Technical advisors are dedicated men and women who support student teams as they develop Internet Science and Technology Fair (ISTF) projects. These professionals act as both mentors and advisors while helping students perform scientific research on the Internet.

Because students have not worked with professional scientists and technology experts either in person or using the Internet, there is usually a period early in the competition when communication between technical advisors and teams is sporadic. Teams are working to refine their projects and this involves a great deal of research and team interaction. What many student teams do not realize is that this is a crucial period in which their technical advisor can help them hone in on a realistic project that is technically feasible and that can be completed within the allotted timeframe of the ISTF. 

In the past we have advised teachers that students should not overburden their technical advisors with too many e-mails. However, some technical advisors indicate in their evaluations that they would prefer that the teams communicate more frequently at the beginning of the ISTF project to avoid problems later. And some technical advisors further maintained that continuing communication and periodic updates would have made a significant difference in the outcome of their teams' projects. 

Usually, only around half of the teams enrolled in the ISTF competition have a dedicated technical advisor. Student who are unable to find a technical advisor make significant efforts to find individuals with appropriate technical expertise in the scientific field they choose. They also indicate they feel as though professionals whom they locate through research on the Internet are just not interested. This is very discouraging to these teams.

Although students can complete winning entries without such a mentor, the Office of Special Programs, administrator of the ISTF, does not encourage this and works constantly to enlist the aid of professionals to act as technical advisors. The University of Central Florida's College of Engineering and Computer Science (UCF-CECS), through the ISTF Program, will continue its commitment to the student team / technical advisor connection. This interaction is both central and essential to the success of the ISTF experience. It is through continuing communication of all team members that students begin to understand the importance of scientists, engineers and researchers and the impact of their work on real-world issues. This linking of students to professionals is also an unparalleled opportunity for students to learn more about the many fields of science and to consider science and technology as possible career options.