Central Indiana Regional Science and Engineering Fair

Teachers must first login into an existing account through “Teacher Login” or they must request a new account through “Teacher Registration”.

• If you do not have an existing account, begin with step one.
• If you have an existing account, begin with step two.

1. Requesting a New Teacher Account

• Go to http://www.sefi.org/register/
• Choose “Teacher Registration” from the horizontal menu bar.
• Next a page will open that should look like the following image.

• Choose a region by selecting Central Indiana Regional Science and Engineering Fair from the drop-down menu.
• Then select your school from the drop-down menu. Be sure to complete all remaining fields before clicking the green register button.

1. Adding Students for Application

• Go to http://www.sefi.org/register/ and choose “Teacher Login” to log in to your existing account.
• Once logged in, there will be horizontal menu bar near the top of the page. Make sure your personal info is up to date and then proceed.
• Choose “Add Students” from the menu bar
  • In the Student Signup Window: Provide the Student’s First Name, Last name, and Unique email address
  • Once all students are added, click the green Add Student button on the bottom of the page to finalize entries.
• Under the “Manage Students” tab from the menu bar
  • Edits can be made to student information and changes can be saved as a spreadsheet.
  • Changes can be made to a student’s regional fair status. This is where you will mark your students YES to going to fair but only after they have completed all application requirements.
• The “Manage Student Uploads” tab provides a location for teachers/sponsors to keep track of the forms for each student.
  • A teacher/sponsor must ensure the project notes are correct and all that apply are checked.

1. Acquiring Student Login Information

• Newly added students will have their password set by the SEFI system once added, and they will be asked to provide their own password once they officially log in.
  • Usernames are entered emails and initial passwords can be found under the text Add New Students of the “Add Students” tab.

1. After students have completed their application submissions, the teacher/sponsor must mark or flag each entry as YES attending the regional fair under the “Manage Students” tab. Otherwise, applications will not progress to the SRC review phase.
2. Students must continue to monitor the Home tab of their own account for correspondence from the SRC. If revisions are needed, students will have an opportunity to make changes. Once changes are made, you as the teacher/sponsor must mark or flag the student as YES attending the regionals once again under the “Manage Students” tab.

Students must apply under a teacher or sponsoring adult.

1. Retrieve your login information from your teacher or sponsoring adult.
2. Visit sefi.organd log in. Students will then be required to create and confirm a new password and finally will be asked to log back into the system using the newly created password.
3. Once logged into the system, students will land on the “Home” screen and will be greeted with their name. Along the top of the page is a horizontal menu bar with options.
4. Within the “Personal Info” tab of the horizontal menu bar students will fill out all fields.
5. Under the “Project Info” tab, students can either create a new project or can join a project. Once selections have been made, students can go back into the “Project Info” tab to make additional changes.
   • If choosing to Start a New Project, fill out the following required digital fields and then select the green Update Project button:
     • Project Category
     • Project Title
     • Project Abstract
     • Elevator pitch (to be used for HSEF if project advances past CIRSEF)
   • If working as a team and your teammate has entered the project info, Select a Project to Join from the drop-down menu choosing the appropriate project.

1. In the “Manage Uploads” Tab, students will upload all required forms as PDF files [NOTE: ANY student doing a Human Subjects project must complete the Human Participant Forms regardless of the grade level AND MUST receive prior approval to conduct the project. All elementary and middle school projects using human participants are expected to have a review and approval of a school level administrator and/or the school nurse (signature on form).]
   • Those in grades 4 through 8 will compete in the Junior Division and thus must complete and submit the (1) Form 1 – Checklist for Adult Sponsor, (2), Form 1A – Student Checklist page 1 only and (3) Form 1B – Approval Form at a minimum. [NOTE: Most middle schools do not qualify under BSL-1 rules for approval and thus are not permitted.]
   • Those in grades 9 through 12 will compete in the Senior Division and thus must complete and submit ISEF Senior Division Forms including but not limited to the (1) Form 1 - Checklist for Adult Sponsor, (2) Form 1A - Student Checklist and a Research Plan  (both page 1 and page 2), and (3) Form 1B– an and a Research Plan. Not sure what additional documents/forms are required? -  Use the Society for Science Rules Wizard to help.
2. Student will need to continue to monitor the “Home” tab of their account for correspondence from the SRC. If revisions are needed, students will have an opportunity to make changes. Once changes are made, the teacher/sponsor must mark or flag the student as YES attending the regionals once again under the “Manage Students” tab of the teacher account.

[NOTE: Some projects may need SRC signature before experimentation begins.]

• After a student has applied and their teacher/sponsoring adult has marked that student YES for regionals, an SRC evaluator will thoroughly review the student’s project application and submitted materials.
• When the SRC evaluation is complete, two notifications will be added to the SEFI website:

1. When logged into the site, teachers will find an SRC approval status update for their students listed under the "Your Students" tab. NOTE: Teachers also receive an email indicating there is new SRC activity on one of their student projects and they should check the SEFI site.
2. When logged into the site, students will receive a message in their message inbox.
3. If a project is not approved, it will be indicated in the notifications sent and an SRC evaluator will provide comments about why the project was not approved. At this point, necessary changes can be made to address the comments.
4. After corrections have been made, teachers MUST mark each student as YES through the SEFI website once again so that the SRC can re-review the project until students are approved for the regional competition.
5. There is no limit to the number of times a project can be reviewed for approval, but there is a time limit as approval MUST be received before the registration deadline of 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 3, 2025.

• To be registered you must pay entry fees no later than 11:59 p.m. on Monday, March 3, 2025.
• You are registered only AFTER (1) SRC approval is gained AND (2) payment of a nonrefundable $15 per student (not per project) registration fee is received.
  • Using the subject line “CIRSEF 2025 Registration”, email tgreene@marian.edu a snapshot providing proof of SRC approval in order to pay registration fee online.

*[NOTE: Registration fees are $15 per student NOT per project.]

• Once fees are paid, using the subject line “CIRSEF 2025 Entry Fee”, email tgreene@marian.edu a snapshot providing proof of confirmation of payment or forward proof confirmation.

• Once confirmation of payment has been sent, an email will be received from fair director, Tanja Greene, acknowledging registration is complete, and that the student is officially a 2025 CIRSEF participant.

Teachers/sponsoring adults are responsible for understanding the rules, disseminating the rules to students, and enforcing the rules. Here are some of the key rules and new changes.

Rules

Official fair rules and guidelines are posted here:

• ISEF 2025 Rules Book (PDF)

***For those in grades 4 through 8 follow the rules for participants in the Junior Division. Be aware that some projects are prohibited for students in grades 4-8. Please see list below.

***For those in grades 9 through 12 follow the rules for participants in the Senior Division.

Prohibited materials: No exceptions

1. Radioactive substances or equipment that emits any form of ionizing radiation.
2. Hazardous chemicals or reagents, controlled substances, tobacco, alcohol, prescription drugs, firearms, or explosives.
3. Biological agents or projects that use or study microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, prions, fungi and parasites.
4. Vertebrate animal research involving pain or withholding of food or water. All vertebrate animal projects should be reviewed by a licensed veterinarian.
5. All projects using class IV lasers must be under the direct supervision of a qualified adult.
6. Some research may be possible if conducted in the school under the supervision of a properly trained teacher: Refer to official rules above.
7. Common violations: glass (typically containers and lights bulbs), liquids (including water, vinegar, oil, and "slime"), food (lots of eggs, human, and even animal food), plants and flowers, and sharps, soil, and rocks. These items are NOT allowed to be part of any project display.

For the day of the fair:

Arrival & Check-in

On the morning of the fair, please arrive to campus by 8a via entrances on 30th Street or for a less direct route via the Main Entrance on Cold Spring Road.

• Those in grades 4 & 5 and those in grades 9, 10, 11, & 12 please arrive by 8a.
• Those in grades 6, 7, & 8 may arrive at 8a for check-in or may arrive at 10a for check-in.

Upon arriving, all participants must utilize the main entrance of the Witchger Center of the Marian University campus for check-in. Doors are on the south side of the building and will not open until 7:45a.

Project Set-up

Following check-in, participants will then move to their assigned Exhibit Rooms within the Witchger Center for project set-up. In their assigned rooms, participants will find a location reserved for their project and will set-up their project before judging commences.

Project Judging

At 9:00a project judging will begin for most, and it will continue until 12:30p. Judging times for specific grades will be staggered. (Please note that family members are NOT permitted in the Exhibit Rooms during judging.)

Those in grades 4 & 5 will be visited by CIRSEF judges from 9:00a until 10:45a.

• Following judging those in grades 4 & 5 are permitted to hang out in the Witchger Center Collaboratorium (Room 193), go on a walk in the Eco Lab, view the next round of judging from hallways, or may leave and return for the awards ceremony set to begin at 3:30p.

Those in grades 6, 7, 8 will be visited by CIRSEF judges from 10:45a until 12:30p.

• Those who may arrive for the 8:00a check-in will be permitted to sit and wait in the Witchger Center Collaboratorium (Room 193) or view the first round of judging from the hallways.

• Those in grades 9, 10, 11, & 12 will be visited by CIRSEF judges from 9:00a until 12:30p with scheduled breaks.

Midday Break

The midday break is expected to run from 12:30p until just before 3:30p. During this time, the exhibit rooms will be open to the public, and families are encouraged to view other projects. In addition, this time should be used to grab a bite to eat. There will be several options on campus for participants and families to eat lunch or families are free to leave and return for the awards ceremony.

Awards & Closing

The awards ceremony will take place in Alumni Hall at 3:30p. Attendance of the awards ceremony is required to be eligible for the awards; if a participant does not plan to not attend the ceremony, we ask that this is mentioned upon check-in. Immediately following the awards ceremony, whichtypically lasts one hour, the participants are permitted to break down their project displays and are free to go home.

Required Forms for CIRSEF

[Note: the following forms are to be filled out BEFORE and brought with participants on the day of the fair.]

• MU Photo Release Form: This form is required for all participants; it gives us permission to use participant images in Marian University material (to be filled out before and brought in the day of the fair).

• SEFI Checklist: Display and Safety: This document MUST be completed by students/teachers in grades 4-8 BEFORE the student arrives at CIRSEF (to be filled out before and brought in the day of the fair).