How to Complete the Vertebrate Animal Form

 

ISEF Forms 5A and 5B

HUMANE TREATMENT OF VERTEBRATE ANIMALS

 

Students planning research involving live vertebrate animals MUST, before acquiring them and starting any experiments, COMPLY with the rules and guidelines of the California Education Code and the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). In case of conflict, the provisions of the California Education Code take precedence.

 

Observational studies do not require ISEF Forms 5A or 5B: Vertebrate Animals Form

 

For all other research involving vertebrate animals:

 

1. Become familiar with the California Education Code and International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) Rules and Guidelines, Vertebrate Animals.

 

2. Using animals at home, school, or a field site:   Download, read and complete ISEF Form 5A: Vertebrate Animals Form.

ISEF Form 5A: Vertebrate Animals used at home, school, or field site

 

Using animals at a Regulated Research Institution: ISEF Form 5B is completed AFTER research at an RRI.  It is NOT needed for SRC approval. However, you must include a letter from the Animal Care and Use Committee granting permission for the project before starting the project.  

 

ISEF Form 5B: Vertebrate Animals used in a Regulated Research Institution

 

3.  Send Form 5A to the SRC with necessary information but no signatures.  The SRC will determine which level of supervision will be necessary and which signatures are required and send the form back to you to get the signatures. 

A Qualified Scientist must sign Form 5B AFTER research is done. 

4. If research is done at an RRI, a letter from the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee granting permission to do the research must be included in the upload to the SRC BEFORE starting research. 

5. If a Qualified Scientist provides training or supervision for the project, he/she must sign the Qualified Scientist Form.

ISEF Form 2: Qualified Scientist

     

    Forms and Signatures Required for Forms 5A and 5B

  •  If research is conducted at a middle or high school:
    • ISEF Vertebrate Animal Form 5A
      • Veterinarian and/or Teacher Signatures required depending on decision of SRC. 

 

  •  If research is conducted at a Regulated Research Institution:
    • IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) Approval Letter from the RRI required BEFORE research starts. Send to SRC in upload.  
    • ISEF Vertebrate Animal Form 5B to be completed AFTER research
    • Supervising scientist signature
    • ISEF Form 2 (Qualified Scientist) 

 

  • If research is conducted at a middle or high school with scientist training/supervision:
    • ISEF Vertebrate Animal Form 5A
      • Veterinarian and/or Teacher Signature  required depending on decision of SRC. 
    • Qualified Scientist signature on ISEF Form 2: Qualified Scientist

 

  • If research is conducted at home: The parent/guardian must already be trained in animal care or be trained by a Qualified Scientist.
    • ISEF Vertebrate Animal Form 5A
      • Veterinarian and/or Teacher Signatures required depending on decision of SRC. 
    • If the parent/guardian is trained by a Qualified Scientist: Qualified Scientist signature on ISEF Form 2.

 

Submit ISEF Form 5A:Vertebrate Animal Form and any necessary ISEF forms/documents with the SRC Pre-Approval Form to the GSDSEF Scientific Review Committee (SRC) for approval.

Do not send Form 5B to the SRC.  Send it after research is completed. 

 

California Educational Code -  Vertebrate Animals

From the:

         •  CALIFORNIA EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

 

Any student research involving animals MUST COMPLY with the requirements of the CALIFORNIA EDUCATION CODE stated here:

 

California Education Code Title 2, Division 2, Part 28, Chapter 4, Article 5,51540:

In the public elementary and high schools or in public elementary and high school sponsored activities and classes held elsewhere than on school premises, live vertebrate animals shall not, as part of a scientific experiment or any purpose whatever:

       (a) Be experimentally medicated or drugged in a manner to cause painful or lethal pathological conditions.

       (b) Be injured through any other treatments, including, but not limited to, anesthetization or electric shock.

            •  Live animals on the premises of a public elementary or high school shall be housed and cared for in a humane and safe manner.

            •  The provisions of this section are not intended to prohibit or constrain vocational instruction in the normal practices of animal husbandry.

 

Compliance with the ISEF Rules and Guidelines is also required.  HOWEVER, the provisions of the California Education Code MUST be followed whenever conflicting regulations occur.

 

INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR (ISEF) GUIDELINES:

The Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair (GSDSEF) adheres to and complies with the Safety Rules and Guidelines of the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Refer to ISEF Rules and Guidelines, Vertebrate Animals, for questions regarding general safety and specifically rules pertaining to Vertebrate Animal research.