Leading and Learning
Pasco Science & Engineering Showcase

 

The 2024-25 Pasco Science & Engineering Showcase

Each year, the District School Board of Pasco County hosts the Pasco Science and Engineering Showcase.  This science fair event is a deeply enriching experience for every student, regardless of prior experience. Through the scientific research process, students take ownership of their interests, explore pressing issues and problems that our world faces every day, and stretch their creativity in an attempt to design and implement powerful solutions. Several of these young men and women advance to state and national competitions and many ultimately pursue careers in specialized scientific and engineering fields. This year's theme for the Pasco Science and Engineering Showcase will ocntinue to highlight the amazing work of our own Pasco County students. Our students are tackling real world challenges everyday. The 2024-25 Pasco Science and Engineering Showcase event will be held on February 8, 2025 (NOTE DATE CHANGE) at the Angeline Academy of Innovation. Both the elementary and secondary fairs will occur on the same day.  The invite only awards ceremony will be at the Center for the Arts at River Ridge High School on Friday evening (February 21, 2025) from 6-9 pm (NOTE DATE & LOCATION CHANGE)

 

 

Our next generation of successful scientists and engineers needs you!  We are in need of judges with expertise in science, technology, math and engineering related fields. Volunteering to judge at the Pasco Science & Engineering Showcase is a rewarding and uplifting experience that is actually best realized when a student researcher is presenting their project and realizes their judge both understands and cares about their research. By judging, you are providing encouragement and opportunities for our future scientists and engineers to grow and succeed.  If you are interested in volunteering as a judge, click the image to register.

 

Check out the 2024 State Finalists and Award Recipients


​​ Elementary Scientific Research Resources: 

Parent Support:

Elementary Science and Engineering Showcase Help

Coordinators Meeting PowerPoint

 

Students have access to a module within their MyLearning Science course that can be used to guide them through the brainstorming, research and investigation process. This course is a wonderful tool for families to access.  You can also contact dbiggs@pasco.k12.us 

Showcase Research

 

Students can utilize the Discovery Education app on their MyPascoConnect dashboard for age appropriate research information related to their topic.

PSES Showcase Student Guide 2025 <-Updated!

 

A resource to help guide students through topic selection and project development.

Experimental Project Rubric

Design Project Rubric

Computer Science Project Rubric

These are the rubrics judges use for scoring projects.  
 

​​Secondary Scientific Research Resources: 

Coordinator and Classroom Support:

Coordinator Contact Info Form

 

Coordinators, please take a moment to share your contact information with us.​

Pasco Science & Engineering Showcase Overview

 

An overview of the the district competition with important reminders and due dates.

Showcase Parent Info Flyer <-Soon

Awards Gala Digital Program

Showcase Coordinator & Particpant (Student/Parent) Info Pack <-Soon

Parent and School Coordinator information including a schedule for the District competition.

24-25 Coordinator's Training PowerPoint 

 

This is the powerpoint used at the school fair coordinator's meeting this year. Learn about the latest updates to the Pasco County district level competition as well as state and international policy and rule changes.

Pasco Z-Fairs Website

 

This is the z-fairs website that coordinators (or if directed by their school coordinator, students) will register their students for the district competition. This also where students will submit their required paperwork for competition.
2025 ISEF Rules & Guidelines

This document outlines the specific state and international rules for science fair projects.  The state competition abides by all international guidelines but has additional requirements and limitations defined in the SSEF supplement below.

Rules and Guidelines in Spanish (PDF)

2025 SSEF State Rules Supplement

 

This document outlines the specific state rules that apply above and beyond the international rules.

ISEF Rules FAQ

 

The ISEF SRC has attempted to provide answers to questions that they commonly receive about the International Rules and Guidelines

Roles and Responsibilities of ​Individuals

 

Outlines the roles and responsibilities of both students and adults with regard to science fair research, experimentation, & competition. Includes description of Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the Scientific Review Committee.

Display & Safety Rules

These regulations must be adhered to when a finalist exhibits a project at ISEF. All projects must adhere to the Display & Safety requirements of the affiliated fair(s) in which they compete to qualify for participation in ISEF. The SSEF fair has additional restrictions and requirements. Check the SSEF Rules Supplement above for specifics. Knowledge of these requirements is the responsibility of the Finalist, Adult Sponsor, and Fair Directors.

