Jeremy Schmidt - Edmond Agriscience Fair 2017- 2021 Brett Scott – Shawnee Jeremy Schmidt - Edmond

You guys do Agriscience Research Projects on a daily basis… You guys do Agriscience Research Projects on a daily basis…..... Yes you really do....

Scientific Method Ask a Question: The scientific method starts when you ask a question about something that you observe: How, What, When, Who, Which, Why, or Where? For a science fair project some teachers require that the question be something you can measure, preferably with a number. eg. Grew bigger, changed color, displayed a temperature change

Scientific Method (con’t) Do Background Research:  Find out if anyone has done this type of research project. What type of questions did they investigate. Rather than starting from scratch in putting together a plan for answering your question, you want to use research to help you find the best way to do things and insure that you don't repeat mistakes from the past.

Scientific Method (con’t) Construct a Hypothesis:  A hypothesis is an educated guess about how things work. It is an attempt to answer your question with an explanation that can be tested. A good hypothesis allows you to then make a prediction: "If _____[I do this] _____, then _____[this]_____ will happen.” State both your hypothesis and the resulting prediction you will be testing. Predictions must be easy to measure.

Scientific Method (con’t) Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment:  Your experiment tests whether your prediction is accurate and thus your hypothesis is supported or not. It is important for your experiment to be a fair test. You conduct a fair test by making sure that you change only one factor at a time while keeping all other conditions the same. You should also repeat your experiments several times to make sure that the first results weren't just an accident.

Scientific Method (con’t) Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion:  Once your experiment is complete, you collect your measurements and analyze them to see if they support your hypothesis or not. Scientists often find that their predictions were not accurate and their hypothesis was not supported, and in such cases they will communicate the results of their experiment and then go back and construct a new hypothesis and prediction based on the information they learned during their experiment. This starts much of the process of the scientific method over again. Even if they find that their hypothesis was supported, they may want to test it again in a new way.

Scientific Method (con’t) Communicate Your Results:  To complete the Agriscience fair project, the results will need to be reported to others in a final report and a display board. Professional scientists do almost exactly the same thing by publishing their final report in a scientific journal or by presenting their results on a poster or during a talk at a scientific meeting. In Agriscience fairs, judges are interested in the findings regardless of whether or not they support the original hypothesis.

Scientific Method (con’t) Communicate Your Results:  To complete the Agriscience fair project, the results will need to be reported to others in a final report and a display board. Professional scientists do almost exactly the same thing by publishing their final report in a scientific journal or by presenting their results on a poster or during a talk at a scientific meeting. In a Agriscience fairs, judges are interested in the findings regardless of whether or not they support the original hypothesis.

2017 Agriscience Categories Animal Systems Environmental Services/Natural Resource Systems* Food Products and Processing Systems Plant Systems Power, Structural and Technical Systems Social Science

2017 Agriscience division descriptions Animal Systems The study of animal systems, including life processes, health, nutrition, genetics, management and processing, through the study of small animals, aquaculture, livestock, dairy, horses and/or poultry.

2017 Agriscience division descriptions Animal Systems - Examples Compare nutrient levels on animal growth Research new disease control mechanisms Effects of estrous synchronization on ovulation Compare effects of thawing temperatures on livestock semen Effects of growth hormone on meat/milk production

2017 Agriscience division descriptions Environmental Services/Natural Resource Systems Environmental Service Systems: The study of systems, instruments and technology used to monitor and minimize the impact of human activity on environmental systems. Natural Resource Systems: The study of the management, protection, enhancement and improvement of soil, water, wildlife, forests and air as natural resources.

2017 Agriscience division descriptions Environmental Services/Natural Resource Systems Examples Effect of agricultural chemicals on water quality Effects of cropping practices on wildlife populations Compare water movements through different soil types

2017 Agriscience division descriptions Food Products and Processing Systems The study of product development, quality assurance, food safety, production, regulation and compliance and food service within the food science industry.

2017 Agriscience division descriptions Food Products and Processing Systems Examples Effects of packaging techniques on food spoilage rates Resistance of organic fruits to common diseases Determining chemical energy stored in foods Control of molds on bakery products Effects of the amount of sucrose used in baked goods Use of a triangle test in sensory science

2017 Agriscience division descriptions Food Products and Processing Systems Examples Effects of packaging techniques on food spoilage rates Resistance of organic fruits to common diseases Determining chemical energy stored in foods Control of molds on bakery products Effects of the amount of sucrose used in baked goods Use of a triangle test in sensory science

2017 Agriscience division descriptions Plant Systems The study of plant life cycles, classifications, functions, structures, reproduction, media and nutrients, as well as growth and cultural practices, through the study of crops, turf grass, trees and shrubs and/or ornamental plants.

2017 Agriscience division descriptions Plant Systems Examples Determine rates of transpiration in plants • Effects of heavy metals such as cadmium on edible plants Compare GMO and conventional seed/plant growth under various conditions Effects of lunar climate and soil condition on plant growth • Compare plant growth of hydroponics and conventional methods

2017 Agriscience division descriptions Power, Structural and Technical Systems The study of agricultural equipment, power systems, alternative fuel sources and precision technology, as well as woodworking, metalworking, welding and project planning for agricultural structures.

2017 Agriscience division descriptions Power, Structural and Technical Systems Examples Develop alternate energy source engines Create minimum energy use structures Compare properties of various alternative insulation products Investigation of light/wind/water energy sources

2017 Agriscience division descriptions Social Science The study of agricultural areas including agricultural education, agribusiness, agricultural communication, agricultural leadership and sales in agriculture, food and natural resources.

2017 Agriscience division descriptions Social Science Examples Investigate perceptions of community members toward alternative agricultural practices Determine the impact of local/state/national safety programs upon accident rates in agricultural/natural resource occupations

2017 Agriscience division descriptions Social Science Examples (con’t) Comparison of profitability of various agricultural/natural resource practices Investigate the impact of significant historical figures on a local community Determine the economic effects of local/state/national legislation impacting agricultural/natural resources

2017 Agriscience division descriptions Social Science Examples (con’t) Consumer confidence and understanding of food labels Economic effect of employment rate and meat consumption

2017 Agriscience divisions Division 1 – Individuals in Grades 7 & 8 Division 2 - Teams of two in Grades 7 & 8 Division 3 – Individuals in Grades 9 & 10 Division 4 – Teams of two in Grades 9 & 10 Division 5 – Individuals in Grades 11 & 12 Division 6 – Teams of two in Grades 11 & 12

2017 Agriscience Display boards Board dimensions will not exceed 36’’ high, 48’’ wide, 30’’ deep Optional: (not really, each student should have a log book) Log book, up to 5 copies of written report No additional props, handouts or electronics will be permitted No electricity will be provided

Scientific Method Flow Chart