Top 5 Strategies for Doing a Winning Science Fair Project
Why do a Science Fair Project?
What will a Science Fair Project Require of me?
Help! I Hafta do a Science Project: Tips for Students, Grades 1-6.
Science Fair Links and Resources
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A great book for students in grades 1-6. You'll learn how to pick a project you'll enjoy, create a great experiment, design a backboard, and much, much more! Available from John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Order it now on Amazon.com! |
"Why do a Science Fair Project?"
A science fair project requires a lot of work. What are some of the benefits you'll reap?
Real Life Applications. Research students are encouraged to think "outside of the box" and search for new and creative solutions to problems. You may find answers that your adult advisors have sought for years. A high school senior identified a new and more precise way to grade prostatic cancer. Her work may change treatment of several different types of cancer in the future. Another student, starting in seventh grade, spent several years examining bacterial levels in water from hundreds of backyard wells. In subsequent projects, she mapped the counts and used satellite data about the influence of weather on well contamination. City planners and water management consultants became interested in her findings.
Beyond the Local Competition. You may find your work takes you beyond school, county, or district competitions to work with world-renowned scientists or travel to Europe. Science research students are often encouraged to work with established scientists and educators. One student approached an expert in the field of biodegradation about her project and he invited her to visit his company. His lecture about the effect of quaternary ammonium compounds on carbon prompted her to ask questions and develop a project studying the bactericidal effects of quaternary ammonium salts.
Imagine the Olympics, World Series, and Super Bowl all rolled into one and you'll get an idea of the scope of the International Science and Engineering Fair. Science Service, a nonprofit organization, began sponsoring science competitions in 1950 with the International Science and Engineering Fair. Because of their vision and commitment to science research and education, millions of dollars in scholarships, grants, equipment, and trips are given to students every year.
The competition, now cosponsored by Intel Corporation, involves 3 to 5 million students participating at local levels and over one 1000 projects from 48 states and 40 other nations proceed to the International Fair. In addition to scholarships, grants, trips, and awards that are presented to students with winning projects, the top two students are invited to attend the Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden.
Scholarships and Prizes. Students often receive scholarships and prizes because of their projects. An invitation to work with a hospital pathologist enabled two high school juniors to develop a team project examining the DNA of breast cancer that took first place at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. One of their awards was a trip to Greece to present their paper at an international science symposium. Another high school senior spent ten days touring Europe, all expenses paid, because of her successful science fair project on grading cancer by the shape and structure of its DNA. College and Career Success.
Science research competition is often the ticket to success in college and in a career in science. College admissions offices face the dilemma of evaluating thousands of applications from intelligent, motivated students. Colleges look for science research participation. They know that these students have the maturity, self-confidence, and the ability to solve problems that predict success in college.
Excerpted from Chapter 1 of Strategies for Winning Science Fair Projects.
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Available
from John Wiley & Sons, Inc. You can order it online from Amazon.com! |
