Martin County Regional Secondary STEM Fair

2024-2025

The MCRSEF is a competition for students in grades 6-12.  The Senior Division is for students in grades nine through twelve (9-12).  The Junior Division is for students in grades six through eight (6-8).  The participant must be enrolled as a student in grades 6-12 in a public, private, or home school located in Martin County.   The students present current projects describing and illustrating their independent research. Exhibits on an approved scientific subject prepared by students may be entered in the Martin County Regional Science and Engineering Fair. 

Thank you to the Education Foundation of Martin County for sponsoring our event!

opportunities

MCRSEF Coordinators

Mrs. Shannon Parks: parkss@martinschools.org

Mrs. Michele Jerrells: jerrelm@martinschools.org

Would you like to donate? Martin County Science and Engineering Fair Donation Form

Important Dates

Date(s)

Details

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

24-25 STEM Fair Information (Rules and School Protocols) shared with STEM Activities Coordinators

September 13 - November 15, 2024

Submission of SRC/IRB paperwork for projects involving people, animals, dangerous chemicals or activities. Your project must be approved BEFORE you start! If you are not sure if this applies to you, please contact parkss@martinschools.org

Friday, December 13, 2024

If your paperwork was returned to you for corrections, please make an appointment for final resubmission of corrected paperwork of SCR/IRB paperwork, if you are not sure, email us.

Wednesday, Jaunary 8, 2025

ALL PROJECT APPROVALS COMPLETED

All PHBA, Human, HCAD, or Vertebrate projects must be approved by either the school-based SRC/IRB OR the Regional SRC/IRB.

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Last day to hold a school-wide fair. 

Friday, January 17, 2025

Deadline for School Site STEAM Activities Coordinators to register students advancing to the Regional Martin County Science and Engineering Fair (MCRSEF)

All Student forms due for students advancing to MCRSEF.

Registration form to be emailed to School Site STEM Activities Coordinator directly

Tuesday, February 4 2025

Project display board, abstract & log books Certification

(School Site STEM Activities Coordinator set appointment for drop off)

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Martin County Science and Engineering Fair Open to the Public

Where: Indian Riverside Park Frances Langford Pavillion

Time: 4:30 - 6:30 PM

Thursday, February 6 , 2025

Regional STEM FAIR Project Judging

Where: Indian Riverside Park Frances Langford Pavillion

Student Hours: 9:15AM - 12:45PM

Thursday, February 19, 2025

Awards ceremony at 6:30pm at Martin County High School

Ten State fair participants will be contacted directly after the regional fair has occurred.

February and March 2025

Ten selected participants will prepare for the upcoming STATE fair. 

Shannon Parks and Danielle Buddin will work one-on-one with participants to prepare.

March 25 - March 28, 2025

State Science and Engineering Fair at the RP Funding Center, Lakeland, FL

May 11 - 16, 2025

ISEF (International Science & Engineering Fair) at Los Angeles, CA

Rules

Student Researchers are responsible for reading and following the rules, which are there to guide you in safely completing your project.  Most projects CAN be completed within the rules!  

The Martin County Regional Science & Engineering Fair is affiliated with the International Science and Engineering Fair and the State Science & Engineering Fair.  All projects must follow the ISEF rules. Affiliated fairs are permitted to enact rules which are MORE strict that ISEF.  Therefore, it is important to also read the State Fair supplement, which outlines additional rules from the State of Florida.  The MCRSEF also publishes a handbook which clearly explains where our fair is more strict than SSEF or ISEF.  

Parents, teachers, and students often become frustrated with the paperwork process.  It's important to remember that the purpose of the forms is to document that all safety precautions will be taken to protect the student researcher, human or vertebrate subjects, and the environment. When paperwork is reviewed, it is ONLY to ensure rules were followed, not to judge a project.  The quality of the project is determined on judging day between the judge and the student researcher. 

Project Categories

Please visit the SSEF Website for detailed category descriptions.  https://ssefflorida.com/categories/

Category

Code

Animal Sciences

ANIM

Behavioral & Social Sciences

BEHA

Biomedical & Health Sciences 

BMED

Cellular/Molecular Biology & Biochemistry

CMBI

Chemistry

CHEM

Earth & Environmental Sciences

EAEV

Engineering

ENMS

Environmental Engineering

ENEV

Intelligent Machines, Robotics, and Systems Software

IMRS

Mathematics & Computational Sciences

MACO

Microbiology

MICR

Physics & Astronomy

PHYS

Plant Sciences

PLNT

Adult Roles

STEM Activities Coordinator: Person at the School site that is responsible for all communication to STEM Fair participants and the school School Site STEM Fair. They are the liason from the school to the MCRSEF Team. Please see the list below for you school contact.

Parental Involvement:  Of course you should be involved!  However, the level of your participation in your child's project will vary depending on age, ability, your comfort level, and the type of project.  It is NOT required that your child complete the project without your assistance.  Some activities may require only adult supervision, while some you may need to do for your child.  The rulebook and your school coordinator will guide you.  Student researchers should not fear that a judge may penalize them for having adult assistance. 

Adult Sponsor (AS):  Any adult who is keeping an eye on the student and checking in on their progress periodically.  Minimal supervision. Required for every project. 

Designated Supervisor (DS):  the adult who is actually watching the student do the project.  Required IF the project involves HCADS. (Hazardous Chemicals, Activities or Devices).  This is subjective, and determined by the school fair coordinator and the SRC/IRB.  When doubt, err on the side of caution. 

Qualified Scientist (QS) - a person with an advanced DEGREE (PhD, MD, DVM) OR significant documented experience/expertise in the field of study who has reviewed the procedures and agrees with the plan.  This person may also be the DS, but not always as sometimes they are not local.  They may designate someone else (the DS) to watch the student do the project and ensure the agreed upon plan is followed. 

These can be three different people, or one person can be all three. 

School STEM Activities Coordinators

School

STEM Activities Coordinator

Email Address

AMS

Tonya Belvin

belvint@martinschools.org

HOMS

Michael Howard

howardm@martinschools.org

IMS

Christina Crossan

crossac@martinschools.org

MMS

Kimberly Stark

starkk@martinschools.org

SMS

TBD

JBHS

TBD

MCHS

Pricilla Cundy

cundyp@martinschools.org

SFHS

Sierra Traister

traists@martinschools.org