How do Sci-Fair Finalists conceive of winning topics?

ducktape
Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:44:53 +0000

Please, please, please bear in mind, though: whether or not your project wins a prize isn’t necessarily indicative of its merit.

I worked on my project for 9 weeks over the summer, and heartily agree with the quote that

kids in bio (esp molecular bio or biochem) research understand what they’re doing because they’re probably reading a LOT

I have a 3-inch binder **stuffed/B with papers I’ve read, which doesn’t even touch on papers I’ve read on the computer, textbooks I’ve gone through, etc. I love biology. It’s always been fascinating to me.

With that in mind, working in a lab all last summer was like a dream come true. I had my own little side project in the lab, and while it certainly had its ups and downs (we think our cell line mutated…) it a) gave me invaluable experience in the lab and b) showed me that I really do want to go into research for the rest of my life. My project didn’t win a thing, but I honestly don’t care. I learned a lot, I wouldn’t have traded that summer for the world, and I’ll probably remember it when I have a lab of my own someday.

THAT is what you should be looking for in a research project. Passion comes first. Prizes are secondary.