Most high schools have a coordinator of science fair; ask your guidance counselor who this person is. They’ll let you know how and what type of projects are allowed.
Teens interested in physics can utilize Newton’s Cradle to measure friction’s force or test whether plants grow faster with or without nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Such experiments require an initial proposal submission that must be approved by their teacher before beginning any actual testing.
Hydroponics
High school science fair projects demand more elaborate experiments than those completed during earlier grades, providing students with an opportunity to hone their engineering design and problem-solving abilities while creating innovative contraptions.
Hydroponics is an innovative agricultural technique that utilizes water and nutrient solutions to grow plants without soil, making this technique suitable for areas where soil availability may be scarce or where environmental challenges such as drought make traditional farming challenging.
This engaging experiment illustrates electrolysis by using two pencils with their wired ends stripped off as electrodes in a solution. You’ll soon observe bubbles rising due to chemical reactions taking place between electrodes.
Robotics
Engineers and builders can explore the fascinating world of robotics through these high school science fair experiments. From creating a pendulum to test the effects of length on its period to creating a robot capable of picking up objects, there is plenty of great STEM challenge ideas for high schoolers.
If you are interested in competing in either a national or international science fair, discuss it with your guidance counselor for assistance in signing up and signing off on submissions. Typically schools have someone designated to run such competitions; make inquiries as to who this individual is and when submissions will be accepted.
Students in the US typically start out their science fair experience at local or state events affiliated with Society for Science before moving on to ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair). Genius Olympiad also provides students with an international platform that recognizes innovative solutions to environmental problems.
Energy
Science fair projects focusing on energy are an excellent way for students to explore renewable resources and their impact on our planet. Students can become engineering detectives by looking out for different forms of energy in their school or classroom, asking family for definitions or turning it into a game with points awarded for every correctly identified form of energy.
Students could also explore ways to increase the efficiency of solar panels or develop devices using water as a source of electricity, or examine how different methods of refueling a car impact its mileage. With the information gathered, students could then use it to propose social change initiatives–for instance, encouraging people to purchase locally produced food products.
Particle Physics
Particle physics experiments offer high school students an enjoyable way to explore STEM. Students can use Science Buddies’ project wizard to respond to questions about their interests and find age-appropriate projects tailored specifically for them. Furthermore, they can customize each experiment chosen so as to make it truly unique!
Consider how much time is available before selecting a project for science fair. Overcommitting will make completing it more difficult within the required timelines of science fair rules.
Participating in a science fair provides high school students an ideal way to assess whether scientific research is their calling. Consider applying to Regeneron STS or one of the summer science programs such as THINK Summer Institute to find out.
Chemistry
Science fair competition can be an enriching experience that helps develop your skills, creativity and curiosity – not to mention looking great on college applications! Your hard work could even receive recognition at school, county, regional or state level!
Chemistry is an immensely fascinating field of research that encompasses topics like the properties and composition of substances, their transformations, energy release/storage properties and energy storage/release capacities of matter – making it a fantastic topic for a high school science fair project.
Make sure the project you select fits within the time constraints available to you – don’t choose something like studying how an introduced predator species impacts bird population size over many years, for instance.