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New Mexico Junior Academy of Science
Regional and State Paper and Oral Competition Rules
Each paper may have only a single author and presenter. But if a student has been part of a team project and would like to write a paper and make an oral presentation, this is acceptable. The student should describe the project, the work he/she did and how it fit into the overall project. The student should be prepared to answer questions from he judges on the entire project. 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). Judges might not return the papers, so please keep a master copy. 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.
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 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. 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 audio-visual aids be employed in the presentation. Audio-visual aids are limited to 35 mm slides and/or overhead transparencies. NO AUDIO-VISUAL AIDS, such as hand-held demonstrations, chemicals, etc., are allowed. A carousel slide projector and an overhead projector will be provided at regional and state competitions. Computer presentations are possible if the student checks on the availability of a computer and a computer projector, has the presentation on CD and has the approval of the Regional Director. The same rule will apply for the State Competitions. However, if the student is chosen to attend the national meeting of the American Junior Academy of Science, slides or overheads must be used.
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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