<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p>I am a sophmore with an interest in having science as my major attracter for colleges. I was look over some competitions like siemens and intel, but I wonder how to get started. I understand emailing the professors for the science fair style competitions, but then what? How do I get an idea on an topic for my project? Also, for science bowl type competitions, do I just study from a book? </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Do you yet have an idea of what you’re really interested in?</p>
<p>interested in as in what field of science? I have only been introduced to biology and not like serious biology, however I do learn quick, and I really do not care much about field, most appeals to me. If you mean type of competition, I do like science bowl type competitions better, but I do want to try doing a long term project.</p>
<p>Sorry, I meant the field:P.</p>
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<p>You should care though, because one common way of starting a long term project is to learn as much as possible about a specific topic of science on your own, then reach out to professors or others who are knowledgeable of the subject and slowly build up a relationship. The only way you’re going to find enjoyment and satisfaction from the project is if you’re researching something that you’re truly passionate about. Otherwise, you’ll find the long hours of working at a lab or reading on your own to be very dreary, and mostly likely not worth the time.</p>
<p>oh okay thank you for the tip. I do enjoy medicinal science, like finding cures for diseases, and also just biology in general. I dont know if I am weird, but I like reading lab reports that my parents bring home. (Both are scientists)</p>
<p>Well, finding cures for diseases is too general of a task---- you’ll most likely never accomplish that in the next two years! You can start looking into the specifics of a particular disease, perhaps, and see whether you can come up with an idea that is both innovative and financially feasible. A good place would be past research. Also, think about what kind of project you want: a survey (wouldn’t qualify for some of the competitions I think)? behaviror study (won’t qualify for all competitions)? molecular and cellular bio? building something?</p>
<p>If you’re parents are scientists, that may help tremendously. Is there some way for you to volunteer or work at their workplaces? That way, you may be able to find a professor/scientist whose work may be of interest to you, and you can perhaps build a working relationship from there. Also, you may get to learn valuable skills that will help you later on with your own research. So, do research on your own on a particular topic, then reach out to resources and people who may help you advance further.</p>
<p>Okay thank you so much for the advice. How should I approach look at the specifics of diseases? Should I just like go on a md website and start reading them? Anyways, thank you for the starting advice, I guess its up to me now.</p>
<p>High school kids aren’t supposed to know what they’re really interested in. The most important thing is to be open to new experiences. After all, your interests can change.</p>
<p>Anyway, most research is pretty much the same (in terms of what you actually have to do). Like theoretical people might spend their time deriving things or programming. Experimental people will probably sit working at a bench. Any sort of research experience you can gain, regardless of field, will probably be beneficial for you.</p>
<p>hmm so I should first look online, find the professors whose work interests me. Email them, and for the ones who agree to take me in, I should start researching about their line of work in diseases?</p>
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<p>Definitely, but you have a higher chance of being allowed to work in a lab if you can demonstrate that you have some knowledge of the subject matter, which in turn requires that you spend time and effort focus on that particular topic. </p>
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<p>Mmm, I personally haven’t found that to be the case. </p>
<p>@gertrudetrumpet: you should already have some understanding of their work by the time you contact them— preferably, see if you can read over some of their past research papers. The research process is not about you contacting a professor and asking the person to teach you everything you need, tell you what would be a good project, then just robotically follow the instructions. You should have an idea of what you would like to do, how you can merge your own interest with your mentor’s current projects, and how to take advantage of the available resources. Your mentor will be there to provide the resources, by not necessarily the instructions---- it’s a very independent and self-driven endeavor. The amount of freedom you have with the project also depends a lot on the professor you work with.</p>
<p>Also, just be aware that there are so much more you can do with biology than just research on diseases.</p>
<p>I’m in the same position as gertrudetrumpet. I would like to do some scientific research and work with a lab or something, but I have NO idea what field I’d like to work with… Maybe chem or physics would be cool (green energy? dunno), but I just don’t know.</p>