I need help on the "Out of Control" science fair topic

[vman411gamer]

I am an 8th grader and I am working on choosing a science fair project. As part of this process, my teacher has asked me to come up with three "source cards" that are meant to show that the project has been done before. I guess he wants to make sure that the project is doable before we begin. So, I need to search for some online proof that shows this project has been successfully completed before by others. This seems very difficult to me and I don't know how to get to the next step. Are you aware of any such completed projects that I can reference on my three source card to show him? He did say that similar projects would be acceptable. If I can't show evidence of the viability of the project, he won't let me choose it. Can you offer any suggestions or help in my case? The Science Buddy contact for this project was Sandra Slutz. Thank you in advance for your help.

[barretttomlinson]

Hi,

One way to find the answer to your question might be to browse the abstracts from prior science fairs: These can be found through Google searches. For example, here are a few:

http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/History/2001/Projects/

Here is an archive of abstracts for prior year California State Fairs:

http://www.usc.edu/CSSF/History/

Here is an archive for a number of past Minesota State Fairs
http://www.fair.mnmas.org/sfAbstracts.asp

This archive for ISEF project abstracts is definite;y worth browsing!

https://apps.societyforscience.org/abstracts/

I am afraid you will need to browse thse abstracts manually as I doubt any of them cite the Science Buddies “out of Control” project idea explicitly, even if they are relevant to the idea in the writeup. I suspect relevant projects could be cited under Computer, Psychology, Behavioral and Social Sciences, or other categories depending on the fair and the particular interests of the participants. If I were searching for this on the internet I would think it might be in a Human - Computer Interaction or videogame design context.

If you look hard enough I think you will find relevant projects or get your own original idea that will convince even your teacher, skeptical though she may now be.

Good luck!

Best Regards,

Barrett L Tomlinson