Quarter 1 - Week 4
KEY PEOPLE IN THE SCIENCE INVESTIGATORY PROJECT (SIP)
Primary
Reference
Key People in the Science
Investigatory Project (SIP)
Student
Adult Sponsor
Qualified Scientist
Designated Supervisor
Roles and Responsibilities of Learners
and Adults
• STUDENT RESEARCHER
• Understands and abides by the ethical and safety considerations,
national laws, and updated rules and regulations set by the NSTF
and ISEF in planning and performing STEM research
investigations.
• Identifies a research topic/problem and formulates a plan to
address the problem.
• Conducts a comprehensive review of related literatures about the
topic/problem.
• Writes a research plan using the prescribed format. Prepares
other documents to support the project plan such as budget plan,
timeline of activities, risk assessment, and target deliverables.
Roles and Responsibilities of Learners
and Adults
• STUDENT RESEARCHER
• Communicates with qualified scientists from regulated research
institutions (RRI) to ask for technical assistance to improve the
research plan and request for permission to conduct
experimentation in the RRIs laboratory/ facility with the
supervision of a consultant/laboratory assistant. (Usually, the
Research Adviser facilitates this.)
• Completes all necessary ISEF forms based on the nature of the
chosen research study.
• Secures the original copies of signed ISEF forms and certification
from Scientific Review Committee (SRC), Institutional Review
Board (IRB) and/or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
(IACUC) before starting the research work.
Roles and Responsibilities of Learners
and Adults
• STUDENT RESEARCHER
• Records the details of the preliminary research project-related
activities, experimentation proper, raw data, and summary of
the consultations with the research adviser and qualified
scientist/laboratory assistant in a data logbook.
• Performs the experimentation with the guidance of the
research adviser and qualified scientist/laboratory assistant.
• Takes necessary and appropriate photo-documentation.
• Conducts data analysis with the guidance of the research
adviser and/or statistician.
• Writes the research paper following the APA (American
Psychological Association) style formatting and citation.
Roles and Responsibilities of Learners
and Adults
• STUDENT RESEARCHER
• Chooses the appropriate category that most
accurately fits the nature of the study and prepares a
brief presentation about the research project.
• Presents the project display poster and answers
questions and clarifications from the judges and the
general public.
Roles and Responsibilities of Learners
and Adults
• ADULT SPONSOR/ADVISER
• May be a teacher, parent, professor, and/or a qualified
scientist who will directly oversee student researchers
throughout the course of the STEM research project.
• Should have a solid background in the area of student
research. If not, carry out a literature review to know
more about the pre-requisite information regarding the
main topic/problem, entities/test subjects, variables,
methodologies, and other relevant related literatures
needed to better understand the rationale and basics
of the research project.
Roles and Responsibilities of Learners
and Adults
• ADULT SPONSOR/ADVISER
• Must be familiar with the safety and ethical considerations,
national laws and updated rules and regulations set by NSTF and
ISEF in planning and performing STEM research.
• Orients learners on the following: a) roles and responsibilities of
the researcher, advisor (adult sponsor), qualified scientist and
designated supervisor b) adherence to the rules, regulations, and
laws.
• Communicates with the parent/guardian of student researchers
regarding the rationale of conducting STEM researches and the
general details on how research activities will be carried out.
Secures signed copies of parental/ guardian consent for the
participation of learners in the research endeavor
Roles and Responsibilities of Learners
and Adults
• ADULT SPONSOR/ADVISER
• Reviews the necessary ISEF forms and research proposal to
ensure that learners are abiding by the rules and regulations.
• Ensures the health and safety of learners by identifying
potential hazards and evaluates risks involved in all
researchrelated activities with the researchers. Familiarizes
learners on how to minimize research-related risks and carry
out necessary measures during emergencies.
• Collaborates with RRIs to ask for technical assistance from
their pool of experts and permission to use their laboratory
facilities. Prepares communication letters, memorandum of
understanding/agreement, and other necessary requirements.
Roles and Responsibilities of Learners
and Adults
• ADULT SPONSOR/ADVISER
• Monitors the conduct of research activities within the
projected workplan. Asks relevant questions to researchers
before, during and after experimentation to evaluate and
strengthen their understanding of the technical know-how of
the research process.
• Allows student researcher consultation during the most
convenient time for both parties (learner and adviser).
• Checks the correct usage, syntax, and grammar of the
research paper, and display poster of the student researchers.
• Guides student researcher in choosing the appropriate
category that most accurately fits the nature of the study.
Roles and Responsibilities of Learners
and Adults
• ADULT SPONSOR/ADVISER
• Conducts local oral defense presentations and
provides comments and suggestions to further
improve the content and delivery of the presentation.
