• Overview
• Rules and Regulation

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A new competition that is a combination of Research Methods and Community Service; Show us your next great research idea by focusing on your community. How can you improve your community? Conduct a research project that demonstrates your intellectual and critical thinking capabilities. Come up with a creative and effective plan of action to serve a need.

Procedures:

The following is a list of rules and procedures for this category. Failure to fulfill these obligations and/or any violation of them may result in point loss.

1. The Community Service competition is a team effort. A minimum of one (1)  and a maximum of six (6) people can register for this competition. One submission per MIST team.
2. After registering, each student is given a MIST ID Number, which must be used to identify each registered student on their submissions. Names and other identifying information should not be included anywhere on the final submissions.
3. Students are expected to email their regional headquarters with their topic abstract at least four (4) weeks in advance of the regional tournament.
4. Students are required to submit three copies of a research paper (1,500 - 2,000 words), and at least one visual aid, such as a three-paneled display board (min. of 36” x 48”), videos or slideshow presentations.
5. The paper should be typed with 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, with 1” margins, including a Title Page with an abstract (max. 250 words), Table of Contents, and Bibliography.
6. The content of both the presentation and the paper should identify the problem (with proper supporting evidence), relevant research of possible solutions, an explanation of the chosen activity, and the results of the activity. If the results are hard to measure by the time of submission, potential impact may be presented, as long as all calculations are properly justified.
7. At least three primary sources (non-fiction books, academic papers, studies, scientific surveys/polls, etc.) must be cited accurately, according to MLA format. News articles are not considered primary sources, but may be helpful in finding more appropriate primary sources. Students are free to conduct their own primary research (in the form of surveys, interviews, etc.) as long as the research is done based on standards of scientific integrity, in which case the methods and raw data should be adequately documented in an Appendix.
8. All competitors are to report to the competition room on time, which will be designated in the competition schedule.
9. Students will be allotted 5-7 minutes to present their project and approximately 3 minutes to field questions from the judges.
10. Not all students are required to participate in speaking during the presentation, but all registered students must be present in order to answer questions about their participation in the project.