Project Guides (Page 11)

Chemistry Lab Techniques

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Proper Laboratory Technique Before starting any experiment, you should understand the entire procedure that you will be following. You need to make sure that you have the proper equipment, and that you know how to use it. When you are trying an unfamiliar procedure for the first time, it is a good idea to practice at least one "dry run" without chemicals. That way, you can make sure you have all the materials you will need at hand, and that your workflow will proceed smoothly. You… Read more

Data Analysis for Advanced Science Projects

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Sandra Slutz, PhD, Staff Scientist, Science Buddies Kenneth L. Hess, Founder and President, Science Buddies Introduction Whether your goal is to present your findings to the public or publish your research in a scientific journal, it is imperative that data from advanced science projects be rigorously analyzed. Without careful data analysis to back up your conclusions, the results of your scientific research won't be taken seriously by other scientists. The sections below discuss… Read more

Data Presentation Tips for Advanced Science Competitions

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Introduction As discussed in the guide to Judging Tips for Top Science Fair Competitions, different top science competitions require participants to present their work in different formats. Some competitions rely heavily on display boards (for more details, see Big Display Boards for Top Science Competitions), others on PowerPoint presentations, and still others on written research papers. All of these formats require you to summarize what is likely a large body of research into a single, well… Read more

Designing a Study in Sociology or Human Behavior

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Most experiments designed to study sociology or human behavior require data collection from human subjects. This data can be collected either through observation studies or questioning the subjects directly. An observation study is one where the researcher simply "observes" the subjects, and has little or no interaction with the subjects while gathering the data. The questioning method of data collection involves direct interaction between the researcher and the subjects, through the use of… Read more

Designing an Observation Study

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There are many different ways to design an observation study, depending on the objective of your study, the type of data you are trying to collect, and the resources you have available for your study. Following are five different features that you should consider when designing the ideal observation study for your project: Natural vs. Contrived Settings: Conducting the study in a natural setting essentially means that you are simply observing your subjects in their "real life" environments. … Read more

Easy (No Cook) Homemade Play Dough Recipe

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Play dough can be used for many science, engineering, and math explorations including our Play-Doh Math project. Here is an easy recipe for making play dough at home. Ingredients 2 cups flour ½ cup salt ¾ cup hot or boiling water 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil or baby oil 2 Tablespoons cream of tartar Food coloring (optional) Instructions Mix the flour, salt, and cream of tartar in a bowl. Add the oil, food coloring, and… Read more

Electronics Primer: Introduction

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Introduction The field of electronics offers a powerful set of tools for obtaining accurate numerical data. Instead of just saying that there is a difference between two things (color, brightness, charge, etc.), electronic devices allow you to measure precisely how big the difference is. Electrons and Charge The word electronics is derived from "electron." Electrons are sub-atomic particles with a negative charge. The unit for electric charge is the coulomb. One coulomb equals the… Read more

Exploring Semiconductors: The Brains of Modern Technology

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Have you ever wondered how computers, cell phones, video game consoles, drones, and self-driving cars work? They all depend on semiconductors, which make up the "brains" or computer chips in modern electronics. Making semiconductors smaller, faster, and more efficient allows us to build faster, more compact, and more powerful devices. That's why today's pocket-sized smartphones have more computing power than entire room-sized computers did decades ago! What… Read more

Finding an Idea for an Advanced Science Fair Project

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We gathered six extremely successful high school science competition participants to discuss their experiences finding an idea for their science fair project. The conversation covered a broad range of topics, from where to find ideas to the importance of originality. MODERATOR: For a middle school student doing his or her first science fair project, coming up with the idea is often considered the hardest part of the entire project. Is finding a project idea just as difficult for the advanced… Read more

From a Judge's Perspective: Tips for a Successful Scientific Interview

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By Sandra Slutz If you've made it to one of the top science competitions, congratulations! That is no easy feat. After all of your hard work, you want to make a good impression on the judges and convey your research well. The following information will give you an idea of what the competition is like from a judge's perspective, what criteria are used to decide the winners, and how to make the most of your limited time with a judge. For additional advice on how to impress the judges, read… Read more

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