Independent Science Expo Project The First Steps

Thursday’s Presentation What stood out to you from Ms. Frazee’s presentation? Do you already have some ideas? Perhaps the most difficult part of this process is coming up with a quality idea!

Coming up with YOUR big idea Your topic must be something you care about It should be something you can gather data about It should be unique & something that you don’t already know the answer to! It can be done by YOU without costing too much money or requiring too much outside support It can pass the “So what?” test – it has application to the real world It is safe – your project passes the safety guidelines

Science expo Categories You can choose to do 1 of 2 types of projects: Inquiry (experiment) OR Engineering (design, build, and test) There are some limitations on your project. You will NOT be allowed to… Have human or animal subjects (including surveys) Use or grow anything potentially dangerous – including bacteria, chemicals, or explosives!

Chemistry The science of the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter including: physical chemistry organic chemistry inorganic chemistry How does pH Affect Conductive Resistance? Exploring Superhydrophobic Coatings

Consumer Product Testing Comparison of product quality, effectiveness, environmental friendliness, etc. The Affect of Temperature Used to Straighten Hair on the Tensile Strength of that Hair * But remember, you can’t use human subjects in your tests!!

Earth Science The study of sciences related to the planet Earth including: Geology Mineralogy Climatology Oceanography Meteorology Seismology Geography Tectonics Planetary science Astronomy The Acid Ocean: How Humans CO2 Emissions Affect Marine Life Erosion Control Salinity temperature & density

Engineering Designing practical solutions to problems in the following areas: Transportation Chemical  Vehicle development Electrical  Aerodynamics Aerospace and aeronautical engineering Archery Accuracy Kick2light Soccer Ball

Engineering: Mechanical and Materials Building machines to solve problems including: Hydraulics  Structural designs  Materials testing This is a new category this year!

Energy The study of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, clean transport, and alternative fuels. Wind Turbines Solar Power Magnetically Levitated Vehicles

Environmental Science Study of pollution (air, water, and land) sources and their control Environmental engineering Ecology Decomposition of Bioplastics Using Lichen to Determine Air Quality in Gabriel Park

Mathematics & Computer Science Study and development of computer software and hardware and associated logical devices.  Programming a robot. Development of formal logical systems or various numerical and algebraic computations, and the application of these principles-  Calculus  Geometry  Abstract algebra  Number theory  Statistics  Complex analysis  Probability Testing the Accuracy and Efficiency of Different Algorithms on the Navigation of a Robot You definitely need to have some serious prior experience to compete in this category! Comparing Patterns Between Classical and Classic Ragtime Music

Physics: Electromagnetic Includes: Electricity Optics Magnetics Light Radiation in iPhones How to Model Different Galaxies with the idea of a Central Magnetic Flow

Physics: Mechanical Includes: Sound Friction Velocity Heat Newton's three laws A study in ballistics Harps & Harmonies

Plant Science Study of plant life, including their structure and function, life history, growth, interactions with other plants and animals, classification, and evolution. Photosynthesis Rates of Common Northwest Weeds Shining Light on Plant Stress If you choose this one, you will need to gather data over winter break for sure!

Restrictions & Safety Guidelines? You may not choose a project that involves… Human subjects Animals Micro-organisms (like bacteria) You may NOT choose a project that is dangerous. Capable of harming people or animals Involves purposely culturing pathogens (germs that make you sick) Involves explosives of any kind See the full rules here

Now what? Brainstorm some ideas – what interests you? Explore some of the websites Ms. Frazee put together to see if anything catches your eye. When you come to class tomorrow, you need to have narrowed it down to 2 project ideas! ** We only have 1-2 weeks to design & test our projects, so keep that in mind when choosing!