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New Mexico Junior Academy of Science
Regional and State Scientific Paper and Oral Competition Rules
In past years, each paper could have only a single author and presenter. But this rule has changed this year to allow 2 presenters from a team project. The time constraints will be the same....10 minutes to present and 5 minutes for questions. The written manuscript and oral presentation carry equal weight in the overall scoring. Fewer than five entries in one division may cancel the competition for that division. Although the project need not be entered in a science fair, the paper MUST reflect actual science experimentation by the student, or theoretical work of the student in an area of pure mathematics or physics, or the development of a scientific computer model. Papers that are simply literary 'search' papers are not acceptable for competition.1. Submit an entry form with three copies of the manuscript (one for each judge) along with a $6 entry fee. Check with your Regional Director as some Regions are accepting electronic copies. The first and second place winners of Regional Competitions will be asked to submit three more copies of the manuscript for judges at the State Competition. Electronic copies will also be accepted. Before submitting your paper to State competition be sure to review judges suggestions for ways to improve your paper and make changes accodingly.
2. All papers must include a title page with the following information: title of the paper, name of the student author, home address, home phone number, age, grade of the student, school name, school address, school phone number, and name of the teacher or sponsor who endorses the project.
3. The maximum length of the paper is 1500 words, not including title page, abstract, references, figures, tables, and appendices. 4. The paper MUST be typed, double-spaced, and on one side of the paper only. Number the pages of the body of the paper in the upper right-hand corner and put the title of the paper and the last name of the author in the upper left-hand corner. Do not number the title page, reference page(s), or appendix pages.
The same rules apply for electronically submitted papers. The entry fee may be paid at the time of the oral competition. 5. Staple the pages of the manuscript in the upper left-hand corner. Please DO NOT bind the manuscript in a folder or notebook.
6. For the necessary components of a scientific paper see Technical Paper Guidelines. 7. A student may secure help in structuring, proofreading, and typing the paper. However; any and all assistance MUST be noted in the acknowledgments.
1. If there are more than 12 papers submitted in any division, the judges will select the top 10 to 12 entries for the oral competition, from the written papers. Students will receive notice as soon as possible if judges eliminate their papers from the oral competition.
2. Presentation time limits will be strictly enforced. Each presenter has 10 minutes maximum for the presentation and 5 minutes after the presentation for judges' questions. Although other presenters, parents, teachers, and friends may attend the session, only the judges may ask questions.
3. It is strongly recommended that PowerPoint be used for the oral presentations. If the presentation includes a video, the video file must be saved along with the PowerPoint file on CD or flash drive. The State competition requires that the PowerPoint files be sent to the State Director several days in advance of the competition because they must be pre-loaded on permanently installed computers. Slide projectors and overhead projectors will not be provided unless arrangements are made in advance. NO AUDIO-VISUAL AIDS, such as hand-held demonstrations, chemicals, etc., are allowed.
4. Copies of the current Judging Forms are available on this web site at manuscript judging and oral judging so there will be no confusion between Judges' expectations and presenters' preparations.
5. Each regional director is responsible for ensuring that no more than two entries for each division, junior and senior, are sent to the State Competition.
6. The order of oral presentations will be determined by random drawing. Failure to appear for the competition on time and ready to present may result in disqualification.
7. In order to promote professional courtesy, and to minimize distractions, all presenters are required to stay for the entire paper session. You should arrive at least 15 minutes before it begins, and stay until the last paper has been presented. Coming or going during the session may cause you to be disqualified.
SPONSORS: IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SEE THAT THE RULES ARE FOLLOWED. USE THIS SHEET AS A CHECKLIST, SO THAT THERE ARE NO OMISSIONS OR MISUNDERSTANDINGS. SIGN THE TITLE PAGE, AFTER YOU HAVE CHECKED THIS LIST CAREFULLY. If you have questions, feel free to contact your Regional Director or the State Director. But please .... do so well before the date of the competition.
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