All the Low-Down
What is it?
It is like an US Science Fair, on the Simpsons. Projects will be displayed on large poster boards. There will be lots of judges who will talk to you about your research project and give you feedback.
Why would you bother?
- You could win a prize.
- You will become a researcher in you own right.
- You will become an expert in an area that interests you.
- You will learn how to do research which will help you forever.
When?
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
Where?
The University of Wollongong - in the Uni Hall.
Are there Prizes?
Monetary prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd in each category, plus trophies and lots of other special prizes.
Categories
- Junior Primary, Stage 2, Years 3 & 4
- Senior Primary, Stage 3, Years 5 & 6
- Junior High School, Stage 4, Years 7 & 8
- Intermediate High School, Stage 5, Years 9 & 10
- Senior High School, Stage 6, Years 11 & 12
How do I enter?
See the Science Coordinator at your School.
Why are we holding a Regional Science Fair?
The great value of a Science Fair is that it provides an opportunity for students to showcase the results of their own science research projects and it encourages the development of both research and communication skills. By participating in the Science Fair, students become researchers in their own right.
Why would you enter?
You will:
- Be able to conduct your own original research, you will become an EXPERT!
- Develop both research skills and oral and written communication skills
- Have the opportunity to discuss your research with experts
- Be eligible for great prizes
- Meet other students who have also enjoyed doing a research project
- Have a FUN day at the Science Fair
What do you need to do?
- Find an area of interest to you and start a log book
- Think of a question you'd like to answer
- Find yourself a mentor with whom you can discuss your project
- Come up with an hypothesis (an educated guess as to what you might find)
- Find out what others know about the topic
- Design an experiment to test your hypothesis
- Remember there should one independent or “test” variable and control all others
- Make sure your sample size is as large as possible
- Collect your data and present it in tables or graphs
- Write your report, including Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, References and Acknowledgements.
- Plan your poster presentation
Ideas for things you could do:
- Design the most efficient simple solar cooker
- Test the strength of home-made glues
- Compare pollen grains between different species
- Investigate the accuracy of use-by dates
- Test the strength of egg shells
- Make dyes from local native species
- Compare chlorophyll found in different types of plants
- Use chromatography to compare composition
- Determine the water composition of different fruits or vegetables
- Compare Vitamin C content in fresh Vs commercial fruit juices
Some previous year's topics:
- Insulation in houses
- Stain remover
- Switch on to sunlight
- Where do plants grow best?
- Tricking the brain
- To mould or not to mould
- Music and mental ability
- Left Vs Right side of the body
- Food intake and fitness
- Weeping onions
- Heart Vs Heat
- Out with backwashing
- Chemical carrots