Ethics

Welcome to the Bison Regional Science Fair!

Please remember your region is BISON

ETHICS PROCEDURE

DOES YOUR PROJECT INVOLVE HUMANS OR ANIMALS? IF SO… PLEASE READ ON… YOU WILL NEED ETHICS APPROVAL FROM BOTH THE BRSF AND POSSIBLY YOUTH SCIENCE CANADA TO TAKE PART IN OUR SCIENCE FAIR

 You do not need to have an ethics approval for the following situations:

  • Testing personal care items on synthetic or artificial material. (testing toothpaste on simulated teeth)
  • If you use a credited open source database that you have cited.
  • Observing and analyzing humans or human behavior in a public setting. (observing human behavior at crosswalks)
  • Experiments involving invertebrates (e.g. meal worms, earthworms, wax worms, silkworms, fruit flies) or single-celled micro-organisms (if you are not sure please email us at [email protected] )

If do not know if your project needs approval – ask anyways

Vancouver District Science Fair has an excellent Chart for deciding if you need approval.

When asking for an approval please provide detailed information about your project so that we can make an informed decision. When sending your email request please include all forms, partner information, project title and abstract, and any other important information. If you are using a survey. please include a copy of the survey with your request.

Important Links for Dealings with Ethics

How do you get an approval Form?

  1. Remember that BRSF and Canada-wide Science Fair follow the same guidelines for ethics at Youth Science Canada (policies). Ethics approved by BRSF carry over to CWSF, unless your project has been changed substantially between the regional fair and CWSF.
  2. Youth Science Canada Ethics in STEM Projects
  3. Email us and we can send the information to you.

Humans – Low Risk
Participation of Humans in Research – Low Risk (Youth Science Canada) 
Use of Vertebrates in Science Research
Form – Participation of Humans in Research – Low Risk Approval
Ethics in Stem
 Form – Informed Consent Letter of Information
Request for Advice or Ruling from YSC Ethics Committee
 Informed Consent Permission form
Informed Consent of- Letter of Information

Humans – Significant Risk

Participation of Humans in Research – Significant Risk (Youth Science Canada)
Form – Participation of Humans in Research – Significant Risk Approval
Ethics in Stem
Form – Informed Consent Letter of Information

Request for Advice or Ruling from YSC Ethics Committee
Use of Vertebrates in Science Research
Informed Consent Permission form
Informed Consent of- Letter of Information

Dietary Intake Reference Tables (Health Canada)

Use of Animals in Experiments:

Form – Use of Animals Research Plan

Use of Vertebrate Animals in Research Approval form
Use of Vertebrate Animals, Cephalopods,and Decapod Crustaceans in Research
 Use of Invertebrate Animals in Research
Bio safety Practices
Request for Advice or Ruling from YSC Ethics Committee
Ethics in Stem

Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) guidelines

Guide to the Care & Use of Experimental Animals (Volume 1, 2nd edition)

The Use of Firearms and Projectiles

Use of firearms and projectiles in science Experiments.