What is the YSC Portal?

The YSC Portal is a comprehensive online platform developed by Youth Science Canada (YSC) specifically designed to simplify and streamline the management of regional STEM fairs across Canada. This all-in-one system supports fair organizers through every stage of event planning and execution, from initial setup to final judging and project selection.

Key Components of the YSC Portal

The YSC Portal offers a complete suite of tools to manage your regional STEM fair:

• Event Management: Create, configure, and duplicate fair events with customizable settings for dates, registration periods, and judging schedules.
• Registration System: Collect and organize information from students and judges through dedicated registration links specific to your fair.
• Project Management: Review student projects for safety and ethics, organize them into appropriate categories and challenges, and track their status through the fair process.
• ProjectBoard Integration: Seamlessly connect with the ProjectBoard platform where students can display their STEM projects online.
• Judging Coordination: Create judging groups, assign judges to projects, generate schedules, and record results all within the system.
• Data Export and Reporting: Export participant information, project details, and judging results in formats that can be used for communication, analysis, and record-keeping.

Benefits for Regional Fair Organizers

Implementing the YSC Portal for your regional STEM fair offers numerous advantages:

Time and Resource Efficiency

• Automated Processes: Reduce manual work with automated registration, project organization, and judge scheduling.
• Centralized Information: Maintain all fair data in one secure location rather than across multiple spreadsheets and documents.
• Year-to-Year Continuity: Easily duplicate past events to retain settings and configurations for subsequent years.

Enhanced Fair Management

• Streamlined Registration: Provide students and judges with a consistent, user-friendly registration experience.
• Simplified Project Review: Access and assess student projects directly through the portal for safety and ethics review.
• Optimized Judging: Create balanced judging groups and schedules automatically based on categories and judge expertise.

Improved Communication and Coordination

• Real-Time Updates: Monitor registration numbers, project submissions, and judging assignments in real time.
• Unified System: Ensure all committee members work with the same up-to-date information.
• Direct Integration: Connect seamlessly with the Canada-Wide Science Fair registration process.

Enhanced Data Management

• Secure Storage: Keep participant information secure and organized within the portal.
• Flexible Exports: Generate data exports and reports for different purposes and team members.
• Custom Surveying: Collect additional information from participants through customizable survey questions.

Getting Started

To begin using the YSC Portal for your regional STEM fair:

1. Complete the affiliation process for the current year within the YSC Portal.
2. Under the "Regional Fair" section, select the option to use the YSC Portal for fair management.
3. Create your event either by duplicating a previous year's event or starting fresh.
4. Configure your event settings, categories, challenges, and survey questions.
5. Share the provided registration links with potential students and judges.

The YSC Portal is continuously improved based on feedback from regional fair organizers across Canada. As you become familiar with the system, you'll discover additional features and efficiencies that can enhance the quality and impact of your regional STEM fair.

For detailed instructions on specific portal functions, please refer to the other articles in this Help Centre.