• Ensures that the learner is physically, emotionally,
and mentally ready for the oral defense presentation.
Roles and Responsibilities of Learners
and Adults
• QUALIFIED SCIENTIST
• A qualified scientist should have earned a doctorate
degree and/or at least 3 years of extensive experience
and expertise in a STEM discipline related to the learner’s
research investigation.
• Can also serve as the adult sponsor if the abovementioned
qualifications are met.
• Needed for research involving human participants, animals,
hazardous chemicals, and/or other PHBAs.
• Must be thoroughly familiar with ethical and safety
considerations, national laws, and updated rules set by NSTF
and ISEF that relate to the nature of the research project.
Roles and Responsibilities of Learners
and Adults
• QUALIFIED SCIENTIST
• Reviews and provides comments and suggestions to further refine
the STEM project proposal. Approves the learner’s project plan.
• Reviews and completes the required documentation in the ISEF
forms and data logbook.
• May or may not come from the RRI where experimentation
is to be conducted; if not from RRI, a separate designated
supervisor from the RRI must be present to supervise the
experimentation conducted at the RRI.
• Ensures the proper training of student researchers and/ or
designated supervisors in carrying out the necessary procedures.
Roles and Responsibilities of Learners
and Adults
• QUALIFIED SCIENTIST
• A Qualified Scientist is required for all studies
involving Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) potentially
hazardous biological agents and DEA-controlled
substances and is also required for many human
participant studies and many vertebrate animal
studies.
Roles and Responsibilities of Learners
and Adults
• DESIGNATED SUPERVISOR
• Must be familiar with the learner’s project and
underwent/undergoes relevant trainings related to the area of
study of the researcher.
• May also serve as the adult sponsor for the project.
• If the project involves the use of vertebrate animals, the
designated supervisor must be well-equipped with the relevant
knowledge and skills on proper handling and ethical concerns
with the use of the test animals.
• Provides direct supervision during conduct of the
experimentation.
• Reviews and completes the required documentation in the ISEF
forms and data logbook.
The Scientific Review Committee
(SRC)
• An SRC must consist of a minimum of three
individuals with at least 3 years of extensive
experience and expertise in STEM research
project and/or graduate degrees in STEM related
disciplines, whereas it is recommended to diversify the
expertise of the committee (e.g., Life Science research
SRC: agronomist, STEM professor/ educator, biomedical
scientist).
• Orientation of SRC members regarding the national
laws, safety and ethical considerations, and the rules
and regulations set by NSTF and ISEF needed to be
adhered in conducting STEM Research Project.
The Scientific Review Committee
(SRC)
• Must be thoroughly familiar with ethical and safety
considerations, national laws, and updated rules
and regulations set by NSTF and ISEF.
The Scientific Review Committee
(SRC)
• Checks and evaluates student research project, certifications,
research plan, documentation, evidence of proper supervision,
and project display in compliance with NSTF and ISEF rules,
applicable laws and regulations at each level of the STEM fair
competitions. Examines research projects for the following:
a. Evidence of literary research
b. Evidence of proper supervision c. Consistency of completion of the required
information, signatures and dates in the ISEF forms and data logbook
d. Use of accepted and appropriate research methodologies
e. Evidence of risk assessment and appropriate literatures search and attribution
f. Search for alternatives to animal use
g. Humane treatment of animals
h. Documentation of substantial expansion for continuation projects
i. Compliance with ISEF ethics statement
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
• A committee that evaluates the risk of research
involving humans.
Regulated Research Institution (RRI)
• A professional research/ teaching institution that
includes all federal laboratories such as National
Institutes of Health, Veteran’s Affairs Medical Centers
and the Centers for Disease Control.
INSTITUTIONAL ANIMAL CARE AND
USE COMMITTEE (IACUC)
• Is the institutional animal oversight review and approval
body for all animal studies at a Regulated Research
Institution.
The Research Competition (TUKLAS)
• The competition is open to Grades 9-12 learners of both public
and private high schools in the Philippines who have not
reached the age of 20 on or before May 1 of the current school
year.
• Learners may work individually or in teams with 2-3 members from
the same school. Each learner is only allowed to submit one (1)
research project in one (1) of the four (4) research categories: Life
Science, Physical Science, Robotics and Intelligent Machines, and
Mathematics and Computational Sciences. The project should
include no more than 12 months of continuous research
and should not include research activities performed
before January of the previous school year. (e.g., For school
year 2023-2024 with the target opening of classes on August 2023
and ISEF on May 2024, research projects may be accomplished
within 1-12 month/s starting from January 2023 to January 2024).
The Research
Competition (TUKLAS)
School STF
Division STF
Regional STF
National STF