Student Ethics
It is our expectation that students and their parents will follow the Rules and Guidelines for participation in the Thomas A. Edison Regional Science and Inventors Fairs (TAERSIF) and will abide by the following ethics statement:
Scientific fraud and misconduct are not condoned at any level of research or competition. Such practices include but are not limited to plagiarism, forgery, use or presentation of other researcher’s work as one’s own, and fabrication of data. Fraudulent projects will fail to qualify for competition in affiliated fairs and the Intel ISEF. (Source: Intel International Science and Engineering Fair International Rules and Guidelines, 2017)
Harassment
TAERSIF is committed to providing an environment for students, volunteers, and fair staff, free of harassment of any kind. TAERSIF will not tolerate harassment of students, volunteers, fair staff or anyone else associated with our Regional Science and Inventors Fairs program.
Unacceptable Conduct
Any harassing conduct that interferes with a student’s, a volunteer’s, or fair staff’s ability to participate in TAERSIF or that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for a student, volunteer, or fair staff member is unacceptable.
Harassment may be verbal, visual, or physical in nature. Specific examples of prohibited harassing conduct include, but are not limited to: slurs, jokes, statements, notes, letters, electronic communication, pictures, drawings, posters, cartoons, gestures, unwelcome physical contact, assault, or persistent, repeated requests for exceptions to TAERSIF rules, policies, or guidelines.
Consequences
Students who violate this policy may have their project removed from competition or awards rescinded. Harassment by parents may result in their child’s project being removed from competition or awards rescinded.
Volunteers, including judges, who violate this policy will be asked to leave the TAERSIF event and will be removed from our list of volunteers.
Any Steering Committee member who is found to have violated this policy will be removed from the Steering Committee.
Reporting Incidents of Harassment
If you feel that you have been harassed or feel you have witnessed harassment, please report the incident to any member of the TAERSIF Steering Committee.
A subcommittee of the TAERSIF Steering Committee will investigate the complaint and attempt to resolve the issue sensitively, promptly and effectively and, if warranted, take appropriate corrective action. Every effort will be made, to the extent possible, to maintain confidentiality.
Procedure for Filing a Concern/Suggestion
- Send a signed, written message describing the suggestion or concern to the fair manager.
- If the initial response is not adequate, please request clarification from appropriate subcommittee.
- If response is still not adequate, please request discussion time at a future TAERSIF Steering Committee meeting.
TAERSIF Mailing address
Thomas A. Edison Regional Science and Inventors Fair
c/o The School District of Lee County
Lee County Public Education Center
2855 Colonial Boulevard
Fort Myers, FL 33966