VERO BEACH — The Education Foundation of Indian River County (EF-IRC) is pleased to recognize the 2012 Scientific Review Committees for the Annual Indian River Regional Science & Engineering Fair (IRRSEF).
IRB (Institutional Review Board):
- Dr. Susan O’Toole-Evans, M.D.
- Mr. Charles Evans, Assistant Principal
- Mrs. Josie Lieberman, Retired Educator, MBA
- SRC (Scientific Review Committee):
- Dr. Laura Baldwin, DVM
- Mrs. Margot Kornicks, RN, MBA
- Dr. Linda Clerch
These committees are overseen by the direction of Sarah Rhodes-Ondi, IRRSEF Secondary Science Coordinator. SRC and IRB members provide many hours of volunteer service. This review process insures the safety of participating students.
Each year more than 10,000 students compete in school based fairs before advancing to the IRRSEF. Prior to the start of experiments that involves human participants, vertebrate animals, and potentially hazardous biological agents, students must complete the appropriate forms that are reviewed by their teacher or school coordinator.
The school contact person then submits the forms to Mrs. Rhodes-Ondi who then directs the paperwork to the appropriate committee for review. This process runs from September 26, 2011 – November 11, 2011. Student experiments may not begin until the paperwork has been reviewed and signed by the committee.
The EF-IRC is the only education foundation in the State of Florida to administer a regional science fair. During the past twenty years, the program has grown to offer over one million dollars in college scholarships and awards annually.
The 2012 event will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at Gifford Middle School. Volunteers are needed to serve as judges. Community members may sign up by visiting the EF-IRC website: www.edfoundationirc.org. Students, teachers and parents can also find additional information on this site under the programs tab – science fair.
For additional questions: call (772) 564-0034 or email: director@edfoundationirc.org
