AI Disclosures

The Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair recognizes that AI is an important tool in scientific and engineering research. AI can be used for a variety purposes to increase the quality and robustness of projects. Therefore, the Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair proactively requires the following AI use disclosures for all projects.

  • AI tools can be used in your project, as long as you give credit.
  • Treat AI like any other source. If it helped you create, analyze, or refine your work, you must cite or disclose it.
Guidelines

What to disclose (this is not a definitive list – please disclose any uses of AI):

  1. Creating Content

  • Writing or rewriting text (i.e., reports, abstracts, captions, titles)
  • Brainstorming ideas, research questions, or approaches
  1. Analyzing Data
  • Summarizing or interpreting datasets
  • Writing or debugging code
  • Creating graphs, charts, or data visualizations
  • Running AI-based simulations or models
  1. Designing Media
  • Generating diagrams, illustrations, or concept art
  • Editing or enhancing images
  • Designing presentation layouts or visuals
  1. Supporting Research
  • Summarizing research articles or literature reviews
  • Translating text for research purposes
  • Condensing interviews or experimental notes
  1. Planning and Iteration
  • Making project timelines or checklists
  • Refining hypotheses, methods, or prototypes based on AI feedback
How to disclose:

In your project notebook, research paper, or display board, describe:

  • What tool you used (i.e., ChatGPT, DALL·E, Copilot, Gemini)
  • How you used it (e.g., “ChatGPT helped rephrase my abstract” or “DALL·E generated the concept diagram”)

Example citation:

ChatGPT (OpenAI), used to summarize three journal articles related to renewable energy.

Example reference in APA format:

OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (version GPT-4o) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

Where to disclose:

Each time AI is utilized should be specified

A general AI disclosure statement is not appropriate

Why disclose:

Scientists and engineers conducting research have an ethical responsibility to disclose the use of AI. Disclosing AI use helps maintain transparency, ensures that others can accurately understand how the work was completed, and builds trust in the integrity of the project. It also gives proper credit to the tools that supported the research and allows researchers to evaluate results in the right context.

This document was written with the assistance of ChatGPT.

OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (version GPT-4o) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat