It is very important that Teachers, Mentors, and Parents supporting students in the Experimental Research Competition read ALL rules and guidelines before the student starts work. All adults involved in a student’s project are responsible for ensuring that the student is in compliance with all rules and maintains the highest ethical standards. All adults are required to register in the online entry system (Terra Entry System) and sign the student project record to indicate their role in assisting the student and their approval of the project.
The roles of Sponsor and Mentor are required for ALL projects. If there is no Mentor other than the Sponsor, then the Sponsor automatically becomes the Mentor, by default.
| WHO: | Serving public, private and home-schooled students in grades 5-12 from Clinton, Essex, Franklin and St. Lawrence counties in New York State. Note: Younger students can qualify using our math placement tool. |
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| Qualifications: | • An Adult Sponsor can be a teacher, parent, or other mentor (professor and/or other professional scientist). • The Adult Sponsor should be knowledgeable in the area of student research and/or find an appropriate Mentor. They should have regular contact with the student throughout the timeline of the project to provide guidance. • If the Adult Sponsor needs assistance finding a Mentor with the appropriate scientific background, contact the Fair Director. |
| Responsibilities: | Helps the student navigate the entire science fair process, including: • reviews the ISEF Checklist for Adult Sponsor Form (1), ISEF Student Checklist Form (1A), ISEF Approval Form (1B), and the student’s Research Plan to determine what supervision, safety measures, and approvals are required for their project. This information will be required once the student initiates an entry in Terra Entry System. • helps the student track and meet all Student Deadlines • works with the student to ensure that project details given in their entry on Terra Entry System are complete and accurate • ensures other adults involved in the student’s project complete the required information for the entry on Terra Entry System • assists the student with preparing their abstract, presentation, and poster, as needed |
| Sponsor Registration on zFairs: | The Sponsor must be registered on zFairs before the student can start the entry process. If you are a new Sponsor in the TNJSF or an existing Sponsor that needs to update your affiliation, please follow the instructions on the Sponsor zFairs Registration page. |
The roles of Sponsor and Mentor are required for ALL projects. If there is no Sponsor other than the Mentor, then the Mentor automatically becomes the Sponsor.
| WHO: | Serving public, private and home-schooled students in grades 5-12 from Clinton, Essex, Franklin and St. Lawrence counties in New York State. Note: Younger students can qualify using our math placement tool. |
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| Qualifications: | The Mentor should have enough relevant scientific background in the student’s area of research to be familiar with the regulations around procedures and materials that apply to the student project. They should also understand the risks and training requirements of the work envisioned. |
| Responsibilities: | • Responsible for the safety of the student, including provision of any necessary training and adequate supervision of the work • Ensures that ethical research practices are employed • Reviews the student’s entry in Terra Entry System for completeness, clarity, and accuracy |
| Mentor Report: | Mentors are required to complete and submit a Mentor Report on Terra Entry System for each project they support. The report details what assistance the Mentor provided to the student and delineates which parts of the project are the work of the student. The TNJSF expects Mentors to complete this report thoughtfully and thoroughly. Inadequate Mentor Reports will be rejected by the TNJSF SRC. Mentor Reports must be submitted, at least in preliminary form, before a student can request an SRC review and no later than the applicable Entry Deadline (see Student Deadlines). If a preliminary Mentor Report is submitted, it must be updated and finalized by Jan 23, 2027. |
If the Mentor does not supervise the work his/her self, then a separate person can be named as Supervisor (e.g. a graduate student). A designated Supervisor has all the same responsibilities as the Mentor, including submitting a Mentor Report.