If you are thinking of doing a project involving people, it is important to understand how to do ethical STEM. Before starting any work, you must check what you need to do to create an ethical plan.

Working with Humans

If you are planning to observe, survey or test anyone – including students, family, friends – or even yourself – here’s what you need to know:

All projects involving human participants must:

• Have an adult supervisor to provide advice on STEM ethics.
• Get written consent from participants (or their parents, if under 18). You can use our template Letter of Information and Permission Form to help you get started!

Risk Levels

Projects involving human participants can be either low risk or significant risk:

Low Risk – the risk of harm to participants is not greater or more likely than everyday life. Confirm that your project would be low risk by reviewing Youth Science Canada’s Participation of Humans in Research – Low Risk policy. Your project would probably be low risk if you are planning to do:

• surveys
• exercise experiments
• food and drink experiments
• caffeinated beverage experiments
• absorption through the skin experiments

Significant Risk – any project that isn’t low risk is considered significant risk and must follow stricter rules. You can read more about these types of projects in Youth Science Canada’s Participation of Humans in Research – Significant Risk policy.

STEM fair participation

If you are entering your project in a STEM fair, check out the ethics information and forms on mySTEMspace.ca. (Your regional STEM fair may have their own forms.)

Remember

If your project might harm others or animals, you have doubts about safety, or you are unsure if your project would be allowed: STOP! Do not continue until you’ve talked with an adult about your project idea, and you read through safety and ethics information to understand whether your project is ethical and safe.