If you’ve ever dreamed of showcasing your scientific interest and passion on a grand stage like the Google Science fair or even a local science fair,  congratulations!

You’re about to embark on a exciting journey of exploration and innovation.

What is the Google Science Fair The Google Science Fair was an online science and engineering competition open to students ages 13 to 18 from around the globe.

It encouraged them to change the world through scientific inquiry and problem solving.

The competition was sponsored by Google, Lego, Virgin Galactic, National Geographic, and Scientific American.

It was an annual event spanning the years 2011 through 201

8. The competition aimed to find the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Students were invited to submit their ideas to change the world.

Previous winners tackled issues such as the early diagnosis of breast cancer, improving the experience of listening to music for people with hearing loss, and cataloguing the ecosystem found in water.

Prizes for the competition included a $50,000 scholarship from Google, a trip to the Galapagos with National Geographic Expeditions, experiences at CERN, Google or the LEGO Group, and digital access to the Scientific American archives for the winner’s school for a year.

Scientific American also awarded a $50,000 Science in Action prize to one project that made a practical difference by addressing a social, environmental, or health issue.

Unfortunately, the Google Science fair was last run in 2018 and there have been no plans to reinstate the competition.

What to do Instead If you are interested in science fairs, you should participate in other similar competitions.

ISEF stands out as a good one to do since the prizes and prestige are significant.

However, it is also a good idea to participate in local science fairs since they may be easier to win.

In order to do this, it is a good idea to seek out a mentor that will be able to assist you with your project.

Finding a mentor The best way of getting research is by finding a mentor who is willing to support your goals.

The best way to do this is to cold email researchers.

You don’t have to go to an Ivy League or some prestigious university to get research.

In all reality, more prestigious the university, the more likely the professors are already focused on prioritizing undergrads at their school who want to do research) The most important advice with this is to start early, since good research takes time.

Here’s a guide I wrote that will teach you how to prepare effective cold emails: https://rishabacademy. com/2024/03/06/how-to-cold-email-as-a-high-school-student Foundational Work Start by choosing a subject that sparks your curiosity.

Once you have a broad area, narrow it down to a specific research question that can be explored in depth within the paper’s constraints.

Ideally, you want to make sure that your paper is comprehensive but readable, so you will need to pick a specific niche.

Utilize credible sources like academic journals, scholarly books, and reputable websites to gather evidence for your research.

In particular, preprint servers and open access journals are completely free which means that you will have an easier time finding research that way.

Document all the sources that you end up reading, since this will make your life much easier when you need to cite everything.

BibTeX is super useful for organizing and generating citations for research papers.

Literature Reviews The literature review is the foundation of your research project.

It’s where you become an expert on your topic by exploring what others have already discovered.

Doing this will allow you to find gaps in existing research, allowing you to come up with an idea that is specific enough to write a paper with.

Here’s how to tackle this research phase: Brainstorming Keywords: Start by identifying key terms related to your research topic.

These will be your golden tickets to finding relevant sources.

Hit the Library (or Database): Use your school library’s resources and online databases to find academic journals, articles, and books on your topic.

Look for credible sources published by universities, research institutions, or reputable organizations.

Reading and Taking Notes: As you read through your sources, make sure to skim.

Make sure to focus on the points that are relevant to what you want to do and gloss over other parts, as this will save you a lot of time.

Nonetheless, pay close attention to the arguments different researchers are making and any interesting connections between their work.

Staying Organized: There are many ways to organize your research.

Note-taking apps, index cards, or a simple notebook can all be helpful.

Keeping your notes organized will make it easier to find information later when you’re writing your research paper.

Preparing your science fair presentation At a science fair, you may think the judges are solely interested in the content of your work.

However, just having done sophisticated research is only half of the battle.

How you present your work will have a significant effect on your ultimate score.

You want to convince the judges not only that you have done sophisticated research, but also that there is an important reason to care about your work.

Tips to craft your story Memorability Our brains are wired to forget stand-alone facts, and, with a complex project, there’s a lot of these facts to take in.

However, if put into an interesting context or interwoven with an engaging story, it’s much easier for us to remember what we’re learning.

Showcase your passion If you can present your project with enthusiasm, you’re showing the judges your genuine interest and investment!

What judges love to see are students with passion, and by demonstrating that, you’ve already earned yourself a favorable impression.

Clear communication Conveying ideas by these means is nothing new: storytelling is a skillful technique that’s been used to present important ideas since the beginning of humanity.

If a judge can engage with and clearly follow a “storyline” in your presentation, it’s more likely that you’ll have an impact on them.

Wenshu, another blogger at Rishab Academy, wrote a more detailed guide from which I got these tips. https://rishabacademy. com/2024/02/28/creating-a-compelling-science-fair-presentation-storytelling-and-visuals Conclusions Winning a science fair requires focus, organization, and a commitment to clear communication.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can develop a well-structured and informative presentation that effectively conveys your research findings.

Remember, the journey of writing in science fairs is a valuable learning experience that refines your research, analysis, writing, and communication skills.

More advice Once you are done gathering all your findings and figuring out how to convey what you learned, you will need to make a poster.

You should check out Rishab's template, since you save a lot of time creating poster boards, and it is completely free to use.

About Eashan Iyer:I am a founding member of The Qurios Institute and an incoming student at Brown University.

In 2023, I co-authored a research paper in the field of theoretical physics.

I am also an Eagle Scout and a senior at The Academy for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering in Rockaway, NJ.

Learn more about me at my website and LinkedIn.