Rules and Guidelines
Biotechnology can be defined as the use of the knowledge of biological systems to solve problems and to produce goods and services.
1. Suitable Topics
A project is deemed relevant if its content relates to the various applications of biotechnology such as health care, agriculture and forestry, food processing, mining and the environment, etc.; and it applies the knowledge and techniques of the current courses at school and/or other scientific studies such as biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, microbiology and biotechnology.
2. Regulations about research involving humans or animals
You are not permitted to use humans or other living vertebrate animals as research subjects for the SABC competition. Student investigations of biological processes are subject to the same ethics, laws and regulations as any other research. In the Criminal Code of Canada, the Animals for Research Act of Ontario, and similar legislation in other provinces, all vertebrates used for research, are afforded protection. The Act also covers animal use in educational exhibits, classroom and laboratory teaching. Valuable biological information that is relevant to the higher orders of life can be obtained by investigating lower orders (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, insects, plants and invertebrate animals).The SABC Proposal Evaluation Committee will also reject any submissions that propose the use of vertebrate animals (birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians) as subjects in experiments.
Biological experimentation is subject to legal restrictions including, among others in various jurisdictions:
- Criminal Code of Canada, Section 446, Cruelty to Animals;
- Convention for International Trade on Endangered Species;
- Canadian Wildlife Service;
- Health of Animals Act, Bill C-66;
- Guidelines of the Canadian Council on Animal Care;
- Animals for Research Act (Ontario).
Cells and animal parts (including organs, tissues, plasma or serum) purchased or acquired from biological supply houses or research facilities may be used in science fair projects, but must not be displayed at the competition. Evidence of the source of the materials (e.g., bill of sale) must be available at the display. If the acquisition involves salvage from another research project, where the animal has been killed for other legitimate purposes in a legal and humane manner, then the disposition to the science fair project must be part of the original research proposal, and such disposition must have been approved by the Research Committee or the Animal Care Committee of the institution involved. Reference to the original project should be made on the science project display. If the acquisition involves salvage from the food industry, then the source must be acknowledged.
3. Restrictions on the display of subject materials or organisms
The primary concern at the SABC competition is that of public safety. Many subject organisms and materials that may be used acceptably in your research under the supervision and approval of your mentor and his/her institution, are not permissible for exhibition purposes at the SABC competition. Simulations or photographs can be substituted.
The following are regulations regarding hazardous biological and chemical materials that will be enforced.
- Live micro-organisms and vertebrate or non-vertebrate animals are prohibited. Use photographs or other visual media.
- Cells and animal parts (including organs, tissues, plasma or serum) purchased or acquired from biological supply houses or research facilities may be used in science fair projects, but must not be displayed at the competition. Evidence of the source of the materials (e.g., bill of sale) must be available at the display.
- The only parts of vertebrate animals that may be displayed are those that are either naturally shed by an animal or parts properly prepared and preserved. Soft tissue specimens are not acceptable if they are preserved in formaldehyde, a dangerous chemical excluded under the chemical safety section of these guidelines. Sealed tissue samples on microscope slides are permissible.
- Plant tissues that are known to possess allergens or have been treated with herbicides/pesticides or infected with viruses must not be displayed.
- Chemical agents in the following categories must not be at the competition site.
- Biological toxins. (e.g. venom)
- Toxic and corrosive chemicals. (e.g. formaldehyde, acids)
- Radio-isotopes or compounds containing radio-isotopes at activities above normal background
4. Scientific Process
The project must include scientific experiments that recognize and control all significant variables and demonstrate excellent collection, analysis and presentation of data.
5. Continued Investigations
An exhibitor may not display an identical project at any subsequent SABC Competition and must declare in his/her application how an improved proposal differs from one that was approved in a previous year. Any continuing research must document substantial expansion of investigation and students will be judged on the current year’s work only.