Make sure your project is safe and ethical

Before you start a project, it's important to know the rules - especially if you're thinking of using animals, human subjects, hazardous equipment or materials, recombinant DNA or other biotechnological materials. (By the way, animals includes pets and livestock and humans includes family members and students in your class or school.)

It's heartbreaking to have your project disqualified at the regional or Canada-Wide Science Fair because you broke the rules - or maybe even the law!

Check the rules BEFORE you start!

You can download the YSF policies for youth science and technology research by clicking below:

Use of Human Subjects
Use of Animals (Vertebrates and Invertebrates)
Use of Hazardous Equipment and Materials
Recombinant DNA and Biotechnological Safety

YSF Canada is responsible for the monitoring and screening of projects involving the use of human participants in research projects, the use of live animals, as well as the use of hazardous materials.

YSF Canada's rules on the use of animals are recognized by the Canadian Council on Animal Care and apply to all research done by pre-university youth. YSF's rules on the use of human participants are the only ones that apply to pre-university youth in Canada, and are patterned after the ethical expectations of good, responsible research.

YSF Canada encourages students (as well as parents, teachers and mentors) to seek advice before beginning a project. Students should consult first with their Regional Science Fair. If the region's ethics committee is unsure about a proposed project, they may refer it to the National Ethics Committee.