When developing research projects, learners need to take into consideration possible Ethics issues that may arise from their research methods. The learner must be able to discuss potential issues with key role players in their project. Key role players may be the following:
Conducting the research and exhibiting
When conducting research, you must abide by the laws of the Republic of South Africa and the Expo rules and regulations for both conducting the research and exhibiting it. There are two processes that projects go through at Expo:
Ethics:
Violations within the project
Ethics refers to moral principles that determine what is right or wrong, good or bad, fair or unfair, responsible or irresponsible when conducting any activity. At Expo, the entire research is reviewed for any ethics transgressions, such as plagiarism and unethical methods of experimentation and data collection, especially unethical human and animal testing. Eskom Expo upholds a high standard for all research especially experimental work, in line with the protocols established by the scientific community.
Ethics Statement
“Any research involving testing on vertebrates and invertebrates, i.e. human and animal testing, including physiological, psychological tests, must be done in a recognised research institution where ethical clearance has been granted by that institution. Such testing has to be done in the presence of a qualified scientist. Evidence of ethical clearance from the institution and proof of supervision from the qualified scientist must be presented to the judges, at all Expo events. The Ethics Committee will review the evidence provided and make a ruling regarding the ethics of the project. In the event that the testing or any procedure has been classified as unethical, according to Eskom Expo for Young Scientists regulations, the project will be disqualified and may be removed from the exhibition. At Expo, no plagiarism in any form is permitted.”
Ethics Process
Learner(s)
Educator(s)
Regional Science Fair Director
Provincial Coordinator
Ethics Committee
Ethics Guidelines
Read the full Expo Ethics Guidelines here. All ethics related queries must be sent to ethics@exposcience.co.za
Human Testing
If your research project will involve humans (whether yourself, family or any other person), in any way, you must commit to their well-being, protection and safety. Determine whether or not your research will appear safe, reasonable and acceptable. Avoid any harm the research might cause to the participants e.g. pain, stress, fatigue, emotional distress, and embarrassment.
Animal Testing
Research on animals, both vertebrates and invertebrates, must be conducted without causing any harm or distress. You will need ethical clearance from the Expo ethics review committee (ethics@exposcience.co.za) and a recognised research institute. Avoid any harm the research might cause to the animals e.g. pain, stress, fatigue and emotional distress.
Hazardous Biological Agents
Hazardous Biological Agents (HBAs) are microorganisms or toxins that may cause an infection, allergy or otherwise pose a hazard to human health. They are classified into four groups, according to their hazard level.
Group 1
HBAs are unlikely to cause human infection; e.g. Yeast
Group 2
HBAs may cause human infection, be a hazard to exposed persons and are unlikely to spread. Effective prophylaxis and treatment is usually available; e.g. Influenza A and B, Neisseria meningitides, Legionella pneumophila
Group 3
HBAs may cause severe human disease, which presents a serious hazard to exposed persons and may present a risk of spreading. They have no effective prophylaxis and treatment available; e.g. HIV, Bacillus anthracis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Group 4
HBAs cause severe human infections and are a serious hazard to exposed persons and may present a high risk of spreading. They have no effective prophylaxis and treatment available; e.g. Ebola
Hazardous chemicals, devices or activities
Hazardous chemicals
Hazardous chemicals are substances that can cause adverse health effects such as poisoning, breathing problems, skin rashes, allergic reactions, and other health problems from exposure. They can cause fires, explosions, corrosion, and hazardous reactions if not handled safely. These substances are regulated by local, provincial, or national law, most often with restrictions of their use by minors.
Hazardous devices
Hazardous devices are devices that can cause harm to or increase the level of risk above and beyond that encountered in the participants’ everyday life. Some of these devices are regulated by local, provincial, or national law, most often with restrictions of their use by minors.
Hazardous activities
Hazardous activities are those that involve a level of risk above and beyond that encountered in the participants’ everyday life.
Review Committees
Ethics Committee
This committee consists of a group of qualified and experienced professionals in the sciences, who inspects and reviews projects that have been flagged for the following:
- Breaking or transgression of any law of the country,
- Non-compliance with the Expo Ethics Statement,
- Non-compliance with the provincial and national rules and laws governing human and animal research,
- No evidence of risks being properly assessed,
- No evidence of efforts made to use alternative methods to animal or human testing,
- Inhumane treatment of animals,
- Evidence of plagiarism
- Absence of the required documents and forms required for the research.
Review Committees
Scientific Review Committee
This committee consists of a group of qualified scientists that are responsible for evaluating research projects that have been flagged at Expo, specifically at the International Science Fair (ISF).
- Evidence of review from the Expo Ethics Committee
- Evidence of supervision by an appropriate and qualified adult/scientist,
- Plagiarism.
Plagiarism
Using another person’s words or ideas and presenting them as your own is known as plagiarism. DO NOT submit the same project as your friend, sibling or relative exhibited at a science fair before. Plagiarised projects will be disqualified at any Expo event. All Expo participants must sign a declaration indicating that the research has not been plagiarised.
The following are examples of plagiarism:
2. Project Display Approval
Compliance, safety and branding. Get the project ready for judging.
To ensure that your project is eligible to compete at an Expo science fair; it must comply with Expo’s display and safety regulations. A Project Display Approval team identifies issues with the project poster and prototype and provides instructions for further action. During this process, ‘fixable’ issues are rectified before judging takes place. Please note that the following are not allowed at any Expo science fair:
Failure to comply with the instructions of the Project Display Approval Team/Judges/Expo Officials, including returning confiscated items to the display, may result in disqualification of the project
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