Participants can choose ONE Subject Category for participation at IRIS. Click on each subject to know more about it:

Behavioral & Social Sciences

A. Behavioural Sciences
Behaviour and thought processes of humans and other animals in their interactions with the environment studied through observational and experimental methods; study of progressive behavioural changes from birth until death; study of mental processes that underlie behaviour, e.g. thinking, reasoning, motivation and emotion; relationships between the nervous system, especially the brain, and mental functions such as language , memory , and perception.

B. Social Sciences
Study of human social behaviour, especially of the origins, organization, institutions, and development of human society. Examples: • The Effects of Colour on Memorization Tasks. • The Effect of Mobile Phone Usage on Reaction Time. • A Novel Low Cost Design of Tic Tac Toe Board game for the Visually Challenged

Bio Chemistry

Chemistry of life processes - Molecular Biology, Molecular Genetics, Enzymes , Photosynthesis , Blood Chemistry , Protein Chemistry , Food Chemistry and Hormones. Examples: • Bioinformatics Discovery of Novel Stem Cell Regulatory Mechanisms • Probing Gap Junction Dynamics in Cells • Identifications of Bacterial Adhesion Antagonists for Contact Lens and Intraocular Lens

Botany / Plant Sciences

Plant diversity and ecological adaptations; unusual physiological mechanisms , biochemical pathways and hereditary phenomena; improved growth and productivity in agricultural/horticultural crops and forest trees; novel plant products and innovative uses of plants and their products; bio-control of plant , animal and human diseases; plant-animal interactions; plants as renewable sources of energy; application of micro-organisms in food processing , industry , health , agriculture and energy generation; conservation of rare and endangered plants; utilization of waste agricultural residue and non-timber tree products; plant based crafts that can generate rural income.

Examples: • Agricultural impact of Detrimental Weeds on Wheat Cultivators • The in vitro propagation of A. palmantum and its various cultivators • Biosynthesis of a commercially important compound in tissue culture.

Chemistry

The study of nature and composition of matter and laws governing it - Physical Chemistry , Organic Chemistry (other than bio-chemistry) , Inorganic Chemistry , Materials , Plastics , Fuels , Pesticides , Metallurgy and Soil Chemistry.
Examples: • Can lettuce seeds be used as a bioassay medium for testing toxicity? • Is soil a type of electrical system? • Organic chemistry without solvents.

Computer science

Study and development of Computer Hardware , Software , Engineering , Internet Networking and Communications , Graphics (including human interface) ,
Simulations / Virtual Reality or Computational Science (including Data Structures , Encryption , Coding and Information Theory).
Examples: • Signature Recognition • Identification of Differential Surface Properties on a Triangle Mesh for Facial and Object Recognition • FDIS (A Fast Frequency Distribution Based Interpolation Search Algorithm For Sorted Arrays).

Engineering

Technology-projects that directly apply scientific principles to manufacturing and practical uses - Civil , Mechanical , Aeronautical , Chemical , Electrical , Photographic , Sound , Automation , Marine , Heating and Refrigeration , Transportation and Environmental Engineering.
Examples: • Evaluation of a Multi-Freewing UAV with the Concurrent Development of a Flying Test Platform to Assist in Evaluation of Turbulence Reduction and Flight Performance • Elevating Wheelchair Seat • Foot operated device for people without upper limbs.

Environmental Sciences

Study of pollution (air, water and land) sources and their control , Ecology , conservation of wild life , waste management and the means to control environmental degradation.
Examples: • Hydroponics Phytofiltration of Arsenic in Drinking Water • Electricity Production using Magnetic Field Generated by Magneto tactic Bacteria in a Microbial Generator • Fungal Bio Pesticides for Eco-Friendly Management of insect pests.

Mathematics

Development of formal logical systems or various numeral or algebraic computations and the application of these principles -- Calculus , Geometry , Abstract Algebra , Number Theory , Statistics , Complex Analysis and Probability.
Examples: • Complete Sequences of Positive Integers • Programmable Quantum Computing: A New Framework with von Neumann Type Architecture • Universality Properties of Positive-Definite Integral Quadratic Forms.

Physics, Astronomy & Earth Sciences

A. Physics
Theories , principles and laws governing energy and the effect of energy on matter - Solid State , Optics , Acoustics , Particle , Nuclear , Atomic , Plasma , Superconductivity , Fluid and Gas Dynamics , Thermodynamics , Semiconductors , Magnetism , Quantum Mechanics and Bio-physics.
Examples: • Analysis of a simple Prototype for magnetic levitation • what are the applications of consumable oil Encapsulated Spheroids? • How to create an Ultrasonic detector for gas Chromatography? • Research on Dye-sensitized Solar Cells.

B. Astronomy & Space Sciences
Meteorology, Climatology, Astronomy, Planetary Science
Examples: • Fractal Dimension Analysis of Putative Martian Coastlines. • New Algorithm for Multiple Hypothesis-based Tracking and Discovery of Potentially Hazardous near Earth Objects.

C. Earth Sciences
Geology, Mineralogy, Physiographic, Oceanography , Speleologist , Seismology and Geography.
Example: • Phytoplankton Community Response to Nutrient Enrichment

Zoology / Animal Sciences

Study of animals--Animal Genetics , Ornithology , Ichthyology , Herpetology , Entomology , Animal Ecology , Paleontology , Cellular Physiology , Circadian Rhythms , Animal Husbandry , Cytology , Histology , Animal Physiology , Invertebrate Neurophysiology , Studies of Invertebrates. Examples: • Olfactory Learning and Brain Plasticity in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) in the Absence of Visual Cues • Testing Adaptive Models of Sex Allocation in a Polymorphic Species • The effects of protein levels on growth in young chickens.

Step 3: Making a science project

In order to compete in IRIS National Fair, you need to have an original and innovative idea which you can convert into a research based project for presenting. This will provide all the information required in making a science project. Click here to download the IRIS Guidelines, Rules and Regulations document. This will provide all the information required in making a science project. Please note that it is mandatory for every participant to go through this document before contesting the National Fair.

Step 4: IRIS National Fair Enrollment form

All forms are to be submitted along with detailed project synopsis.
These forms must reach us before the submission deadline which is August 31, 2011.
Our Scientific Review Committee (SRC) will evaluate your synopses. The scientists from various IITs (Indian Institute of Technology) Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) etc. are part of our SRC. The SRC reviews all the synopses received for participation and selects the most promising ones. Short-listed synopses will be invited to participate at the National Fair.

Participation through affiliated Fairs

IRIS has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with many Affiliated Fairs who select projects that meet IRIS judging criteria. IRIS does not appoint or in any way monitor the judging or the conducting of these Affiliated Fairs.

Various Science Fairs in the country are affiliated with IRIS:
All India/ Central level Science Fairs:

Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti – NVS
Central Board of Secondary Education Union Territory/ State level Science Fairs organized by: Andhra Pradesh , Chandigarh , Goa , Gujarat , Karnataka , Kerela , Madhya Pradesh , Maharashtra , Uttar Pradesh , Rajasthan.
NCSC (National Children’s Science Congress).

We are currently working on opportunities to affiliate with other major Science Fairs and science institutions in India.
Projects will be selected from these Science Fairs based on IRIS judging criteria. These projects must be research based projects and simple models of existing scientific mechanisms or principles are not allowed. In case of a team project, if you have worked as a larger group, please nominate 2 people to represent your project. If selected for IRIS, the other members of your group need to give a No Objection Certificate to the nominees.
The projects selected from the Affiliated Fairs together with the short-listed Direct Entry projects participate at the IRIS National Fair.