BASEF Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair http
BASEF Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair http: //basef. mcmaster. ca Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation Ethics, Safety and the Law: Developing Awareness, Understanding & Compliance Tom Crawford BASEF 2003 Judge in Chief Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 1
Contents Background n Rules & Reasons n Changes n Results to Date n Why This is Difficult n What Works n Next Steps n Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 2
BASEF Background n n n n Regional Science Fair for Hamilton. Halton & a 4 day event; rotate among 3 Host sites 43 consecutive years of operation A non-profit charitable association Participation ~ 450 students, 300+ projects Annual Budget $100, 000 (60% for awards) Honourary. Co-Chairs Mayor Wade, Chairman Savoline; Title Sponsor; many others Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 3
Speaker Experience · Active with BASEF Regional Science Fair since 1995 · Delegate or Alternate to CWSF 2000, 2003 · Chaperone to Team Canada at IISEF 2001, 2002 · Involved as judge, Secretary, Chair, Judge-in-Chief · BASEF J-in-C has Safety Responsibilities (SRC, Display) · Electrical / automation engineer, Dofasco Inc. · Many technical and management assignments · Health & Safety is a top priority at Dofasco Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 4
Background n RSFs are required to ensure compliance of projects with a number of rules and regulations: – – n n YSF Rules (2001 Policy Manual) Provincial & National Legislation Generally accepted standards (Tri-Council Policy) IISEF Rules Wanted to get out of the mode of “Backwards Compliance”, and surprises Wanted to offer an educational opportunity Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 5
What Rules? Human Research(ingestion, psychological risk, physical activities) n Hazardous. Materials, Apparatus (chemicals, medicines, lasers, microbiologicals ) n Vertebrate animals (inhumane treatment) n Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 6
Why Bother? Safety(participants, experimenters, others) n Ethics(risk vs benefit; humane treatment; equality issues) n Law (injury, damage, civil or criminal actions) n Public Relations (participation, sponsorship, volunteers) n Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 7
Introduce Scientific Review Form Requirements Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 8
How to Implement Changes 1. Document Rules Compliance (Forms) 2. Change in Registration Process 3. Initial Review by RSF Judge in Chief 4. Scientific Review (SRC) Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 9
HS Registration & SRC Forms n Forms required for ALL HS participants: – – n BASEF Parent / School Approval and Release Form Checklist for Adult Sponsor / Safety Assessment Form (Form 1) Research Plan and Research Plan Attachment (Form 1 A) ISEF Approval Form (Form 1 B) Other forms: – – – – Registered Research Institutional/Industrial Setting Form ( 1 C) Qualified Scientist Form (Form 2) Designated Supervisor Form (Form 3) Human Subjects / *Informed Consent Forms (Form 4 A / B) Non-human Vertebrate Animal Form (Form 5) Human and Animal Tissue Form (Form 6) Continuation Project (Form 7) Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 10
Grades 7 & 8 Forms n BASEF Forms for ALL Grades 7 & 8: – Parent / School Approval and Release Form – Project Abstract n Other forms: – Contribution from a Recognized Institution (YSF 1; App. L) – Designated Supervisor Form (YSF 3; App K, Pg 4 -12) – Application for Review of Research with Human Participants (YSF 4 A; App J, Pg 4 -17) – Informed Consent Form (YSF 4 B; Pg 4 -18) – Non-Human Vertebrate Animal Form (YSF 5; Pg 4 -18) – Continuation Projects Form (YSF 7; Pg 4 -4) Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 11
Registration Changes Timing: Before Experiment YSF 1 -- YSF 3 YSF 4 A YSF 4 B -- YSF 5 YSF 7 -- Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair With Registration Sponsored by In Notebook The Ontario Trillium Foundation 12
Initial Review Activity Timing B 4 Fair 4 Weeks 3 Weeks 2 Weeks 1 Week Note expected & missing forms. Note missing forms in Project Acknowledgements. Follow-up calls & updates. Select projects for SRC review. SRC Review; Recommendations. Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 13
Scientific Review Team n n n A group of adults knowledgeable about regulations concerning experimentation in restricted areas. not an IRB or school level Ethics Review Committee Members: – Ethics Consultant; ERB experience – Veterinarian – High School Science Teacher – 2 Elementary School Principals – BASEF Judge in Chief Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 14
