Central Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair

The 42nd Annual Central Arkansas Regional Science and Engineering Fair

CARSEF 2024

Sponsored by:

   

The state’s largest pre-college STEM research competition, CARSEF 2024 will be held on Friday, March 1, 2024 at the Donaghey Student Center on the UA Little Rock campus starting with check-in at 8:00 a.m. 

Getting Started

Rules

  1. CARSEF follows the International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) rules.
  2. Schools should have a SRC/IRB established PRIOR to students’ starting their experimentation. SRC is Scientific Review Committee. IRB is Institutional Review Board.
  3. Each school’s SRC/IRB should review projects PRIOR to experimentation. These groups ensure the rules are followed and ethical research is being conducted.
  4. Here are list of Common Scientific Research Committee (SRC) Problems

Forms

  1. ISEF Rules require the use of specific forms.
  2. Video tutorials about completing these forms can be found here.

Training/Tutorials

Training videos/webinars to assist with completing forms can be viewed here.

Student Registration

  • Registration website: https://ar-carsef.zfairs.com
  • Registration will open by January 15, 2024.
  • Registration deadline is February 15, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
  • Registration fee is $30 per student and can be paid through registration link above.
  • Students can register and upload their required forms, documents, and videos, and submit payment here (accessible January 2024).

Judges’ Registration

  • Registration opens in January 2024

Judging

March 1, 2024: All students (4th – 12th grade)

Volunteering

Volunteers are vital to the success of CARSEF.  Your assistance is greatly appreciated.  Volunteer registration opens in January 2024.

Volunteers are required to register prior to the event for the following roles:

  • Student registration
  • Student forms review
  • School/Teacher packets
  • Computer work
  • Student and school check-in
  • Event set-up (February 29, 2024)

Volunteers are required the day of the event for:

  • Student check-in
  • Directing students to their set-up location
  • Display and Safety
  • Awards committee
  • Awards ceremony
  • Closing event

Schedule

Schedule for Students
8:00 – 9:00am Student Registration and Project Set-up
Students will check in at the Fitness Center inside the Donaghey Student Center.

9:00am Judges Meeting  – Donaghey Athletic Center

9:30-11:30am Judging of Projects – All students are expected to be at their display table by 9:30am and are to remain there until their entire category has been dismissed by a CARSEF supervising volunteer.

10:30-11:30am Parent and Teacher meeting
Admissions Presentation

11:30am-1:00pm Lunch – Students, parents, and teachers are welcome to get lunch in the Student Center or the nearby restaurants in the University District.

Immediately follow conclusion of all judging, students will need to remove their project boards from the tables in order to facilitate breakdown and cleanup of the Fitness Center.

1:30pm – Programs (To be announced)

4:00 – 4:45 Awards Ceremony – Junior Division – Location TBD
Student, parents, and teachers are to report by 3:45 for the Junior Division Awards Ceremony.  Only Junior division participants, parents/family and teachers permitted.

4:45 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge Finalists Meeting

5:00 – 5:45 Awards Ceremony – Senior Division  – Location TBD

6:00 ISEF Finalists Meeting

Schedule for Judges
8:30 Judges Registration
9:00 Judges Meeting
9:30 Judging of Projects until competed
4:00 Junior Division Awards Ceremony
5:00 Senior Division Awards Ceremony