Here’s everything you need to know to prep and impress
It’s science fair season! For some students, this annual event has become a tradition to look forward to. For others, it’s a daunting new challenge. Whatever your experience level may be, entering a science fair is about much more than competing. The experience presents an opportunity that could influence your next steps in school, or even your career. And it’s not all about winning in the traditional sense — many students have walked away without an official award, but with the lasting prize of a new mentor, peer network, or professional aspiration.
Participating in a science fair doesn’t have to be complicated. Most experts agree that the path to a meaningful entry begins with focus and determination.
1. Do your homework
First, be sure you know the rules of your science fair and all the entry deadlines. Then register on time! After that, focus on a question that’s meaningful to you. Whether you’re a K–12 student or enrolled in higher education, there’s no substitute for pursuing an experiment that’s truly of interest to you. Your project may involve a single field such as biology, physics, or chemistry, or it could cover a range of disciplines. It doesn’t have to be super “science-y.” Perhaps you’re a football fanatic and you’re curious about the best angle to kick the ball for optimal distance and “hang time.” The application of some scientific principles could help you come up with an answer — and a worthy science fair project.
Once you have a question, it’s time to construct your hypothesis. For example, “kicking the ball at X additional degrees for every Y yards from the goal line will increase your chance of the ball meeting the inside corner of the goalpost by Z percent.”
2. Your experiment: Test that hypothesis thoroughly
Before you do anything, be sure you’re keeping notes every step of the way. Your experiment log is your official record of your project. It should include:
- Your hypothesis and the key variables at play. You should also make a few notes that explain your thought process leading up to the hypothesis, and why it matters to you.
- Your step-by-step experimental procedure. Think of it as a recipe that someone else could duplicate without any nagging questions.
- A record of repeating the experiment, and each set of results. It’s critical that you conduct your experiment at least three times. In order to draw credible conclusions, you should verify that your results are reliable and not some kind of accident.
3. Draw your conclusions and develop a compelling presentation for your science fair’s format
In addition to meeting the deadlines, there are other rules to keep in mind. “Different science fairs have different formats, so you’ll want your presentation to comply with all of the guidelines from the beginning,” explains Chelsea Chee, the AISES program officer in charge of the upcoming National American Indian Science & Engineering Fair (NAISEF). For example, the April 2019 NAISEF competition at Oklahoma State University will feature both an in-person and a virtual science fair. (The registration deadline for this particular event has passed; keep an eye out for highlights online and remember there’s always next year!)
The fair’s format will help you determine the best way to communicate with your audience about these points:
- Your question, hypothesis, and why it matters
- The steps in your experiment and the results each time it was replicated
- Your conclusion based on your analysis of the results
- Questions and considerations for future research
4. Be ready for the judges’ questions
“The judges will always have good questions, and this is a significant part of the science fair process,” advises Chee. “The question-and-answer part of the competition offers a learning opportunity for everyone involved, and can lead to important conversations even beyond the science fair.” Chee and other advisors say that most judges ask questions like these:
- How did you come up with this idea?
- Did you encounter challenges as you conducted your experiment, and what did you do to address any issues that arose?
- Did you record any results that you didn’t expect?
- What would you do differently the next time?
- Why do you think your findings matter?
Finally, don’t forget that science fairs can be fun. Make the most of your project by paying attention to the things that you enjoy about the topic and the experiment. The experience could give you new insights and confidence as you pursue your STEM ambitions, education, and career.
Science fair veteran McKalee Steen, Cherokee, is a junior majoring in earth and environmental science at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. Her ultimate goal is to obtain a PhD and continue doing environmental research. During the academic year, she participates in research through her school’s Civil and Environmental Engineering department exploring the characterization of cement-geomaterial interactions. In the summer of 2018 she worked at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M., conducting research through the Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship. Steen has also been an active leader on her campus in Native Americans in Tennessee Interacting at Vanderbilt (NATIVe) and the Vanderbilt American Indian Science and Engineering Society (VAISES) College Chapter. She will serve as president for both organizations during the 2018–2019 academic year. Here Steen shares a few insights on lessons she learned in science fairs and the benefits of participating.
How did you get started with science fairs?
I’ve participated in science research and competed in science fairs since the fifth grade, and I participated in the AISES science fair in seventh through 12th grade. For me, science fair was required fifth through eighth grade at our school but became optional in ninth through 12th grade. I loved it so much and I was so passionate about science research that I kept doing it. In high school I had the opportunity to compete at local, state, national, and international levels. I was a three-time finalist for ISEF [Intel’s International Science and Engineering Fair] and a four-time finalist for ISWEEEP [the International Sustainable World Energy, Engineering, and Environmental Project].
How do you choose a topic?
I always chose research topics that were interesting to me, that I was passionate about, and that I knew would benefit my community. When choosing a topic, I think the most important thing is to find a research focus you are interested in. You will invest weeks if not months or years of your time in this project, so it’s important to be interested in it.
What tips would you give students who are preparing a project for a science fair?
Be sure to think through your methods and data collection thoroughly. It’s important that you know what you are doing can be reproducible and understood by others.
Also, be OK with things going wrong! Things go wrong all the time in research. Learn from your mistakes and learn from the bumps in the road. It will make you and your project even stronger.
What do science fair judges typically look for?
I would say that judges typically look for clear communication skills. They want to know that you understand your project and the applications of your work, and that you have thought about things in a new way. Even if you think your project is “simple,” it can be something really interesting and important if you apply it in a new or different way. Think outside the box.
Be sure to practice your presentation and think about some questions the judges might ask you.
Did anything unexpected ever come from your science fair participation?
I think the most unexpected things that came from my science fair participation were the opportunities I gained by participating. I learned how to communicate the scientific method to other people — adults who really knew the field — and I learned how to be a scientist. Through science fair, I was able to travel all across the United States and participate in ways I never thought possible.
How has participating in science fairs influenced your education or college/career choices?
Science fair has greatly influenced my college and career choices. I obviously fell in love with science research, and it was important to me to continue research into college. Because of my background and prior experience, I was able to get into a research lab on my campus my second semester, and I’ve been working in the same lab since and will complete an honors thesis next year. Additionally, I’ve decided that I would like to pursue a PhD program after graduation. Without my science fair experience, I may have ended up going down a completely different path in college and have different career goals entirely.
Do you have any encouraging words for students new to science fairs?
Completing a project may seem like one of the hardest things you have done, but stick with it! You’ll gain so many skills and opportunities just by putting yourself outside your comfort zone and diving into the awesome world of science. I think science fair is something that every student should participate in!
