<p>Hey guys!</p>
<p>Ok, so now that science olympiad has officially ended (at least on the state level) for me, I am interested in beginning a summer research project for intel. However, as I have been looking over these forums for information on this fair, I have noticed that many people have literally been working for years on these projects. If I worked of 30-40 hours a week on a project over the summer, would I be able to be competitive at my state (NE)? Additionally, do you need to find a mentor to do a project with. For example, I am interested in biology, so would I actually need to email cell bio or genetics professors at a local university to ask them if they could help me with this project? I guess the main question that I'm asking in this thread is if I should even work on a summer research project due to my lack of time to do it in.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for you time,
Robbie</p>
<p>A number of students will spend just the summer before senior year on their project. Do you live any where near a university? For science, the best opportunities are to work in a mentor’s lab. Math and social science students can often work on their projects “remotely”, but it is more difficult for science. </p>
<p>Go to the Science Talent Search site. [Intel</a> Science Talent Search (STS): Information for Students](<a href=“http://sciserv.org/sts/students/index.asp]Intel”>http://sciserv.org/sts/students/index.asp) There are a number of suggestions for training programs. But…you can also work on your own to find a mentor.</p>
<p>Keep in mind there are two Intel opportunities: Science Talent Search and the International Science and Engineering Fair.</p>
<p>Here is more info:
[Intel</a> Science Talent Search (STS)](<a href=“http://sciserv.org/sts/index.asp]Intel”>http://sciserv.org/sts/index.asp)
[Intel</a> International Science and Engineering Fair](<a href=“http://sciserv.org/isef/index.asp]Intel”>http://sciserv.org/isef/index.asp)</p>
<p>I have been to ISEF twice. 2008 won a special award and 2009 placed 2nd in my category. Getting a headstart on your project is definitely a good idea. The biggest thing is that you KNOW your experiment and the results. Finalists tend to do well when their project actually has an important application - which makes sense, because why else would you do a research project.</p>
<p>STS isn’t just something you pick up the summer before. you have to really have your crap together to pull something like that off.</p>
<p>ISEF is perhaps marginally easier to do. but don’t count on it.</p>
<p>That or have an international research team backing <em>your</em> project, which ISEF and STS rules seemingly ignore, as long as you master the project you [have been give] are working on. </p>
<p>Avoid ‘we’ in presentations, or anything else that might give away a hint at you not being the only one working on the project when it is an individual submission.</p>
<p>No way! I was a best in category winner and my experiment literally came through with results five days before ISEF started. I have only been working on my proj for like 9 months (end of summer through school year) and ive also gone to isef previously and won grand awards for a years worth of research. i definitely advocate starting early so you can do more, but just because you’ve only got a year is no reason not to do it. my first isef project was done entirely in my backyard except for a simple light microscope I used at school and my parents have no science background…it is definitely possible! check out sciencebuddies.org for more info, its a really helpful site in my opinion</p>
<p>so not true, IBfootballer; many people start their STS projects the summer before and end up as finalists/semifinalists, tho granted, most finalists work on their projects two/three years. But those students many times have connections in a certain lab, making it easier for them to work. I recommend doing an intensive research program summer before senior year.</p>