Simcoe Science and Technology Fair

If your project involves vertebrates, cephalopods, decapod crustaceans, animal embryos, or animal tissues you must follow these steps:

• Review the Use of Vertebrate Animals, Cephalopods, and Decapod Crustaceans in Research policy
• Find a Scientific Supervisor to provide ethics advice; this person should have expertise in the area of study
• Plan your research or experiment:
  • Complete the Use of Animals Research Plan Template
  • Complete the Request for Advice or Ruling: Ethics Committee form; email this to the regional fair (scrstf@gmail.com) to ensure your experiment is approved BEFORE you start your research
• Carry out your research
• Complete the Use of Vertebrate Animals in Research Approval Form
• On the day of the regional Science Fair, you need to bring with you:
  • your completed Use of Vertebrate Animals in Research Approval Form
  • your Request for Advice or Ruling: Ethics Committee form

Some General Guidelines for Working with Animals

Vertebrates – animals with backbones (including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fishes; includes cephalopods and decapod crustaceans) :

• Observation of animals in zoological parks, farm animals, and pets is allowed 
• Observation of wild animals, except those at risk, is allowed 
• Behavioural experiments with positive rewards are allowed, as long as the animal is not placed in a stressful situation
• Experiments that may negatively affect the health, comfort or physical wellbeing of an animal are not allowed 
• Projects that require or lead directly to the death of an animal are not allowed
• Confirm your project would be ethical by reviewing Youth Science Canada’s Vertebrates policy  
  

Animal/human tissues – including cells, organs, blood and animal parts:

• These may be used only if they are: obtained from a biological supply company; a research facility at a laboratory licensed to do animal/human studies; or salvaged from the food industry.
• Confirm your project would be ethical by reviewing Youth Science Canada’s Animal and Human Tissue policy (which is part of the Vertebrates policy)
  

Invertebrates – animals without a backbone (including worms, insects, molluscs, protists):

• Most experiments involving invertebrates (except cephalopods) are allowed; however, there must be clear educational or scientific value, and the animals must be treated with care and respect. 
• Confirm your project would be ethical by reviewing Youth Science Canada’s Use of Invertebrate Animals in Research policy.