Scientific Review Process n Inputs: – All Project abstracts, SRC form expectations – Initial Review results from J in C – Recommended projects to review, with full SRC paperwork (all animal; HR with risk; microbiologicals , etc. ) – May request material on other projects Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 15
Scientific Review Process n Results: – Advice on OK / OK with Warning / Reject Use email, phone discussions extensively n Judge in Chief communicates exceptions to Teachers, Parents n Generally effective; not a priority for improvement. n Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 16
Results – High School 2002 2003 Expect Final HR 4 4 7 6 Consent (4) (1) Hazard 8 8 1 1 Animal 1 1 0 -- Total 13 13 (of 11) 8 7 (of 7) Percent Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair 100% Sponsored by 100% The Ontario Trillium Foundation 17
HS Rules Progress After 4 years, is almost routine. n Still needs some follow-up calls on details. n Small drop-out rate. n Minor differences with YSF Rules (e. g. drugs). n ISEF Rule set is very prescriptive. n Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 18
Results – Grades 7 & 8 2002 2003 Expect Final HR 28 18 (of 26) 69 53 Consent (12) (8) (12) (13) Hazard 19 9 29 13 Animal 5 4 (of 4) 3 3 Total 52 31 (of 49) 102 69 (of 93) Percent Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair 63% Sponsored by 74% The Ontario Trillium Foundation 19
Grade 7 & 8 Rules Progress n n Very promising progress. Teachers becoming comfortable with need and process. Boards getting actively involved. Quality of documents acceptable; lots of variation. Hazards very acceptable to professionals; less so to others. Lack of awareness & understanding of rules still common. Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 20
Why This is Difficult Awareness n Understanding n Credibility (Are You Serious? ) n Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 21
Awareness n Communicate in many forms: – Post on Website (Rules, etc. ) – Articles in Newsletters – Include in Teachers SF Manual – Include in Presentations – Judges Compliments n (Many people don’t read the Rules) Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 22
Understanding n Rules & Details New, Complex: – YSF: 2001 Policy – Tri-Council Policy: ~1998 Not an issue in the classroom or with the school board. n Not an issue at home. n (Not easy for Me either). n Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 23
Credibility What happens if you don’t do it? n Current state: n – Phone Calls, emails, notes, “nuisance” – Opportunity to further communicate Must be prepared for progressive reenforcement as part of managing this change. n (This is not fun). n Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 24
What Works? Our SRC team and process. n Good practical advice. n Recognize as change management, continuous process. n Lots of communications. n Support, advice from within School Boards n Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 25
Best Advice Find an Ethics professional. n Proportionate Review. n Consistent. n lots of explanations, discussion; Know Why. n Must be prepared to enforce rules. n Involve School Boards. n Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 26
Communications Website (Rules, News) n Teachers manuals n Newsletters n phone calls, emails n Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 27
Board Support Science curriculum advisors n Research Officers n School Ethics Review Committees n – Principal + Teacher(s) – Board Research Officer as Resource n Supportive teachers, Principals Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 28
Next Steps n n n Must communicate rules to teachers and parents far more effectively and proactively, what the rules (really) are, and what we expect of them. Communicate results of past fair to targets (teachers, parents, students). find a rewardmechanism. Need toclarifyour own safety decisions (e. g. microbiologicals ), as we try to manage the beliefs and experiences of our “target audience”. Less Paper! Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 29
More on Rules… YSF Rules are a good starting point n Some confusing parts, omissions, poor wording… n We clarified, structured, rewrote, and added some rules. n get prescriptive; look to ISEF model. n Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 30
Is Safety Important? Bay Area Science & Engineering Fair Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation 31
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