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Peer-Review Process
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International Water Rocket Association
IWRA Peer-Review Procedures:
Revised: 11.11.2008
General Information:
The IWRA peer-review process is intended to allow individual rocketeers to compete for International water rocket achievement records when there are no local, regional or nationally recognized water rocket competitions available. This process is intended to level the playing field for all competitors, it is essential that you follow each step in this Peer-Review process closely. Visual documentation as well as information submitted in rocketeer and witness questionnaires provides the sole criteria the IWRA uses to determine official association recognition of all water rocket achievements.
IWRA Safety Codes shall apply. It is the responsibility of both individuals and organized competition organizers to follow good water rocket safety practices at all times.
IWRA Competition Guidelines must be followed. The guidelines describe age and team competition divisions, division restrictions, classes of water rockets and types of competitions. Be sure to follow the guidelines closely to compete in your chosen class. Note that age restrictions do exist for some competition classes due to safety issues.
Peer-Review Checklist:
Use the following checklist to help plan your record attempt. Look for more detailed information about each item in the next section.
Review the IWRA Competition Guidelines to find the division and class you will be competing in as well as the record you'll be attempting to beat.
Build your rocket by using the Competition Guidelines specific to your class.
Public notification of the record attempt should include the following: launch date, time and location must be posted at least 10 days in advance on the IWRA website.
Arrange for at least two (2) witnesses to meet you on launch day.
As your witnesses watch, fill out the Rocketeer Questionnaire and take the required photographic documentation.
Always following good safety practices while launching your rocket.
Have your witnesses sign the Witness Questionnaires.
Enter the answers from your Rocketeer Questionnaire into the electronic version.
Post video and photo documentation on the Internet, cutting and pasting the links into the electronic version of the Rocketeer Questionnaire.
Submit the Rocketeer and Witness Questionnaires via email attachment to the Peer-Review Board Chairperson. You will find the current email address on the IWRA website.
Documentation Details:
Advanced Notice - Launch Time and Location:
Advanced notice of a record attempt must be posted on the IWRA website at least 10 days in advance. If the individual or team maintains a website, it should be posted there as well. This notice must include:
Individual or Team name
Email contact address
Date and Time of launch attempt
Exact location – GPS coordinates are helpful Record being attempted.
Launch locations should be either publicly accessible, or if on private property, access made available to those in the water rocket community interested in watching the record attempt. It is the responsibility of the spectator(s) to contact the rocketeer or team and make prior arrangements to view attempts made on private property. Spectators may also want to contact the rocketeer even if the attempt is made in a public location so that they may be notified of any launch delays, but are not required to do so.
Notice of Launch Delay:
If a launch cannot occur at the scheduled date, time and location, due to weather or technical problems, a cancellation notice must be filed with the IWRA Peer-Review Board (PRB) and posted on the rocketeer’s website as soon as possible.
• If any spectators have contacted the rocketeer about viewing the attempt, an email should be sent to those contacts with a notice of the launch delay attempt and rescheduling date, time and location notice if known.
• Delayed attempts can be made within 48 hours of the original attempt filing as long as the location does not change.
• If the rescheduled launch attempt location is changed within 48 hours of the original scheduled attempt, a direct email notification must be sent to the chairperson of IWRA PRB and posted on the rocketeer’s website.
• The new location must be a reasonable travel distance from the original launch location.
• If circumstances prevent the attempt from being rescheduled within 48 hours of the original attempt filing, a new attempt notice must be re-filed with the IWRA Peer-Review Board (PRB) and posted on the rocketeer’s website.
• Re-filed launch attempts must be scheduled no sooner then 10 days of the original launch attempt.
Witnesses:
Witnesses are the eyes and ears of the Association during the record attempt.
• At least two (2) independent witnesses must be present to watch all record attempts.
• Witnesses must not be related to the rocketeers attempting the record.
• Witnesses must not assist the rocketeer in any way during the attempt.
• Witnesses must be over the age of 21.
Witnesses must be present for photo documentation, filling out of the Rocketeer Questionnaire and during the launch attempts. Each witness must then sign their Witness Questionnaire and return it to you.
Witnesses must also agree to be contacted if there are any questions about the attempt. The original signed copies of these forms should be kept by the rocketeer with the other original documentation, in case it is requested.
Witness information is kept confidential and will not be posted on the IWRA website.
Rocketeer Questionnaire:
The rocketeer questionnaire is a key piece of documentation and MUST be filled out in the presence of your witnesses before the launch. This questionnaire must be submitted to the Peer-Review Board (PRB):
1. A blank copy should be printed and filled out on the day of the attempt in front of your witnesses. Keep this with the other original documentation, in case it is requested.
2. Answers from the questionnaire should be entered into the electronic version. Links to your online photos and video must be provided on this document. This helps speed up the review process and removes errors due to legibility. Please save a copy of the all submitted questionnaires for your own records.
3. The electronic version will be sent to the members of the Peer-Review Board by the Committee Chairperson. They will use it to review your record attempt and link to your photos and video.
Visual Documentation:
The more photo and video documentation you submit, the more likely your record attempt will stand up to scrutiny. Quality is also important. Clear, sharp, high-resolution photos are best. A well-lit video taken on a tripod with the sun to your back is much better than a hand-held video taken at dusk. Please keep this in mind when planning your record attempt.
Photo Documentation:
All photos required in the Rocketeer Questionnaire should be taken in front of your witnesses. Optional photos are encouraged and help substantiate your claim. All photos should be posted online with the web address provided on the questionnaire. Full resolution copies should be put on a CD-ROM or DVD as a backup and may be requested during the review process.
