How do Sci-Fair Finalists conceive of winning topics?

Vivi
Sat, 15 Mar 2008 18:40:45 +0000

Intel ISEF participant here.

Coming up with a project isn’t the hardest thing for me. It’s coming up with a -winning- one that’s hard.

The one thing you need to keep in mind is making it unique.
If it’s been overdone before, no one will care unless you significantly improve it.

Think of new angles, new ways to look at something. This year I took the typical “how does music improve the mind” project and twisted it into a physics- and differential-equations-based analysis. Find a category and topic you’re passionate about. I wanted to do Biochem this year because I heard it was very prestigious; the competetors were few but strong in their subjects, so if I did it I could probably at least get to State fair. Then I realized I hated biochem… and knew nothing about it.

I also think working independently on high-level research is a major plus. It makes judges impressed to hear that you managed to force specific mutations in fruit flies to engineer them to fit their environment… without the help of any mentor (one of my friends in Biochem this year).

oops, gotta run. I’ll add more for you later.