Preparing You Posterboard

Now that you’ve worked hard performing tests, collecting data, and analyzing your results, how do you tell others about it?
It is important to capture the attention of your audience so that they will want to read your display board, listen to what you have to say about your project and understand what you have learned.
Poster and Display AreaAt the fair, you will need to present your project to the public (friends, parents, teachers and visitors) and to the judges. It is important to make sure your display area is well-prepared, organized, and represents what you have done. Visitors looking at your backboard should be able to quickly understand what the project is about, what you did, and what you concluded.
Be creative. You can use pictures, models, and even demonstrations as long as they fit within your display area and do not conflict with the ethics and safety regulations. Your poster should capture the most important parts of your project, and contain enough information to tell someone walking by what you did.

Each project will get a specific spot allocated for their display. Please build your display to the specifications below. No additional room will be given so ensure all your material fits within the allotted space.

  • Your project display must fit within the following dimensions: 1.1 m (44 in) wide x 0.8 m (30 in) deep x 3.5 m (137 in) high from the floor.

  • Your project display must be free standing and stands up on its own. Three-fold displays are the easiest, but other formats are possible. Non-free standing displays will not be permitted.

There are specific display requirements for the national level Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF). Project displays created in alignment with the CWSF requirements are allowed at the GVSRF, but are not required.
Safety Requirements For your safety and the safety of others attending the fair, all projects must also comply with the GVRSF safety requirements. Failure to follow these rules and requirements will result in disqualification at the fair.
The following items are NOT permitted and shall be removed from your display. Take pictures and bring photos of your project or experiment instead!
Fire Hazards

  • Flames, candle, torch, or any heating device such as a hot plate

  • Excessive packing material under the table

Electrical hazards

  • Inappropriately grounded electrical plugs or sockets.

  • Modifications of CSA approved electrical equipment

  • Wet cell batteries such as lead acid

  • Dry cell batteries such as alkaline, NiMH, or Lithium ion.

Electronic equipment created by participants are only permitted if they have:

  • As low a voltage and electric current as possible

  • A non-combustible enclosure

  • An insulating grommet at the point where the electrical service enters the enclosure

  • All exposed terminals must be covered

  • Pilot light to indicate when a device is powered

Biohazards

  • Biological toxins

  • Cell or tissue samples (including blood and blood products, except on sealed microscope slides)

  • Plants or plant tissue

  • Soil containing organic material

  • Cultures – Petri dishes containing media, ziplocs with spores, etc.

Images of Humans

  • Sensational or offensive images of humans on project display

Animals and Animal Parts

  • Live animals or micro-organisms

  • Items naturally shed by an animal or parts properly prepared and preserved (e.g. quills, shed snake skin, feathers, tanned pelts and hides, antlers, hair samples, skeletons or skeletal parts)

Firearms, Hazardous Materials, and Equipment

  • Firearms, ammunition, dangerous goods, or explosives

  • Images of humans or animals injured by firearms or explosives

  • Functional X-ray and radiation-producing equipment

Structural and Mechanical Safety

  • Any structurally unsound backboard or display

  • Sharp edges such as the corners of prisms, mirrors, glass, or metal plates that are not in a case

  • Dangerous exposed moving parts such as belts, gears, pulleys, and blades

  • Motors that do not contain safety shut-offs

  • Pressurized vessels or compressed gas cylinders

  • Moving exhibits (such as robots) that are using more than their allocated space

Chemical Safety

  • Flammable, toxic or dangerous chemicals

  • Prescription drugs or over the counter medications

  • More than 1 L of liquid being displayed

  • Radioactive sources and materials (e.g. smoke detector sources)

Any chemicals on display other than water or table salt are not recommended. Water, salt, and molasses can be used to simulate other materials. Write “simulated X” on the material. You may use food colouring and water to simulate chemicals if necessary.
If you have questions of what you can or cannot have at your display, please contact us.