Rules for ALL Studies Involving Vertebrate Animals 
1. All projects involving vertebrate animals must follow these rules.
Definition: Vertebrate animals are defined as living, non-human vertebrates at hatching or birth and beyond. This includes fish and tadpoles. As a special case, it also includes reptile and bird eggs withing three days (72 hours) of hatching.
2. Alternatives to the use of vertebrate animals for research must be explored and used wherever possible. Projects that use vertebrate animals where alternatives would be more appropriate will score lower than similar projects where alternatives were used. Alternatives include the following “3 R’s”:
a. Replace vertebrate animals with invertebrates, lower life forms, tissue/cell cultures or computer simulations
b. Reduce the number of animals without compromising statistical validity
c. Refine the experimental protocol to lessen pain or distress to the animals.
3. A Qualified Scientist or Designated Supervisor must directly supervise all research involving vertebrate animals.
Definitions: A Qualified Scientist is an adult who possesses an earned advanced degree in the biological or medical sciences. A Designated Supervisor is an adult who is directly responsible for overseeing student experimentation, and must be highly trained in the student’s specific area of research. All persons supervising student research involving vertebrate animals must be thoroughly familiar with the local, state, and federal regulations that govern the student’s area of research, the humane care and handling of animals and must be thoroughly familiar with the student’s project.
Exceptions:
a. Observational studies in natural settings in which the environment and animals are NOT altered in any way. For example an observational study of flocking behavior in wild geese.
b. Studies involving domestic animals and pets where the experimental procedure does NOT involve any manipulation of the animal or environment other than those ordinarily encountered in DAILY LIFE for that subject.
4. Research projects which cause pain or suffering to vertebrate animals or which are designed to kill vertebrate animals are strictly prohibited.
5. The following types of studies on vertebrate animals are also strictly prohibited:
a. All induced toxicity studies involving a poison or toxin that could impair health or destroy life, including alcohol, acid rain, insecticide, herbicide, or heavy
metals.
b. Behavioral experiments involving operant conditioning with aversive stimuli, mother/infant separation or induced helplessness
c. Studies of pain
d. Predator/vertebrate prey experiments (unless they fall under rule 2.a. or the computer simulation exception of rule 3.a. above).
6. Students performing vertebrate animal research must follow local, state, and U.S. federal regulations.
7. Because weight loss is one significant sign of stress, the experiment must be immediately terminated if weight loss or growth retardation of any exerimental or control animal reaches 15% of that exerienced by all the controls.
8. If there is one or more unexpected deaths in either the experimental or control groups, the cause of the death must be determined. The experiment must be immediately terminated if the experimental procedure is responsible for the death. The experiment must be immediately terminated if a death rate of 30% or greater in any group or subgroup is reached from any cause. Projects that are terminated under this rule are not eligible for participation in the fair.
9. The student research plan for vertebrate animal studies must contain a written risk assessment and evaluation of alternatives which must be available at the fair. The risk assessment and evaluation of alternatives must:
a. Justify why animals must be used, including the reasons for the choice of species and the number of animals to be used.
b. Describe any alternatives to animal use that were considered, and the reasons these alternatives are unacceptable.
c. Explain the potential impact or contribution this research may have on the broad fields of biology or medicine.
d. Identify the species, strain, source, and number of animals proposed for use, and sex, age, and weightof each animal.
e. Describe in detail, how the animals will be used. Include methods and procedures, such as experimental design and data analysis. Describe the procedures that
minimize the potential for discomfort, distress, pain and injury to the animals during the course of experimentation.
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