Research is a process by which people create new knowledge about themselves or the world in which they live in order to answer a question or solve a problem. When choosing your topic, give careful thought to how your research might enhance the world and its inhabitants. Questioning is probably the most important part of scientific creativity and is often followed by an “if…then…” statement. Questioning usually leads to experiments or observations. Good scientists, both young and old, use a process to study what they see in the world. The following six stages listed below will help you produce a good scientific experiment:
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Be curious, choose a limited subject, ask a question; identify or originate/define a problem.
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Review published materials related to your problem or question.
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Evaluate possible solutions and guess why you think it will happen (hypothesis).
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Challenge and test your hypothesis through experimentation (data collection) and analysis.
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Evaluate the results of your experiment and reach conclusions based on your data.
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Prepare your report and exhibit.
Students should learn to be skeptical of all research results, especially their own. A good experiment may or may not answer the questions asked, but usually leads to fresh questions requiring new experiments or observations. The experimental hypothesis is often developed after one has run a number of preliminary experiments, analyzed a body of results, and reached a tentative conclusion for your experiment.
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All projects need sponsor approval; some projects need SRC/IRB approval prior to experimentation. Please refer to the CONSEF Rules. If not attached, the CONSEF Rules and regulations along with the needed forms are available at our website www.consef.org.
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All projects require at a minimum the completion of the Application Form, Consent Release Form, Checklist for Adult Sponsor For/Safety Assessemnt Form, Abstract (1A), and Approval Form (1B).
Why Should Attend?
There are numerous reasons why you want your students to be involved in the Concept Science & Engineering Fair.
- builds students self-confidence through independently-created projects
- allows for individualized attention and the expression of individual differences
- offers opportunities for struggling students to shine outside of the classroom
- naturally develops students’ reading, writing and communication skills
- allows students to apply important math concepts to real-world situations using the following skills:
- estimating
- measuring
- using algebraic and analytical methods
- solving problems
- predicting results
- collecting, organizing, and analyzing data using statistical methods.
- improves students’ understanding of scientific inquiry and technological design through the following processes:provides a great opportunity for parents’ involvement in their students work.
- investigating questions
- conducting experiments
- solving problems
- examining the interconnections between life sciences, physical sciences, and earth sciences
- exploring the relationship between science, technology and society
- brings a large number of family and community members together
- shows the greater community tangible and real products created by students and related to science, math, and technology
- supports the burgeoning charter school movement in the Midwest.
