Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

How far ahead of ISEF should I start looking for and contacting potential mentors? I'm in HK and the deadline of application and submission for ISEF projects is on the 13th of November as of 2017 (not sure about this year). So how far ahead of the deadline should I start looking for mentors? On May or June? When exactly?

Hi! When I competed in ISEF, I had been working with my mentor for almost two years. Science research is exciting and rewarding but often progresses slowly, so I would recommend reaching out to potential mentors and starting work with them as soon as possible. The more time you've been working on your project, the better your chances of having something exciting to present at ISEF. Good luck, and feel free to write back with more questions!