Judging Categories

 

All projects are organized into 1 of these 13 categories as defined by the State Science & Engineering Fair of Florida

Scientific Investigation Project Rubric

Engineering Project Rubric

These are the rubrics judges use for scoring projects

Judging Rubric Guiding Questions

 

Guiding questions for judges to elicit student responses about their projects

Planning and Hosting Science Fair at Your School

 

Here are some easy steps to setting up and hosting a science fair at your school.  Great for new coordinators.

Sample Science Fair Timeline

 

Example school timeline

 

Project Support:

Pasco Science Fair Powerpoint Template

This PowerPoint template provides teachers and students with an additional option for presenting scientific research and aid in the development of the student presentation for school level fairs (Check with your school to determine if this option is allowable).  Note that a backboard is required for students participating in the District Showcase as well as the State or International Science Fair Competitions.

Project Idea Support

 

Resources, advice, and stories of inspiration on completing research outside of a traditional laboratory environment

Science Project Flip Chart

 

Can be used to help students outline the Science & Engineering Fair process
 

Forms:

Entry Form (Digital Registration - zFairs Site)

 

For District Showcase Participants 

Fair Coordinator will register State Delegates upon selection.

2025 Abstract (Editable pdf) 

 

The abstract is a summary of the study and is written after experimentation. Follow these instructions to complete it.

Required for the Pasco Science & Engineering Showcase and the State Science & Engineering Fair of Florida - Due by 1/10/2025

Research-Plan-Form-Fillable-General-Form


Research-Plan-Fillable-Human-Subjects-Form


Research-Plan-Fillable-Vertebrate-Animal-Form

COMPLETED BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION

Editable word documents.  Projects involving hazardous chemicals, human subjects (including surveys), vertebrate projects, or Potentially hazardous biological agents must have appropriate SRC and/or IRC approval prior to any experimentation.

 

Required for the Pasco Science & Engineering Showcase and the State Science & Engineering Fair of Florida - Due by 1/10/2025

Form 1: Checklist for Adult Sponser (Editable pdf)

 

COMPLETED BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION

The checklist is provided so that the adult sponsor can review what information (and therefore which forms) must be provided. The date signed is the date that the sponsor first reviews the project plan before the experiment begins.

Required for the Pasco Science & Engineering Showcase and the State Science & Engineering Fair of Florida - Due by 1/10/2025

Form 1A: Student Checklist / Research Plan 

 

COMPLETED BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION

On this page, the student outlines what the project is about. Items that especially need to be clear are the following:

  • #6: Any project conducted in a similar area of research as previous projects should be considered a continuation. If the project is a continuation, explain on Form 7 as completely as possible how the project will differ from previous experimentation because ONLY a new and different research project is allowed. The current year project must demonstrate significant progress.
  • #7: Explain when the actual experimental procedure (not the background literature review) will begin and end because ONLY a 12-month project that occurred within the last 18 months before this ISEF is allowed.
  • #8: Explain where the experimental research will be done: research institution, school, field, home. Universities, research facilities, and industrial settings will require additional documentation on Form 1C to explain what was done at each facility. (Note: Pathogens may NOT be cultured at home.)
  • #10: Attach a Research Plan (see above), as outlined in the Research Plan Instructions, which describes the project in detail and answers all applicable questions.

Required for the Pasco Science & Engineering Showcase and the State Science & Engineering Fair of Florida - Due by 1/10/2025

Form 1B: Approval Form 

 

COMPLETED BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION

These statements attest that each of these people (or committees) approves or consents to this project. The dates should be signed as described below and are before experimentation unless otherwise indicated

Required for the Pasco Science & Engineering Showcase and the State Science & Engineering Fair of Florida - Due by 1/10/2025

Form 3: Risk Assessment Form (Editable pdf)

 

COMPLETED BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION

Required for all projects inlcuding those using hazardous chemicals, activities or devices, and some PHBA’s including protists, composting, coliform test kits, decomposition of vertebrate organisms and microbial fuel cells and must be completed and signed by the DS or QS prior to student experimentation.

Required for the Pasco Science & Engineering Showcase and the State Science & Engineering Fair of Florida - Due by 1/10/2025

All other Forms (1C, 7, etc) 

 

Find all other forms here.  Some may be required depending on nature of project.  (Scroll down to bottom right)
 
State and International Fair Websites:
 
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​Regenron International Science & Engineering Fair