Science project
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[edit] Science project
- also known as Science fair project
A science project is the process of running a controlled experiment, proposing a new theory based on library or experimental research, or developing a new concept, invention, program, or design (engineering). A science project is not a report about an area of science. A science project is not building a model that demonstrates something, unless the point of the project is a new engineering design. Models of volcanoes, or of the solar system, or of the heart are not science projects. Use of a model to demonstrate a new theory or finding is, however, acceptable. At the lower levels of competition in a science fair, the science project is more about the process of science and project work than it is about the specific findings.
Many schools require students in middle and/or high school to do a science project. The purpose of doing a science project is to teach the student several skills. The first skill to be learned is the planning, execution, and evaluation of a project. Every project, including remodeling or decorating a room in your house or apartment or building a deck, requires the same basic process.
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- Gather information and decide what to do
- Make a plan how to accomplish the project, including a time and monetary budget, and acquiring the tools, skills and procedures needed to accomplish the chosen project.
- Execute the plan within the time and monetary budget. If needed, modify the plan to account for unforeseen circumstances.
- Evaluate your results.
- If needed, communicate your findings to others.
[edit] What are the steps in doing a good science project?
The first thing a student must do is to choose a project. Many people think that this is the hardest part, but in reality, almost any interest can be turned into a good science project if you can apply the scientific method to an experiment. Consider what your interests are in choosing your topic. Many students have turned an interest into sports, fashion, art, baking, or learning and psychology into a good science project! Think about what special tools or skills you happen to have access to already. Do you make fabulous websites and have access to computing power? Do you know someone who can give you access to a lab? Do you have a green thumb, or are you good at electronics? Do you have a digital camera or other equipment you might need? What equipment does your school have that you might be able to use for your project? Also consider, what are the hot topics recently in the news. Nanotechnology, bioengineering, anti-terrorist methods, protection from an EMP, bird flu, cloning, environmental hazards, fuel conservation, etc. can draw judges’ attention at the fair. Good ideas for a science project can be found in the news, in science magazines, or in the newspaper. A person’s hobby or interest can often be considered as a starting point for a science project. Examples: “The Physics of Volleyball”, “Mental Imagery vs. Hitting Practice: What Improves Your Ball Hitting the Best?”, “Are Expensive Guitar Strings Really Better?”, “Comparing Fishing Flies”, “Is Expensive Makeup Really Better?”, “Paintball: Match the Barrel to Your Paint?”.
Once you have an idea to pursue, do background library research to find out what has already been done in the field. Learn basic science relating to your topic. If you are experimenting with plants, you’d better have some idea of the life cycle of your plant, its classification and characteristics, and basics such as plant respiration/photosynthesis. If you are experimenting with planaria, learn something about its physiology, behavior, place in the environment, and its classification. You will also be researching to find the best methods and procedures to carry out your experiment.
The next step is to make a project research plan. From what you have learned in your background research, decide on a problem or question and make an hypothesis about it. Your plan will include your question or problem, your hypothesis, detailed methods and procedures for your experiment including what the independent variables (what you vary or change), the dependent variables (what outcomes you measure), and what your controls (means to change only what you intend to change) are. Your plan should also include a list of materials needed, the experimental methods that will be used to collect your data, and the methods used to analyze the data. The bibliography from your background research is also a necessary part of your research plan. It shows that you have “done your homework” before you start so that you can make a good experimental plan. Science fairs affiliated with the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) require Science Review Committee (SRC) forms [1] to be filled out. If your project involves human subjects (even for a simple survey), microorganisms, hazardous chemicals or radiation, vertebrates (even only non-intrusive observation of them), tissues, or rDNA, then you MUST have the project forms including the research plan reviewed and signed off on BEFORE you can begin your experimental work! These forms insure safe procedures, proper laboratory protocols, and adult supervision of the student are followed during experimentation. There are very strict rules for the use of vertebrates in a science project.
Run your experiment and keep excellent records in your lab notebook. Do not write on scraps of paper. Write everything in a bound notebook which you use as a daily journal of all your work. Sign and date each page. It is okay if you have the coffee stains or dirt on your lab book. Judges expect the notebook to be used "in the field" or in the lab!
