<p>This past November, I went, as a team, to compete in the Western Regional Finalist competition for the Siemens Westinghouse. Our school won $2,000, and I have some ideas as to how to use it. I think it would be really good if our school could start up some sort of research funding program so that students that want to do research can do so and be at least partially unburdened with finances. My partner and I had an extremely hard time getting money to do our project, so it's easy for me to imagine how helpful this would be. The reason I want to start this is that our school is not science oriented at all. There is a strong AP Science offering, but as far as research and extracurricular acheivement in science goes, our school has little (in fact, no one at school even has congratulated us on our acheivement, regardless of the fact the school won money for it). Therefore, I hope to "popularize" independent research by doing this. Do you think this is a good idea and will it work??</p>
<p>I think it is a great idea. My suggestion is to find some local professionals who work in the science field (eg doctors, science professors) and ask them if they would be willing to act as mentors and to provide other support as part of an advisory board.</p>
<p>This will help your school accept the idea by preventing a major potential source of opposition: Your school turning down the idea because they don't want to burden their already overburdened teachers. </p>
<p>This advisory board could, with the help of a representative from your school, create the rules for how the money would be distributed to student. The advisory board also could act as mentors to students working on projects.</p>