School Projects Advice (i.e. Science Fair)

<p>Hi. My school is requiring us to do a science fair project this year, which actually counts as half of the weight of a normal class. We are required to do background research over the summer. </p>

<p>1) How do choose my topic? I mean, I know the advice do whatever interests you, but I can't think of anything that hasn't already been done. Another thing I might: When I hear of my friends doing topics that are incredibly complex (at least in my opinion), it makes whatever idea I foggily create seem kind of dimwitted or weak or easy. And my teacher hasn't given any clear expectations of the project. </p>

<p>2) How should I make a team? We are allowed groups of 3 people at most, and the the responses from people I ask are never definite. I don't want to show up with nobody. I've asked my friends at first and stemmed from anyone who I felt could complement my strengths. I've had others ask me, mainly friends, but those who ask me are often the one's who come to me for help in doing work that's been overdue for a while. </p>

<p>3) Kind of embarrassing, but our summer doesn't end until about 3 weeks from now. I want to run my potential ideas with my teacher to see what she thinks, but will I give her the impression that I am lazy or procrastinate (...I do as much as a normal student but I don't want to give her that first impression ;) ). </p>

<p>My goal isn't really to win the science fair, but just to meet the requirements and do well, as it is a grade. Thank you!</p>

<p>There are a lot of kids interning at the biopharm company I’m also interning at that have a similar situation (I’m from California and don’t need to do this but these NY schools are intense). Most of them, obviously, have started doing their research already during the summer. They usually have things like periodic updates and topic updates to send with their teachers.</p>

<p>For the topic, find something that really does interest you! It doesn’t have to be complex, really. Sometimes, a topic may seem complex because you’re just not familiar with it. If I told you my topic was on the comparisons of TrkB receptors for similar signaling in humans and humanized mice with neurotrophic factors such as BDNF for the neuroprotection of retinal ganglion cells to potentially reverse AMD, it’s not particularly clear (though I may have actually made it sound straightforward because that’s how I organize things in my head) to the average person not familiar with the topic. Pick something that you would find cool to work on; for me, I was thrown into Opthalmology, which seemed just to be eye science… Turns out, it’s a lot of neuroscience and pathway stuff, which I find very interesting myself. As long as you find it interesting, it’s fine. Nobody really expects you to win the next Nobel Prize or do PhD level work. I would advise you to find a mentor ASAP. It’s already quite late, however, but if you can contact them and ask for them to help you during the school year then you may have a chance.</p>

<p>You of course don’t necessarily have to pick a team, but if you were to have done so, isn’t it a bit late? If you have the opportunity to still do, don’t pick the procrastinating friends. From my experiences, they distract you, do only the very trivial work, and take equal or more credit for everything. Try to find people who have equal or greater work ethics to yours. Talk with then, share your ideas, and get started ASAP.</p>

<p>As for the topics, you can run them by me if you want. I won’t necessarily be too familiar with them, but if it is a topic that holds a substantial amount to be done within the experiment and it should hold a very insightful result, it shouldn’t matter too much.</p>

<p>You got three weeks and no topic. Find something that is easy but complex as well. You barely have time to do some of exciting science experiment on complex science topic so make it easy enough to the point where you know you can finish in time. For example: volcanoes, plants, blood cells, etc.</p>

<p>If I were you, I go for 3rd or 2nd place. It also seems very fun too, but to bad my school doesn’t have science fair.</p>

<p>@XxSkizzyxX‌ The science project is due in May, the research (which includes choosing the topic) is due in 3 weeks. </p>

<p>3 weeks is long enough to finish something. You just got to devote all your time doing it. If you don’t then good luck with that. Finding information and choosing a topic is easy as long as you know what the heck you’re doing. If you devote all your time in doing it, you can finish it in about 2 weeks. It isn’t impossible because you finish more at home then at school. If you want to be lazy, just don’t try and turn in what you have finish. It’s that easy.</p>

<p>Now I’m really confuse in what I’m trying to say lol.</p>