Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Im trying to find a project for a science fair. I really dont want it to be "just another boring science fair project".
Like, the kid last year won it by observing his baby brother every hour (even the night!) for a week. I wouldnt want to copy that but i just thought I would share. The judges like dedicaion, innovative-ness (if thats a word), creativity, and hard work.
The topics that interest me are social studies and analysis, human behaivoral patterns, baby development and learning, issues in society, community service**, and anything that I could create to help people or the earth. I want it to be really creative. We have to have our project in the Scientific Method format. And " the judges care more about having a clean format than having bells and whistles".... Im still doing bells and whistles how could I not xD But i still want it to be clean and organized.

Some ideas that interest me are-
Project on society issues such as anxiety, body image & depression in kids.
Project on baby growth and development. (I have a 6 month old baby brother)
A project to help others.
Learning about what makes people think a cerian way, or common patterns in people.
Either way, I want my project to do with people and their behavior, or community service. I dont care if it is hard, I want it to be very creative, innovative, helpful, interesting, and new.
Im homeschooled in a co-op called Classical Conversations, so I have time during the day.
Im very artistic and I love literature. Im a major perfectionist. Math is not my strong suit.
Please help me brain storm some ideas!
Thanks

Hi Juliana,

Have you browsed through the Science Buddies Science Fair Project Ideas (https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... deas.shtml)? You can browse through those ideas by interest area, and it sounds like you might be interested in the ideas in the Behavioral and Social Science area. There is also a survey you can take (https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... ndaproject) that could help you find a project you are interested in. Even if you don't want to do one of these projects verbatim, since you are clearly interested in doing something innovative, they may give you some ideas that you can then "make your own" by adding to them or changing key variables.

I hope this helps, and if you still need help, please post here again. If you can manage to narrow it down somewhat, then we will definitely be able to help you refine your idea and make sure it is in the right format.

JMP

Juliana,

I think it is great that you are really hoping to come up with a unique and challenging idea! I have been trying to brainstorm ideas for a socially relevant topic that would be interesting to you. One idea I had was around the idea of technology and distraction. This goes hand in hand with how dangerous it is to text and drive. Clearly you can not do an experiment looking at texting and driving but how about something like examining how using smart phones to play games, check email, Facebook and text distract us in other ways. For example I know that I use my phone while trying to watch a TV show then have no idea what I just watched or using my phone while someone is talking and I complexly miss what they are saying. You could design an experiment to see how "playing" on a phone inhibits your learning ability. I would think you could design a test involving memory and recall when using or not using a phone and see what task are the most distracting. You could even add in another variable of age differences. Along the same line you maybe see how people perform while texting and walking (which I do) and see how impaired you are just walking and therefor how dangerous it is to drive.

This was just one idea that came to mind. I will write back if I think of any others.

Good luck and let us know what you choose.