| As you begin the process of developing a science fair | | | | things down, ask 'why' or 'how does that work'. Also, |
| project, the hardest part may likely be choosing a topic. | | | | looking for topics related to your personal interests and |
| This is a strange problem since the variety and range | | | | hobbies will be extremely beneficial. Imagine working |
| of options is infinite, yet it is difficult to imagine the | | | | with something you already have a passion for. It |
| perfect one for you. There are also different types of | | | | would give you motivation, even excitement, for your |
| projects (data or survey research and experimentation | | | | project. It will also allow you to gain more insight and |
| for example) that also complicate the matter. Science | | | | knowledge into your hobby. Other ideas can be found |
| fair projects are often done out of an educational | | | | in magazines, encyclopedias, libraries, science |
| requirement and designed for learning. However, | | | | textbooks and even talking with older relatives. If you |
| science fair projects are also practical and enjoyable | | | | are still in need of a project topic, seek out |
| (if you choose the right topic). | | | | professionals in your community. They are often |
| The primary key in determining what topic to work on | | | | excited to share insight into their field of expertise and |
| is observation. Science is all around us even though | | | | can make suggestions on the best ideas to start with. |
| we pass by it without consideration. We simply need | | | | You may also gain ideas by checking out local |
| to slow down, stop even, and watch. Look for the | | | | hospitals, universities, government or state departments |
| unexpected. Look for things that make you ask 'why | | | | (like the Department of Agriculture or Department of |
| did it do that?' Let me put this another way. Recently, | | | | Transportation), zoos, museums, aquariums, |
| there has been an influx of television shows based on | | | | greenhouses, computer centers and water treatment |
| crime scene investigation. What these investigators do, | | | | plants. If you choose a topic related to any of these |
| is look at the objects in front of them and then have to | | | | locations, it may work out that you may be able to |
| figure out what variables causes those objects to end | | | | work with these facilities for the purpose of |
| in its present state. They even run multiple experiments | | | | observation or even basic research. |
| with different variable to find the test results that | | | | In determining what topic to explore, be sure to check |
| match the crime scene. This analogy is a little | | | | out the resources listed in this article. Make notes of |
| backward for our sake since investigators have the | | | | things that interest you or raise intrigue. Explore ideas |
| result of some undermined set of variables while | | | | that appeal to your passions and interests, so that you |
| science fair projects manipulate variables to find the | | | | may set yourself up to succeed. The important thing is |
| results. However, the experiments done by investigator | | | | to find something that you will enjoy. Remember to |
| are very similar to what you might do in a science fair | | | | slow down and observe. Everything can be broken |
| project. | | | | down into a science. Good luck in your quest for a |
| Here are some ideas for coming up with a science fair | | | | great science fair project topic. |
| project topic. As I mentioned above, observe. Break | | | | |