Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hello, I have a few questions that fall under the umbrella of 'Advanced Science Fairs.'

1) Should I choose another field of interest to take on? I believe that the big ideas of theoretical physics can capture anyone's interest, but underneath the wonder lies complex maths and many, many important concepts well beyond the understanding of an average high school student. Cosmology. The origins and fate of the universe. Maybe too much for a sophomore? Dark energy and matter is also another exciting topic I would love to contribute to. I read up on previous Intel projects involving astronomy and physics - Henry Lin's mathematical models of clusters of galaxies being closest to where exactly I want to go with this project. How do you narrow down topics and turn them into specific questions? How do you even tackle abstract problems? Where do I find published research on a specific topic (aside from the google search that leads to general info.)

2) Is she right? My aunt is in 'professional' school studying medicine. I told her that I would like to contact professors and become a research volunteer in astrophysics. As summer is already over, I was wondering if professors are available in the evening times (right after school?) She said that it was highly unlikely and that I should wait and apply for a summer program next year. But the thing is, junior year is going to be intense. Sophomore year I have so much more time to dedicate (without the added pressure of college apps.) It's not impossible to get involved junior year, but probably better if I start as soon as possible. Will I have any luck with professors during the school year? I looked at the programs available at my local university, but they seem to have information only on summer programs. I will be taking AP Physics I, AP Biology, Honors Chemistry, and Algebra II this upcoming year. Should I just wait and build some foundation?

Hi nvictoria,

I don't really have any experience with the advanced Intel or Google science fairs (or astrophysics), so I can't answer all of your questions, but I think I can answer a few:

- For finding published research, try Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/. This is much more specific than regular google.com since it only brings up academic papers and not regular web pages. Some of the results may be behind a pay wall, but then you can check with a local library or university to see if you can get access. You can also look at the "Publications" page of a professor/lab's website and many times they will link directly to PDFs of their papers. For example, here's the lab where I did my Ph.D. (this is in robotics, not astrophysics/cosmology, so just an example): http://micro.seas.harvard.edu/publications.html. If you know the name of a professor or lab at a certain school that does the type of research you're interested in, try looking directly at their website.

- As for contacting professors, I think the general answer is "it can't hurt to try," but don't expect to hear back from everyone you contact. Many professors, especially famous ones who are leaders in their fields, literally get HUNDREDS of emails a day from people who want to work with them - not just high school students, but undergraduates, graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers. It is more email than one person can physically respond to. So, do NOT be offended or worry if you email a professor and don't hear back. You might have better luck if you try contacting the main academic department directly (i.e. look up the email/phone number for the Physics Department office) and ask if they have any programs for high school students during the school year, or see if the school has a K-12 outreach program and try getting in touch with them. So, it certainly can't hurt to ask now, but be prepared to get "no" as an answer.

Hi nvictoria,

bfinio gave you some excellent advice. I can give you a slightly different perspective. I competed in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), Intel Science Talent Search (STS), Siemens Competition, and Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS). I have not, however, participated in the Google Science Fair.

If you haven't already, you should definitely check out some of Science Buddies' resources for advanced projects. Here are links to two highly relevant articles:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... dmap.shtml
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... 2008.shtml

(Full disclosure - I contributed to the second article. I would answer some of the questions differently now that I have several more years of experience, but I still think that following your passion is crucial to success.)

Here are some thoughts about your specific questions:

Should I choose another field of interest to take on? I believe that the big ideas of theoretical physics can capture anyone's interest, but underneath the wonder lies complex maths and many, many important concepts well beyond the understanding of an average high school student. Cosmology. The origins and fate of the universe. Maybe too much for a sophomore? Dark energy and matter is also another exciting topic I would love to contribute to. I read up on previous Intel projects involving astronomy and physics - Henry Lin's mathematical models of clusters of galaxies being closest to where exactly I want to go with this project.

If you are truly passionate about astrophysics, I think you should follow your passion. Yes, astrophysics can get quite math-heavy, but if you dig into the literature you can learn a lot on your own. When I was working on my project, I often started with information I found on news sites, Wikipedia, and my high school textbooks. Then I moved to undergrad textbooks and, eventually, graduate level textbooks and the peer-reviewed literature. Don't be afraid to talk with your math teachers if you encounter equations you don't understand. He or she will (probably) be able to help you. In addition, many equations that you encounter in astrophysics (and science, in general) look more complicated than they really are. This is because these equations often use Greek letters and odd symbols. I find it helpful to write down what each term in an equation stands for. For example, if I see a Greek letter rho in an equation and rho meant "density", then I write something like "rho = density" next to the equation.

How do you narrow down topics and turn them into specific questions? How do you even tackle abstract problems?

This is addressed fairly well in the second of the articles that I linked to earlier. You will start asking questions as you learn more about the topic. Jot them down. Talk to people about them. In time, you will find one that doesn't have a clear answer.

Where do I find published research on a specific topic (aside from the google search that leads to general info.)

Google scholar is an excellent resource. For astrophysics, specifically, you can find peer reviewed articles in two additional databases. One is called arXiv (http://arxiv.org). The other is called "The SOA/NASA Astrophysics Data System" (http://adswww.harvard.edu). I use both of these regularly, and I'm happy to help you navigate them. Articles called "review articles" are often useful when you are getting started. In addition, don't forget about resources like Wikipedia and other encyclopedias, which can be helpful even for more advanced topics. Textbooks are also helpful. "Astronomy Today" and "Universe" are excellent introductory undergrad textbooks. They are pricy, so see if your local public or university library has copies.

Is [my aunt] right? Will I have any luck with professors during the school year? Should I just wait and build some foundation?

I 100% agree with bfinio's advice. Speaking from experience, you are much more likely to get a response from someone if you email someone with a specific question that shows you've done background research on your own. If you have an experimental plan, include it in your emails to people. I emailed/called dozens of professors when I was working on my high school science projects. Some of them didn't respond. Some politely said they didn't have time to help me. A few were a bit rude about it. But, several people were genuinely helpful and went out of their way to help me. If you don't get a response (or you get a brusque one), don't take it personally. Any background knowledge and preparation you can do will help you succeed. The more of that you can squeeze in, the better. And I definitely suggest taking time now to find research programs for next summer. I particularly recommend MIT's Research Science Institute (http://www.cee.org/research-science-institute). Although I did not participate in that program, many of my friends did. Several of them won awards at top competitions using the projects they did at RSI.