About BEST Medicine
The Bridging Engineering, Science and Technology (BEST) Medicine engineering fair is an event hosted by the Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron (ABIA) to inspire students to participate in the biomedical engineering and medical science fields. It was put together by ABIA to stimulate the interest and participation in science among young students, promote exchanges among youth with interests in becoming physician scientists or biomedical engineers, and to help educators worldwide to motivate their students to get interested in science.
The 2012 BEST Medicine Engineering Fair will take place on Saturday, March 24, 2012 at the National Inventors’ Hall of Fame® School in Akron, Ohio hosting students grades 6-12 with science projects relating to biomedical science and engineering, within the approved categories.
For more information on BEST Medicine, contact us.
Projects for participation in BEST Medicine must fall under the following categories:
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Biomaterials/Polymer Medicine: A natural or synthetic material (as a metal or polymer) that is suitable for introduction into living tissue especially as part of a medical device (as an artificial joint). Medicine dealing with a chemical compound or mixture of compounds formed by polymerization and consisting essentially of repeating structural units. |
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Cardiovascular/ Soft Tissue Wound Healing: Of, relating to, or involving the heart and blood vessels. The healing of an injury to the body (as from violence, accident or surgery) that typically involves laceration or breaking of a membrane (as the skin) and usually damage to underlying tissues. |
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Clinical Trials: A scientifically controlled study of the safety and effectiveness of a therapy using consenting human subjects (Note that Institution Review Board (IRB) approval is required – even for studies that involve surveys). |
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Health/Medicine: The study of health and disease in humans or animals, including disease diagnosis, causes of disease, ways of treating disease, medical procedures, alternative therapies for diseases or the way in which the human or animal body functions normally. |
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Modeling/Simulation/Medical IT: The use of a device to imitate or represent reality. Examples include computer models of human physiology simulation methods to test a new medical device or biomechanical models. Medical technology involving the development, maintenance, and use of computer systems, software and networks for the processing and distribution of data. |
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Musculoskeletal: Of, relating to, or involving both musculature and skeleton. A branch of medicine concerned with the correction or prevention of deformities, disorders, or injuries of the skeleton and associated structures (as tendons and ligaments). |
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Sensors/Imaging: Methods for obtaining measurements of key importance to health. Examples include blood pressure measurements, ultrasound and temperature monitoring. |
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Value-driven Engineering: Redesigning an essential medical device, and making it less complex at a price they can afford, without compromising quality. |
Eligibility
BEST Medicine is open to middle and high school students in any public, private, parochial or home school in Northeast Ohio including Ashland, Ashtabula, Carroll, Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Holmes, Huron, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Richland, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties.
A maximum of 15 projects can be entered from any high school, and a maximum of 12 projects can be submitted from any middle school. A student may enter BEST Medicine as an independent if his/her school does not conduct a school-wide science fair, but they must have submitted at least one previous science fair project and the limits per school still apply. If your school does not conduct a science fair, please contact the email below, and we can work with you to coordinate through the Akron Public Schools science fair.
Students may only submit one project to BEST Medicine. Students cannot resubmit a previous year’s project unless it has been substantially expanded and re-developed.
Group projects are accepted at BEST Medicine.
All projects at BEST Medicine are subject to the review of the Scientific Review Committee (SRC). Projects which do not adhere to correct scientific principles or which involve inadequate protection of human or animal subjects may be disqualified. Students can assume approval of their project unless they are contacted by BEST Medicine.
For further questions as to your eligibility, please email Rita Filer at RFiler@abiakron.org.
Awards
Thanks to a generous donation by the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, the 2012 BEST Medicine Engineering Fair top prize will win a spot in the Intel ISEF Science Fair.
Outstanding School
School with most entries and most awards.
Grand Prize
High School Student Grades 9-12
Middle School Student Grades 6-8
Platinum Award
Awarded in each category
Grades 11-12
Grades 9-10
Grades 6-8
Gold Award
Awarded in each category
Grades 11-12
Grades 9-10
Grades 6-8
Silver Award
Awarded in each category
Grades 11-12
Grades 9-10
Grades 6-8
Bronze Award
Awarded in each category
Grades 11-12
Grades 9-10
Grades 6-8
Team Awards
Grades 11-12
Grades 9-10
Grades 6-8
Honorable Mention
Remaining Students
Rules & Guidelines
Understanding the rules and guidelines, and properly completing all of the paperwork is an important and necessary part of completing your BEST Medicine project.
Please download the 2012 BEST Medicine Rules and Regulations (PDF) for all of the guidelines you’ll need to follow to compete in BEST Medicine.
Please download the 2012 BEST Medicine Handbook (PDF) for a complete packet of information, and rules for BEST Medicine.
Please download the 2012 BEST Medicine Forms Handbook* (PDF) for a complete packet of forms needed to register for BEST Medicine.
*The 2012 BEST Medicine Forms Handbook is currently being updated. Please check back at a later date to download the 2012 Forms Handbook.