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Which science project is better?
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deleted-294504
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Which science project is better?
So originally I chose to test if you could substitute nonionizing radiation (uv radiation) for ioninzing radiation when performing food irradiation. My teacher didn't know anyone with a lab so she chose this poject for me, which is only watching grapes that have been treated with 2 different preservatives and 1 organic. Last year I went to the state science fair and I didn't place so this year I'm hoping to get to state again and place as fourth. Which one do you think would i most likely win with? If it was my first one then wish me luck trying to last minute fine a college to work with. I should've went behind my teachers back to find a college in the first place because that's what all the other people did with their projects at the fair. They contacted all the colleges they could. Someone please help me I've just been stressing out a lot and I just don't think the project my teacher wants me to do will get that far.
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324B21
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Re: Which science project is better?
Hey there.
This unfortunately is not a question I would be able to answer. Here is what I would say. Grapes have undergone a radical change in their very long history. Grapes don't have a super long shelf life, but their popularity has increased a lot in the past few decades. As a result, researchers are working right now to help lengthen their shelf life time by using preservatives (as well as changing the way containers function for them). You are on the cutting edge of something that the USDA has been working on for a while! And who knows where this road will lead you.
Your project sounds interesting. Don't get so down on yourself, your teachers, or your current project!
Good luck!
Elizabeth
This unfortunately is not a question I would be able to answer. Here is what I would say. Grapes have undergone a radical change in their very long history. Grapes don't have a super long shelf life, but their popularity has increased a lot in the past few decades. As a result, researchers are working right now to help lengthen their shelf life time by using preservatives (as well as changing the way containers function for them). You are on the cutting edge of something that the USDA has been working on for a while! And who knows where this road will lead you.
Your project sounds interesting. Don't get so down on yourself, your teachers, or your current project!
Good luck!
Elizabeth
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deleted-291782
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Re: Which science project is better?
Hello,
I wanted to weigh in as well. Elizabeth's points were all spot on. Additionally, how much time do you have to work with for this project? You may still be able to contact universities to see if you can get laboratory access, but your teacher's ideas are still very good. There are multiple ways to investigate how to increase the shelf life of a product, in this case grapes. You could even try more than the 3 your instructor mentioned to get a wide variety of different experimental conditions or see which ones are better on different grape types, etc. There are a lot of possibilities.
You mentioned that you have very specific goals for placing in the state fair. That's good to have, but remember to pick a project not just because you think it will win, but because it truly interests you. You will be more invested in it this way. No matter the project, great science can come from asking the right questions and being perseverant about a topic that interests you.
Let us know if you have further questions,
PharmaMan
I wanted to weigh in as well. Elizabeth's points were all spot on. Additionally, how much time do you have to work with for this project? You may still be able to contact universities to see if you can get laboratory access, but your teacher's ideas are still very good. There are multiple ways to investigate how to increase the shelf life of a product, in this case grapes. You could even try more than the 3 your instructor mentioned to get a wide variety of different experimental conditions or see which ones are better on different grape types, etc. There are a lot of possibilities.
You mentioned that you have very specific goals for placing in the state fair. That's good to have, but remember to pick a project not just because you think it will win, but because it truly interests you. You will be more invested in it this way. No matter the project, great science can come from asking the right questions and being perseverant about a topic that interests you.
Let us know if you have further questions,
PharmaMan