Adult Sponsor Requirements

In the ISEF rules, the adult roles are separated into Sponsor, Qualified Scientist, and Designated Supervisor. Unfortunately, the roles are conflated somewhat in the forms (especially Form 1). One thing that our use of FAVR does is to clear up this confusion.

The roles of Sponsor and Mentor are required for ALL projects. If there is no Mentor other than the Sponsor then the Sponsor automatically becomes the Mentor, by default. (The Supervisor is an optional role.)

Sponsor

The Adult Sponsor can be a teacher, parent, or other mentor (professor and/or other professional scientist). We prefer that the Sponsor be a teacher, but we do not require it. The sponsor must be registered (as a 'teacher', regardless of actual status, see How to Register a School) before the student can complete his/her entry.
The Sponsor:

... assists the student in choosing a project and/or finding an appropriate mentor.
... reviews te ISEF Rules with the student, to ensure that the Project details given in FAVR are specified in accord with those rules.
... guides the student with regard to ethical research practices, both from the standpoint of treatment of research subjects and also regardinng the plagiarism of the work of others.

Mentor

The Mentor should have enough relevant scientific background to understand the risks and training requirements of the work envisioned, and is responsible for advising the student of such. In addition:

Note the Sponsor is automatically the mentor if no other individual is named.
... reviews the student entries in fAVR for completeness and clarity.
... reviews the ISEF rules to ensure that the project is allowed
... asserts that the project is the work of the student
... is responsible for the safety of the student, for requiring any necessary training, and for ensuring adequate supervision for the work envisioned.
... has primary responsibility for ensuring that ethical research practices are employed.

Supervisor

If the Mentor does not supervise the work his/her self, then a separate person can be named as supervisor. (This is sometimes a grad student, for example.)

The supervisor oversees any components of the work that entail sigificant risks.
... also has secondary responsibility for ensuring ethical research practices.
... also asserts the completeness of the details specified in FAVR.
... reviews the FAVR Project Details annd Research Plan for compliance with ISEF rules.
... (if named) has primary responsibility for ensuring the safety of the student.

All of the adults involved in the project, plus the parents and any IRB members provided by the school, must register on FAVR and sign the student project record there to indicate their approval, and their understanding of these roles.