Revisions for 2011

Participation of Humans

1. Ingestion Projects. After consultation with scientists in the food industry, we have relaxed the rules for ingestion projects. Sensory Food Projects are allowed at the CWSF. These are projects designed only to assess the sensory characteristics of a food, and for which no health benefits are claimed.
2. Sports drinks - Yes. Sports drinks such as Gatorade or Powerade re-hydrate the body. These sports drinks also provide sugars, which the body burns to create energy and replenish electrolytes. Electrolytes maintain salt and potassium balances in the body. Sports drinks may be used in Science Fair Projects.
3. Energy Drinks - No. Health Canada has concerns about the safe use of energy drinks. Thus Energy Drinks may not be used in science fair projects.

Use of Animals

1. There are no changes in Policy 4.1.2 - Use Of Animals in Research.

Updated Policies

These are currenty being translated, and will be posted on the Youth Science Canada web site as soon as this has been done. If you need the English version of the new Policy, request a copy by using the Contact link above.

Request a Ruling

1. Download this Form.
2. Save it on your computer.
3. Fill it in and save it using the free Acrobat Reader version 8 or 9.
4. Send it attached to an email addressed to ethics@ysf-fsj.ca.

Humans

Science fairs often include excellent projects involving human research participants. These projects are based in the social and behavioral sciences such as psychology, sociology, and education, and in related health sciences such as physiology, kinesiology and nursing.

We need to ensure that participants are safe, that they are treated with respect and dignity, and that the information they provide will be kept confidential. These ethical safeguards are primarily the responsibility of the science fair student researchers and their supervisors. We do want to make sure that projects that involve the participation of humans are mentored, and that all appropriate safety and ethical concerns are addressed.

Animals

There are restrictions on the use of animals in science fairs. Projects involving non-vertebrate animals are allowed. Vertebrate animals can only be used under very restricted conditions.

We do want to make sure that projects involving animals are mentored, and that all appropriate safety and ethical concerns are addressed.

Guidelines

We offer these guidelines to all Science Fair Regions with three goals in mind.

• To present the information that individual participants and Regional Fair Committees need to understand the ethical issues.
• To make it as easy as possible for participants to follow appropriate guidelines for projects that involve ethical issues.
• To define clearly the rules that participants at the Canada Wide Science Fair must follow. We do not want to impose a burdensome set of procedures on participants, their teachers or parents where the project involves an experiment that carries minimal risk.
• Researchers who carry out their project in an institution such as a school or research laboratory, must follow the policies of that institution, which may be more restrictive than those given here.

Youth Science Canada provides a set of guidelines and a procedure for ethical review.

Student researchers and their advisers must read these before starting to design their projects.

Select the appropriate item in the menu bar for detailed discussions.