Science Fair Success - Tips on Creating and Presenting a Winning Science Fair Project [sciencetechnology-center.blogspot.com]
I have judged science fair projects for years, and seen some great projects and some terrible projects. As a certified Six Sigma Black Belt, I have a great respect for the fundamentals of problem solving: Good problem statements, good experimental design, valid measurement systems, and a healthy respect for the factors you may not have considered.
Here are some tips to make your science fair project the best it can be:
1. Originality. You don't want to be the fourth student to present a demonstration of a tornado using two soda bottles. There are classic projects that 80% of the students will choose because they are grabbing the first web site or book idea that they find. In other words, they are lazy. Go elsewhere. Explore some area in which you have a personal interest, be it food or gaming or pets or astronomy. The best projects answer a question. They do not simply show a demonstration or educate the viewer, they utilize the Scientific Method, and the outcome should be measurable.
2. Depth or specificity. A good project will attempt to answer a very specific question, not a general one. An example of a nonspecific problem statement would be: "What is the best brand of AA battery?". A more specific statement would be: "Does the life cycle cost of a Duracell AA battery exceed that of three other store brand batteries when used in a Panasonic XX Digital Camera?" What you are looking for is a very specific definition of "Better" - in this case the money paid for performance of a battery in a specific product. One way to develop this is to start with your general statement and replace the fuzzy words like "better" with more details, by asking your self 4 or 5 questions around what you mean by "better". Does better just last longer, or is it related to the total cost of batteries? How you define your problem will be critical in how your experiement is constructed, and how the judges will p erceive your skills as a scientist.
3. Real understanding of the principles involved. There is generally a fundamental scientific principle at work in a science fair project. Whether it's the period of a pendulum or a battery's ability to do work, the first body of information you will learn will be the basic theory of your experiment. Spend time reading about the device and get a good understanding of the principles and the scientific history behind it. In some cases you may be reproducing an experiment that made history!
4. Clear problem statement or hypothesis. Along with point 2 above, your problem statement should be very clear: "I intend to establish whether statement X is true.". An example may be: "I intend to establish whether Radio Shack Model xx Batteries have the lowest life cycle cost among the batteries evaluated."
5. Explanation of the scientific background. From your underst anding of step 3 above, you should be able to list some points to establish the science that produces the results you are trying to measure, and a discussion of the variables you will be manipulating to complete the experiment. An example may be: a. A battery is a chemical energy storage device used to produce electricity. b. AA batteries are rated at 1.5 volts. c. All chemical batteries will become depleted as they do work. d. Some AA batteries may last longer than others. e. The cost of various batteries varies widely.
6. Clear communication of the experimental methods. You will need to document the procedure you will use to conduct the experiment. If you are conducting several trials with different variables, you will need to summarize the nature of the changes in each trial. An example may be: a. I purchased five types of batteries, 8 each. b. I randomly assigned matched pairs of two batteries into four sets, for 2 0 total trials. c. I developed a standard procedure for using the camera to consistently model the demands of everyday camera use. d. I ran each set of batteries through this test, recording the time taken for the camera to shut down from depleted batteries. e. I calculated the mean time of each manufacturer's batteries. f. I calculated the number of batteries required to supply one years' use of the camera. g. I multiplied the cost of the batteries by the number of batteries to calculate the expected annual cost for each manufacturer.
7. Identification of the variables and the controls. Many experiments are improved by the use of a control. The normal variability of data in your control can give you an understanding of the "noise level" inherent in your data. It also gives you a baseline along which to measure the trials' deviation, so you can assess the importance of your variables.
8. Clearly identified data. You should constr uct tables to hold the data from your trials. In most cases, you should have your variables (X's) and outcome (Y's) clealy listed so you can visually and mathematically show any correlation.
9. Discussion of your measurement system and its reliability and repeatability. This is a key to Six Sigma quality. Every project has a review of the measurement system. Many experiments are affected more by the noise in the data than the actual variables. This is a common omission among science fair projects. Discuss and understand the causes of variability in your outcome, including things such as experiment order, time of day, ambient temperature, difference in batches or samples, and experimenter variability - viewing angle, insufficient precision on measurement tools, etc. It will show the judges that you understand that there are other things that can and will affect your data.
10. Analysis of the data as it relates to your hypothesis. Once you have the data, you should try to visually graph the data and see if you have correlations or calculations that support your hypothesis. One important thing to note is that if your experiment disproves or does not prove your hypothesis, do not think you have failed! It is very important to let the Scientific Method work, and let you learn by what your experiment did not tell you. You can get excellent scores on projects that fail to validate your hypothesis if you have a well designed and thorough experiment.
11. Conclusions of the experiment. Did you prove your hypothesis? Whether you did or not, make sure it is clear whether you proved or did not prove your hypothesis.
12. Candid discussion of what should/could be done differently were it to be repeated. Be your own biggest critic. Ask teachers, parents and upperclassmen to criticize the experiment. And if you ask them to criticize the design before you do it, you will have a much better project!
13. Key learnings from this experiment. What did you learn? Not just about the subject matter, but about the process of scientific discovery? What would you like to do next if you were asked to propose a follow-on project?
14. Written or graphic presentation. Many science fairs have specific presentation requirements. Make sure you follow them clearly. But also make sure you have reviewed all of these areas so that you are clear on the fundamentals of your science topic and the process of experimentation. You may want to have some backup information available for you to study or refer to if permitted.
15. Verbal presentation. Many times you are asked to present your findings. Do not read each word on each slide or page or section out loud. Instead, point to the area and summarize what it is that the area represents or is telling you. Make sure that your presentation flows from s ection to section. Do not worry about your exact words. Be confident that you understand your experiment and its weaknesses and strengths. Ask for questions and show the judges that you know your stuff.
So now you are armed with some great tips on how to design, conduct and present an award winning science fair project. Get creative, be organized and scientific, and have fun!
More Science Fair Success - Tips on Creating and Presenting a Winning Science Fair Project IssuesQuestion by calvary_gurl: What would be a good title for a science fair project testing what type of cat food cats like best? I'm doing a science fair project on what type of cat food do cats like best out of wet, dry, and wet and dry mixed together. Any suggestions? Best answer for What would be a good title for a science fair project testing what type of cat food cats like best?:
Answer by Sundevil
feline gustatory preferences.
Answer by THEPurpleFlutterby!
Finicky Felines! Felines is a scientific name for cats and they certainly are finicky when it comes to what kind of food they like the best. =]
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