SEFMD AND MSEF POLICY FOR TEAM PROJECTS WHEN STUDENTS ARE IN DIFFERENT FAIR REGIONS (STATES, OR COUNTRIES)

October 8,2026

SEFMD and MSEF encourage collaboration at all levels and welcomes multi-location students into the SEFMD and MSEF with a few stipulations.

1) At least one of the team members must attend school in one of the SEFMD or MSEF affiliated schools.

2) The sponsoring teacher for the team member residing in the SEFMD area must certify that they will ensure the SEFMD Scientific Integrity Policy is followed. All members of the team must also adhere to the SEFMD Scientific Integrity Policy.

3) At least ONE team member must be present for judging at SEFMD and/or MSEF. All members of the team are not required to be present for SEFMD or MSEF

4) If the team advances to the ISEF, at least ONE team member must be present for the entire duration of ISEF. The entire team is encouraged to participate. SEFMD/MSEF will cover the expenses of the finalist from DETROIT, MI. If the student chooses to participate and travel on their own to ISEF, they must have a chaperon for the entire trip, and the chaperon must absorb all of their expenses - SEFMD/MSEF will reimburse the traveling student the equivalent cost if they were to travel from Detroit.

5) Team members outside of the SEFMD normal area must submit a document from their respective regional fair director indicating that the regional fair is aware of the cross boundary participation and certify that the team member has not and will not participate in their own regional competition.

6) The fair directors from each of the student’s respective areas will review the project and make a decision on a case by case basis. If any fair director veto’s the project, then the project may not be submitted in any of the associated regional fairs.

7) A document must be submitted to SEFMD stating exactly when the team members first became aware of the other members of the team and when they decided to enter the Science Fair as a team from different areas.