How to carry out your TuKoKe project in a responsible way

Safety and ethics in your TuKoKe project

Before starting the project, the participants and their supervisor should carefully consider the potential risks involved in the materials, equipment and methods used. The risks may be directly related to physical safety, or they may be ethical in nature.

Carrying out or presenting the TuKoKe project must not cause any danger, harm or suffering to people, other living organisms, or the environment. This applies to the research and test arrangements as well as the materials and equipment used. Similarly, the project must not cause any damage or danger to the participants themselves.

Safety restrictions related to the competition entries

We recommend avoiding studies that involve

examining live vertebrate animals;
handling live tissues, microbes, blood, or other biological elements;
storing, handling or producing foodstuffs.

The handling of human bodily fluids is only allowed under medical supervision, with the exception of saliva tests under controlled conditions and with an approved study design.

The type of studies mentioned above are subject to specific ethical constraints, which is why it may not be possible to select them to represent TuKoKe in international competitions.

Studying micro-organisms can also involve risk factors. They may therefore require a separate report in international competitions.

Consent must be obtained from study participants

With regard to human participation, there are always ethical constraints and questions involved. Consent for participation must always be obtained from each participant in the study.

In international competitions, you also need a separate report and a risk assessment for these types of studies. The Regeneron ISEF competition requires each survey, study or test participant to give their written consent. Entries without the necessary consent documents cannot be selected to represent Finland in that particular competition.

Checklist for a responsible TuKoKe project

The list below includes things that must be taken into account to ensure your project is safe and ethical.

SAFETY

ETHICSEnsure your tools, facilities and methods are appropriate. If not, change the method of implementation, or choose a completely different topic.
Take particular care to prevent exposure to radiation or microbes.
Do not use live vertebrate animals in test arrangements.
When developing and testing food products, pay special attention to storage, handling and production conditions. These tasks must always be carried out under supervision of a person with a valid hygiene passport. In your project report, you should also describe in sufficient detail how this supervision has been implemented.
If you are under 18, in particular, make sure you are accompanied by an adult to help and instruct and also to supervise the use of tools, equipment and methods as needed.

ETHICS

Do not create a study design in which participants will be misled (faking illness, act of violence, or the like). This is not acceptable and will lead to the project’s disqualification.
Participation in a study must always be voluntary. A variety of surveys, tests and measurements as well as studies in which human behaviour is being observed involve human participation. Always obtain consent from participants before starting the study. When asking for consent, inform the participants of the nature and purpose of the study. If the study generates material that will be retained and that may identify a specific person, consent must be obtained in writing.
If the study is conducted outside of school and it is not related to school work, you need to obtain the guardian’s consent for a minor to participate in the study.
Ensure that the study causes no harm to the subjects.
Make sure that the results are presented in such a way that the subjects cannot be identified. It is essential that participants in the study remain anonymous.