Printing ISEF Forms

The Elementary division projects do not need to submit or fill in ISEF forms.

Junior and Senior Division projects must submit a set ISEF forms. Some forms, such as Form 1 and Form 1A, are required. Others are needed only if the project requires them. For example, Form 4 is needed if human subjects are involved in the project.

The ISEF forms are available as PDF files on the ISEF website. The information that must be placed on these forms must also be entered into our online registration system. If that is done first then this information can be downloaded and printed using the PDF files. This book addresses the method to do this as well as applicable scenarios and issues.

Note: You do not have to use this method to fill in your ISEF forms. This feature is provided to streamline the process. Likewise, you do not have to reprint your forms if you have them filled out already, usually by hand printing the information on the page.

What to do

You will need three things to print out the ISEF PDF forms with information you entered online:

  1. a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader or the full version of Adobe Acrobat
  2. a copy of the blank ISEF PDF files (usually all the forms and the abstract)
  3. an FDF files with the online data (one for the forms, one for the abstract)

The Acrobat Reader is a free download from Adobe. The blank ISEF files are available from the main ISEF website. The FDF file is available from your online registration Status form (the first one in the list).

You will need to download and install the Acrobat Reader on your PC. You can then download the blank PDF files (usually one file for all the forms and one file for the abstract) and save these in a directory. Finally you can download the FDF file and save it in the same directory.

Run the Acrobat Reader and open the FDF file. It should find the matching PDF file assuming it is in the same directory. This will present the filled in form. You can then print any of the pages within the form.

Note: do not submit forms that are not required! For example, if you are not using human subjects in your project the you do not need the Consent form or Form 4.

 

Scenarios

The following sections present some scenarios on printing out ISEF forms using data entered online.

Not using this feature

Ok. This is the simple way out. You will still need to download the Acrobat Reader, the blank PDF files, then print out the blank forms. Fill them in by hand and then enter all the information online to register for the fair.

This approach is typically done if you started your project before the online registration system was turned on for the next fair or if you obtained printed copies of the blank ISEF forms through other means.

Use for Abstract only

This is a common approach when the other ISEF forms are filled in by hand since they must be done before your experimentation begins. On the other hand, the abstract should be written after experimentation and analysis is done but before the online application is complete and the application is mailed into the fair.

In this case, most of the information for the abstract will be entered online already and it is simply a matter of pasting in the copy of the application text to the abstract field.

Use the process outlined to download the necessary files to print out the abstract. This can be done any number of times in case you need an extra copy or you change the contents of the abstract.

Use for all forms

Hopefully you will be using this scenario since it saves the most time.

  1. Enter all the information into the system that you can first. This includes the Student Info and Project Info. Enter as much information in Form 1 as possible since this dictates what forms are required and what will be available for printing.
  2. Print out the forms with the data using the PDF and FDF files mentioned in earlier sections. Get the appropriate signatures and information as necessary. This varies depending upon whether you need a particular form for your project, where it is being worked on, and who is supervising your project. Some fields or forms, such as Form 1C, are filled in AFTER the project is completed. In general, these forms can be printed with your name and project title and provided to the people who will complete the form.

Forms that do not have signatures, such as Form 1A and the abstract, can be reprinted as changes are made. Forms that have signatures and dates should not be reprinted. Addendums can be attached and online changes can be made but you need to retain the original forms with signatures or the project may be disqualified.

Note, if you restart your project due to major changes you can start with a new set of forms and get signatures but only data acquired after the appropriate forms are signed can be used in a project presentation. Do not back date forms.

The abstract will be done last and after experimentation and analsysis is completed. This allows the abstract to be printed using the FDF and PDF files.

You can CHANGE YOUR PROJECT TITLE at any time. If you do, DO NOT reprint any form that has signatures on it. The project title on those pages is for your information and that of anyone signing the form only. The title used for any awards will be the one you enter online. The one you use when printing your abstract should be the final title.

Caveats

There are some caveats the should be mentioned.

  1. Most online registration fields will print out but not all. For example, some date fields associated with signatures MUST be entered by hand when the signature is written. The online registration field is required so you can copy the written date from a signed form.
  2. Some fields are omitted from the online registration forms and cannot be entered via the Acrobat Reader. These are primarliy fields that a designated supervisor or scientist must enter that only need to be on the printed form.
  3. We cannot be responsible for or assist in any problems related to Adobe Acrobat and its installation or operation. There should be sufficient information provided with Acrobat or available on the Internet to assist you in solving any of these problems. Do let us know about any fields that do not print properly or related problems between the online registration forms and the Acrobat presentation.
  4. If you have the Acrobat Reader and not the full Acrobat product then you WILL NOT be able to save the forms with the data in them.
  5. This feature of downloading online registration information into the Acrobat PDF files is OPTIONAL. Do not let it hold up filing your application or mailing in the printed application. Fill it in by hand if necessary.