In addition to the IRIS Science fairs, Google has an ‘Global Science Fair’ that is worth considering. Google’s competition is open to students in the age group 13-18 years. It also has a very good checklist of ingredients that make up a good science project for any such project. These are copied below from the Google website.

As usual, if anyone is interested, we will be very happy to talk about the proposed project plan, and offer any help possible.

  1. About me / the team
    An excellent student will show a real passion for science and be able to present their ideas with confidence, clarity and enthusiasm, and explain what winning would mean to them.
  2. The question
    An excellent question will be interesting, creative, worded scientifically and relevant to the world today.
  3. Hypothesis
    An excellent hypothesis will lead on from the question, be tightly focused and build on existing knowledge.
  4. Research and Works cited
    Excellent students will undertake research to help them shape their question and hypothesis and to put their work into a relevant, real-world context.
  5. Experiment
    Excellent students will demonstrate that they have used good experimental techniques and describe their experiment clearly and in detail.
  6. Data
    Excellent data will be relevant, sufficient to support a conclusion and should be recorded accurately and precisely, and be presented clearly.
  7. Observations
    Excellent observations will describe patterns or trends supported by the data.
  8. Conclusion
    An excellent conclusion will explain how the experiment answers the question or why it fails to do so and whether or not it supports the hypothesis.
  9. Bibliography, References and Acknowledgements
    Excellent students will acknowledge and provide clear references for sources of information that they have consulted and/or referenced and acknowledge any assistance received (e.g. to find equipment and materials, to stay safe or to use unfamiliar equipment or techniques).

 

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