In all detailed rocket photos, a metric measurement scale should always be visible for size comparison.
Video Documentation:
An unedited ground tracking video is also required of the attempt(s). Rocketeers are encouraged to video all parts of the record attempt, but unedited video starting at the launch and ending at the landing is required.
Required video must be posted online with the web address provide on the Rocketeer Questionnaire.
Because video uploaded to a file-sharing website can be significantly less clear than the original, the original video should also be put on a DVD as a backup. This may be requested during the review process.
Altimeter Documentation:
An electronic logging altimeter must be flown on rockets used for all altitude (1A-1E) and duration (2A-2G) attempts. The altimeter must be commercially made. No 'kit' or home-built altimeters are allowed. If you have a question about your altimeters' qualifications, please contact the IWRA before using it in a record attempt.
The recovered log information should be posted on the rocketeers website and shall be submitted in digital form in the Peer-Review packet along with the other documentation. The use of various ground methods of determining altitude are not allowed.
Witness Questionnaire:
The Witness Questionnaire should be given to your witnesses at the beginning of the attempt so they have time to read through it and can follow along as the rocketeer works on the other documentation.
At the end of the attempt, each witness should sign the form at the bottom and return it to you. Make sure your witnesses understand that they may be contacted if there are any questions. Save these originals with your other documentation in case it is requested during the review process.
It is the rocketeers' responsibility to accurately enter information from the witness questionnaires into the electronic versions. Both questionnaires are required to be sent as part of the documentation of the attempt.
Posting Documentation Online:
All required photos, video and altimeter logs must be posted online and publicly available during the entire Peer-Review process. This is how the members of the committee will access your information.
You can post your documentation in one of two ways:
The preferred method of posting online is to have an individual or team website. All of the photographic and video details related to your attempt should be clearly posted on their own page(s).
You can also post photos to a photo sharing website and post video onto a video sharing website. No website membership or fee should be required to view the documentation.
Because links to specific files and pages online can be quite complex, make sure you cut and paste the exact web address for each photo, video and page onto the Rocketeer Questionnaire. Committee Members need to be able to cut and paste from the questionnaire into their browser to find your information.
Submitting Peer-Review Documentation:
Please make copies of all submitted documentation for your own records. All of the following items must be included with your email submission:
The electronic version of the Rocketeer Questionnaire with your answers added to it. This should also have the Internet addresses of your documentation pasted into it. Keep the original in case it is requested.
Electronic versions of the Witness Questionnaire. Keep the originals in case they are requested.
CDs and/or DVDs of required photos and video should be available in case they are requested.
Email your submission to the Peer-Review Chairman. Check the IWRA website for the current address. You will be notified by the Chairman when the packet is received.
What Happens Next?
Once your packet is received by the Peer-Review Chairman, these are the steps it will be going through:
1. It will be checked to make sure it is complete; all of the documentation has been posted online, links in the Rocketeer Questionnaire work, etc. You will be contacted if any additional information is needed.
2. The Chairman will email your Rocketeer Questionnaire to the other Committee Members for their review.
3. All Members of the Committee will review the photos, video and Rocketeer Questionnaire. Because all Members are volunteers, the time it takes to finish this step can vary.
4. If there are any questions by Committee Members, you will be contacted by the Chairman for further clarification. Original questionnaires and/or photo and video documentation may be requested during this step. Witnesses may also be contacted.
5. Once all submitted information has been reviewed, a vote is conducted to approve or deny your record attempt.
6. The Peer-Review Chairman will contact you once a decision is made.
7. If your record is approved, it will be posted onto the IWRA website immediately. Your Rocketeer Questionnaire will also be posted for member review. Witness information is not posted and always remains confidential.
8. The IWRA Membership will now have thirty (30) days to review the record and contact the Peer-Review Chairman with any questions or challenges. You may be contacted during this time for additional information.
9. Once your record stands for thirty (30) days, it is considered official and cannot be overturned. Congratulations!
What if my attempt is denied?
If your attempt is denied during the initial Peer-Review process, you will be told why by the PRB Chairman. If you disagree, you can appeal the decision to the IWRA President. An ac-hoc appeals committee will be formed (see below), and a final ruling will be made.
If your record is initially accepted, you could also be denied recognition during the thirty (30) days the Membership has to review your record. If any Member challenges your record attempt during this time, the Peer-Review Board will reevaluate the evidence and take another vote. Individual IWRA Members cannot deny your record, they can only challenge it. Only the Peer-Review Board has the power to approve or deny your attempt with a vote. Should your record be overturned at this point, you will be notified and told why. If you disagree, you can appeal the decision to the IWRA President as outlined below.
• If any decisions are appealed to the President, an ad-hoc appeals committee shall be formed by the President to review all of the information presented by the rocketeer and make a final recommendation to the President.
• Committee members will be appointed by the President with appointment recommendations made by the appealing rocketeer.
• All committee members must be current IWRA members, but not currently on the Peer-Review Board.
• A minimum of three (3) voting members are required.
• All submitted documentation will be forwarded to the ad-hoc committee by the PRB Chairperson.
• The PRB Chairperson shall be a non-voting resource person to the ad-hoc committee to provide all submitted information used by the PRB.
• The ad-hoc committee has 30 days to be formed, appoint a chair, and make it's recommendation to the President, who's decision is final.
• Peer-Review Board (PRB), Ad-Hoc Committee members or president will abstain from reviewing their own record attempts. The IWRA President will fill-in as needed. If the President has excused himself due to his own records are being reviewed, an arbitrator appointed by the Vice-President will provide the final ruling.
©2008 International Water Rocket Association.
Revised: 12.19.2008
Online: 02.21.2009
