WHAT'S AN SRC OR AN IRB?
An Institutional Review Board, or IRB, is a committee of specific composition at an affiliated high school or institution that reviews research plans involving human subjects to determine potential physical or psychological risk. As the rules have significantly changed for the 2003 Science Fairs, all IRBs are asked to forward any and all projects involving humans to the Regional SRC which is affiliated with the International Science & Engineering Fair.

A Scientific Review Committee, or SRC, is a group of qualified individuals that is responsible for the evaluation of student research, certifications, research plans, and exhibits for compliance with the ISEF International Rules and Guidelines. An SRC must consist of a minimum of three persons with additional members recommended to avoid conflict of interest. The SRC must include: (a) a biomedical scientist (PhD, MD, DVM, DDS, or DO); (b) a science teacher; and (c) at least one other member. Seminole County's SRC includes an MD, a PhD, a DVM, a psychologist, a teacher, an engineer, and an administrator.
A SRC examines projects for the following:
(a) Evidence of literature search
(b) Evidence of proper supervision
(c) Use of accepted research techniques
(d) Completed forms, signatures, and dates
(e) Evidence of search for alternatives to animal use
(f) Humane treatment of animals
(g) Compliance with rules and laws governing human and animal research
(h) appropriate use of recombinant DNA, pathogenic organisms, controlled substances, tissues and hazardous substances and devices
(i) appropriate documents and substantial expansion for continuation projects

Seminole County's SRC will meet on Tuesday, October 15th at 7:00 pm and on Friday, November 15th at 7:00 pm. Both SRC meetings will be held at Lake Brantley High School's Community Room (adjacent to the student parking lot). All projects requiring SRC approval MUST submit 5 copies of their paperwork by Friday, October 11th for the October 22nd meeting or by Monday, November 11th for the November 15th meeting. Students are encouraged to attend the meeting if they believe it would help clarify their research proposal.

WHAT TYPE OF PROJECTS NEED SRC/IRB APPROVAL?
SRC reviews the following types of research BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION :
human subjects (all projects involving humans, regardless of risk factor); nonhuman vertebrate animals; pathogenic agents (all bacteria, virus, fungi experiments); controlled substances; recombinant DNA; and human/animal tissue. This ensures that the student complies with Rules and any pertinent laws.
AFTER EXPERIMENTATION :
SRC reviews and approves previously approved projects to make sure that students followed the approved Research Plan (1A) and the Rules; SRC also reviews all remaining projects to make sure students followed the applicable Rules. Students who have not followed the Rules or who have failed to obtain SRC approval PRIOR to experimentation in the above listed areas will be disqualified from participation at Regional and/or State Science and Engineering Fair.
Science Service Science Service provides the RULES, STUDENT HANDBOOK, and SRC Details on their Documentation Page. All documents are downloadable in Adobe Acrobat format.
Florida Foundation for Future Scientists This is the State of Florida's Science and Engineering Fair Web Site. Rules, Forms, and other valuable information is available for download at this site.

SRC Committee
Download 2003 ISEF Rules