Science Fair Projects

1. Science Fair Projects A survival guide to science fair projects at WG Davis (and hopefully, if you want, the regionals and nationals!)

2. Why should I participate? • This is the only competition at the middle school level, where you can potentially compete nationally and even internationally! • Prizes! (not only money at the regionals, but even scholarships at the nationals) • You get to do REAL science – and science that you are personally interested in. • You will get smarter  • Our school has a great tradition of winning! • Great for your resume.

3. How should I start? • Decide on a goal for yourself. (i.e. Regionals, Nationals...) • Decide if you’d like to work alone or with a partner. • Start reading the science section of the newspaper. • Choose an ORIGINAL and RELEVANT idea  - and then research to see if it has been done before. • Set deadlines for yourself. • Talk to your science about your idea before your start.

4. What are the three types of projects? • Experiment • Follow the scientific method • Control all variables • Study • Gather original data to compare to data already out there. • Innovation • Invent something new – must be a working model and be useful. • For all three types of projects BE SURE that your idea has real world application. • The best projects include all 3 types .

5. How can I make it to the Nationals? • Choose a topic that will make a difference in the world. • Plan a project that includes aspects of all three types of projects (innovation, experiment and study). • Be sure that your experiment has as much data as possible and you have controlled as many variables as possible • Try to contact an expert in your field of study. (i.e. A university professor...) • Take pictures of you involved in your experiment to include on your board

6. What’s involved? .../1 • Come up with an idea – before grade 8 starts. • Become an expert on your topic. Research, research, research. (Internet, expert interviews, books, newspapers...)‏ • Come up with a method to keep track of your sources and data. • Gather all necessary data. Be sure to do more than two trials and to get enough data.

7. What’s involved? .../2 • Analyse your data to see if there are any patterns, if your hypothesis is correct, if your model is useful, ... If you need to gather more data! • Do more research to help analyse your results. • Write up your conclusions and applications. • Design and put your board together. • Plan your presentation to the judges. • Practice your presentation many times.

8. Things to consider... • Alone or with a partner? • Prize categories for the regionals • Nuclear energy • Medical laboratories • Motor Vehicle Safety • Engineering society • Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medals • Honourable Mentions • Environmental Innovation • Current topic? • Do I ENJOY the topic?

9. Things to avoid ... • Choosing a project idea that you will get bored with or hate working on. • Choosing a project that involves animals. • Testing humans with too many uncontrolled variables (i.e. Does music affect learning?)‏ • Choosing a project that is WAY too difficult to get done in the time that have – remember you have a life outside of this project! • Procrastination... ;)‏ • Letting the project become someone else’s...

10. Where can I get help? • Research from good sources (this includes parents, teachers and others you know). • Youth Science Foundation (ysf-fsj.ca)‏ • Region of Peel Science Fair (peelscience.ca) • ‏Google Science Fair • Your brain and perseverance 

11. What will the Science Fair look like?

13. What should the board look like?

17. Compare the two boards... Which one is more effective?

18. Before and after!

19. The Regionals! Top 6 projects from our school get to go! Are you coming?

21. 04-05 06-07 07-08 Come and be a part of team Davis 11-12!! 05-06 03-04

22. The Nationals W.G. Davis attends five years and counting!

23. 2007 Truro, Nova Scotia • Silver Medal - Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Sciences • Sponsor: Rx&D Health Research Foundation • Medal, $700 cash & certificate • Junior • Shocking Growth The University of Western Ontario Scholarship Sponsor: University of Western Ontario Silver Medallist - $1500 Entrance Scholarship Shocking Growth Kristen Crane [14], Allison Hammond [13] – Peel ON

24. 2008 – Ottawa, ON Silver Medal - Automotive Bronze Medal - Earth & Environmental Sciences The University of Western Ontario Scholarship Sponsor: University of Western Ontario Silver Medallist - $1500 Entrance Scholarship Reuben Gurupatham Jatropha Oil - Saving the Environment, One Drop at a Time Saijal Suri, Hyui In Jun Germy Hosts

25. 2009 – Winnipeg, Manitoba Student: Howard Feng Project: I Scream for Ice Cream But.. Awards: The University of Western Ontario Scholarship Bronze Medallist - $1000 Entrance Scholarship Sponsor: University of Western Ontario Bronze Medal - Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Sciences Sponsor: Youth Science Canada Division: Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Sciences / Environmental Innovation

26. Peterborough May 15 - 23, 2010 Fighting BAC!

27. 2010 – Toronto, ON Our first grade 7 students to make it to the Nationals! French Fries or French Fake?

28. Team Canada wins "Best Delegation" at MILSET ESI in Tunisia July 29, 2009 PEI May 2012 Will this be you?