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How to Be Successful at a Top Science Competition
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by Amber Hess Some of the key ingredients for success at the highest levels of high school science competition are: Knowing that you need a mentor (most students don't believe that they do) and having the initiative and persistence to seek one out. Mentors can be very useful because they can give you advice if you are stuck, help you present your research like a scientist, and write recommendations. Essentially all of the 2005 Intel Science Talent Search (now Regeneron Science Talent… Read more
How to Find a Mentor
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by Amber Hess Special thanks to Terik Daly, Benjamin Pollack, and Mary Lou O'Donnell, who contributed to this article. The vast majority of winners at top fairs have a mentor, and the vast majority of students have to find their own mentors. Why is a mentor important? Mentors can: Give you access to a lab for your research. Explain difficult concepts, which can save you a great deal of time and frustration. Help you with trouble-shooting your experiment or providing… Read more
How to Get Started Downloading and Using Storytelling Alice
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Note: this tutorial was originally written for Storytelling Alice, an older version of the Alice programming software. You can download the most recent version of the Alice software and access the latest tutorials at the Storytelling Alice website. Storytelling Alice (from Carnegie Mellon University) is an exciting 3-D computer programming environment that allows you to create your own animated stories and video games which you can share with your friends and family. While the words 3-D… Read more
How to Use a micro:bit
Project Resource
A micro:bit is a tiny, programmable board with lots of built-in sensors. You can use one for a variety of fun science projects, even if you do not have any programming or electronics experience! This page contains tutorial videos that will help you with setting up, programming, and using your micro:bit. Check out our list of micro:bit projects when you're ready to move beyond the tutorials! Read more
Introduction to Servo Motors
Project Resource
What is a servo motor? Servo motors (or servos) are self-contained electric devices (see Figure 1 below) that rotate or push parts of a machine with great precision. Servos are found in many places: from toys to home electronics to cars and airplanes. If you have a radio-controlled model car, airplane, or helicopter, you are using at least a few servos. In a model car or aircraft, servos move levers back and forth to control steering or adjust wing surfaces. By rotating a shaft connected to… Read more
Laser Safety Guide
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Laser pointers have the potential to permanently damage your eyesight if misused! Read and follow these safety precautions when using laser pointers! Before turning on the laser pointer, always be sure that it is pointed away from yourself and others. Never look directly into a laser pointer. Never direct a laser pointer at another person. Follow the same rules for direct reflections of laser light from reflective surfaces. A laser is a light source that can be dangerous to people… Read more
Lift and Drag on Planes, Parachutes, and Rockets
Project Resource
You may have heard the words lift and drag, but do you know what they mean? Lift and drag are aerodynamic forces that act on an object moving through a fluid (a liquid or a gas). Understanding which way lift and drag point can be important for an aerodynamics science project. This page will try to clear up some common misconceptions about the directions of lift and drag. Figure 1 shows a diagram frequently used to represent the aerodynamic forces on an airplane. The plane’s weight pulls… Read more
Materials List
Project Resource
Preparing a Materials List What type of supplies and equipment will you need to complete your science fair project? By making a complete list ahead of time, you can make sure that you have everything on hand when you need it. Some items may take time to obtain, so making a materials list in advance represents good planning! Make the materials list as specific as possible, and be sure you can get everything you need before you start your science fair project. While you are making your shopping… Read more
NCBI Gene & SNP Tutorial
Project Resource
The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) (Gene database) is an online resource to learn about gene sequences, gene alleles and mutations, genomes, and much more. It was created for the scientific community, but with a little effort and this guide, anyone with a basic understanding of genetics can learn to use it (see Table 3 for a list of resources to brush up on genetics). Following are instructions, tips, and advice on how to get started using this resource.… Read more
Paper Chromatography Resources
Project Resource
Paper chromatography is an inexpensive method for analyzing some types of chemical mixtures. A Candy Chromatography Science Kit is available to do several simple and fun paper chromatography experiments. You can learn more about paper chromatography in the video below. The video gives an overview of what paper chromatography is, shows how it is done, explains the separation processes involved, and also provides tips and tricks for troubleshooting your experiment. If you would like to… Read more
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