Sustainable Cities and Communities, Middle School Science Projects (Page 3)

Measuring Soil Erosion

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

When you think of environmental challenges facing the world, the first things that come to mind might be global warming, or loss of biodiversity, since these are often in the newspapers. A serious problem that you may not have heard about is soil erosion. Why is soil so important? What is the danger of erosion? How can we measure soil erosion? What can be done to prevent it? Check out this project and you can start finding answers. Read more

Mixing Mystery: Why Does Tumbling Sometimes Separate Mixtures?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

What do sand and cereal have in common? They are both granular materials, which means they are made up of solid particles, but they can actually flow like liquid. When two granular materials with very different-sized particles are mixed, you can actually separate each type by putting them in a rotating device called a tumbler. In this science project, you will examine how common household granular materials behave when mixed together in a moving container Read more

Predict Air Quality with Machine Learning

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Air pollution is a growing issue, especially in cities, due to the rise of industrial activities, increased fossil fuel consumption from things like car use, and natural events like wildfires. This pollution is measured by the Air Quality Index (AQI), which shows how clean or polluted the air is. But what if we could predict changes in AQI to help communities plan ahead to protect people who are at risk from air pollution? That’s where machine learning comes in. In this project, you will… Read more

Predicting Wildfire Intensities and Locations with AI

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Have you ever wondered what causes wildfires and how resources are allocated to prevent their spread? In this science project, you will use machine learning to predict areas of wildfire susceptibility and their intensities. Read more

Ring of Fire 1: What Volcanoes Tell Us About Plate Tectonics

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

The Ring of Fire is a region of volcanic and earthquake activity that surrounds the Pacific Ocean. In this project you can explore the connection between plate tectonics and volcanic activity by mapping historical data. Read more

Ring of Fire 2: What Earthquakes Tell Us About Plate Tectonics

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Today it is widely accepted that the Earth's crust consists of a series of huge plates that slowly move. The low parts of the plates are beneath the world's oceans, and the high parts of the plates are landmasses. New plate material is generated at deep sea ocean ridges in a process called sea-floor spreading. Material from plates is also recycled at trenches, where dense, oceanic crust dives back (subducts) underneath an adjacent plate towards the upper mantle. Figure 1 shows a map of the… Read more

Rooftop Gardens: Are They a Cool Idea?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Would you like some sky vegetables for dinner? How about some fresh-cut roof flowers to put in vases in your house? Around the world, rooftops are being transformed into living green expanses. Besides beauty, rooftop gardens have a number of advantages, including growing food and taking carbon dioxide out of the air while releasing breathable oxygen. But can rooftop gardens also keep your house cooler and lower your energy bill? Try this science fair project to find out. Read more

Soil and Earthquakes

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Is soil structure an important factor in earthquake dynamics? Investigate soil liquefaction and how different soil types respond to earthquake movements. Are movements more dramatic in sandy/loamy or clay type soils? Which soil structures are most stable? Which are the most volatile? (MCEER, 2005) Read more

The Science Behind Tsunamis: Study the Effect of Water Depth on Wave Velocity

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

A tsunami is a series of waves made in a body of water, like the ocean, that can cause serious destruction when they hit the coastline. In deep water, a wave can be just a few feet high and travel very fast. As it nears the coastline, and moves into shallower water, tsunamis usually slow down, but the wave height can grow to 100 feet! In this ocean science project, you will model a tsunami and investigate how wave velocity (speed) depends on water depth. Does it match the mathematical equation… Read more

To Infinity and Beyond: Plan a City of the Future with Sim City.

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Everyday, people in your city or town walk to school, ride the bus and go to work, and go to the library to research their science fair projects. But what if the library was 20 miles away from your home? Would you go to the library? What if there were no police officers or fire stations in your city, or if they were located across town, away from where most people live? What if there were no movie theaters? What would you do with your friends? Many people really like living in cities in which… Read more

Sustainable Cities and Communities, Middle School Science Projects (32 results)

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