The notebook should contain your questions, answers, procedures, drawings of designs, data collected, observations, notes from talking to experts in the field, and so on. If you use materials that are dated or have a lot number, it is a good idea to record the company, the lot number, and the date of the material that you are using in your project. Everything should be recorded in your notebook with enough detail that someone could repeat your experiment just from reading your notebook. Plan ahead to record your observations and data. In the age of digital photography, it is a great idea to document your entire experiment with photographs. You don’t have to use the photos, but you'll have the option to use them for your display or paper.
The easiest project to do well with is an experimental project that follows the scientific method.
[edit] Scientific method applied to science projects
Scientific method is a logical step-by-step method to investigate a question or problem by varying one or more parameters, while holding all other factors constant, and measuring the outcome or result.
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- Define the problem or question. What do you want to investigate?
- Gather information (background research) to be able to make an hypothesis and the design of your experiment (the experimental plan).
- Form an hypothesis, that is, an educated guess, as to what the outcome of your project will be.
- Do the experiment, following your plan. If something doesn’t work correctly, modify your plan and re-run the experiment. Be sure to consider how you will analyze your results before you run the experiment! For example, if you feed one plant coffee and one plant water, what is the natural variability in plants that could make a difference? If you ran three plants of each you would have a better idea of your results; however, some statistics may require 15, 30, or even more plants of each in order to make the results statistically significant. That’s why you need a plan, including what you will measure and how you will analyze the data, before you begin! You can refine your procedures and repeat the experiments if needed.
- Analyze the data and summarize your conclusions. In some projects it is appropriate to make modifications to your procedure or experiment based on your experience and findings with the first trials and run additional tests. Did you prove or disprove your hypothesis? It is totally acceptable to disprove your hypothesis. Your thinking, application of scientific method, ability to communicate your work, and your knowledge of general science/engineering principles will all contribute to your success at the science fair!
- Communicate your findings with others, through your paper, your project display, your abstract [2] and/or discussions with experts in your field.
After you have your results analyzed and summarized, you can write your research paper, your abstract , and create your science project display for the fair. Each fair has its own rules for the size and format and format of the paper and of the display.
[edit] Typical parts of the research paper
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- Title page.
- Abstract – a summary of the purpose, results, and conclusions of the project within a specified word limit. Most fairs allow up to 250 words for the abstract.
- Table of contents
- Introduction – The introduction includes background information as well as why the project is important.
- Problem and Hypothesis
- Methods and Procedures
- Discussion of Results
- Conclusions
- Bibliography/Works Cited
- Appendices: can include graphs not in the paper, photographs, diagrams needed to explain the project, definition of terms used, more detailed recipes for methods and procedures, and other items relevant to the understanding of the research paper.
[edit] Science fair display
The display for the science fair is traditionally a 3-panel board that can stand on its own on a tabletop, although many other designs are possible. All parts of a science fair display must fit within the size constraints. International size standards for a display are that all parts of the entire display, support structures, and equipment at the fair must fit within a maximum size of 48 inches (122 centimeters) wide by 30 inches (76 centimeters) deep by 108 inches (274 centimeters) high from floor to top of project. The tables provided at a science fair are usually figured to not exceed a height of 36 inches (91 centimeters), therefore displays designed to be set on the tabletop cannot exceed 72 inches (183 centimeters). The display should include the project title, the abstract, the hypothesis, the methods and procedures, the results, and conclusions. It is a good idea to also indicate what future work would be recommended based on the project results. A copy of all safety paperwork should be available to show to science fair judges during the fair. A copy of the research paper and the laboratory notebook used for the project must be available at the display. Photographs, graphs, charts, and diagrams can be included on the display to clearly explain the project and the results obtained. Each science fair has safety rules of items that cannot be displayed: open flames, active Internet or email sessions, glass objects, food, plant or animal material, chemicals, bacteria cultures, lasers, gas tanks, pressurized tanks, batteries with open top cells, sharp objects, drugs, firearms, ammunition, poisons, and any other potential safety hazard. Photographs or video are recommended to document the project work.
[edit] External links
Cool Science Projects [3]
Science Services ISEF website [4]
Ultimate Science Fair Resource [5]
Twin Cities Regional Science Fair [6]
California State Science Fair [7]
Science Buddies [8]
