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Most students work with supervising scientists at local universities, institutions, and science-related companies. Some do so through formal high school programs offered at those locations while others initiate contact with a specific scientist on their own. Others perform research through their school or at home (when safety allows).
The unique requirement for this competition is that the student must imagine the question, design the experiment, obtain data, and formulate conclusions independently. Of course, this does not mean any research should be performed without supervision! It does mean that any research completed by or with another high school student is not eligible for this competition.
* Human Studies: Please remember that studies involving human subjects require pre-approval by an Institutional Review Board. The Board must consist of adult members who are not involved with the project being reviewed. The teacher supervising the research or assisting in the application process may not be a member.
To ensure that your entry qualifies for the competition, you should carefully read the Rules and Entry Instructions for Intel STS. Some projects require an Institutional Review Board consisting of adult members who are not involved with the project.
Upon completion of their research, students write a 20-page Research Report and complete an application online, which includes student information, essay questions, an upload of the Research Report, and requests for recommendations.
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