Learn how to succeed at the Terra North Jersey Science Fair (TNJSF), hopefully qualifying to participate in the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).

This blog will provide you with tips, tricks and guidance so that you can achieve your educational goals.

Introduction to TNJSF The Terra North Jersey STEM Fair (TNJSF) is a science fair for high school students (grades 9-12) in northern New Jersey.

Students who participate have a chance of qualifying for the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), since this is a an affiliated fair.

The competition is held annually at Kean University in Union, NJ.

The fair accepts entries from students across ten counties of northern New Jersey, including Bergen, Essex, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren.

Registration The 2024 fair was held on March 23-24 at Kean University’s STEM Building.

Here are some key details.

The dates will be different for the 2025 fair, but this is the general timeline that you can use to plan for next year.

Important Dates for 2024 Fair: Dec 01, 2023: Certification deadline Feb 05, 2024: Entry deadline Feb 21, 2024: Final SRC clearance date Mar 04, 2024: Abstract deadline Mar 11, 2024: Deadline for submission of virtual presentation file Mar 23, 2024: Category Judging Mar 24, 2024: Special Awards Judging Interviews and Awards Ceremony at 5:30 p. m.

Registration: For the TNJSF, students and teachers must go to the TNJSF website to login and register projects.

New Process: A new process called FAVR has replaced the ISEF Forms submission required since the fair’s inception in 1983-8

4. This new system will handle all approval forms and signatures, except for Form 7 (continuation project).

Public Exhibition: The public can view the projects on Sunday, March 24, from 1:30-3:30 p. m.

For more information, you can visit the TNJSF website.

Categories The Terra North Jersey STEM Fair (TNJSF) encompasses all fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

From what I saw on the website, there are no pre-defined categories that you must choose from.

This allows a lot of flexibility for students to pursue their own interests in STEM.

Whether a student is passionate about biology, chemistry, physics, or something else entirely, the TNJSF is open to their project.

For reference, the TNJSF rules mention some examples of science projects that have been submitted in the past: Biostatistics (combining biology and statistics) Bioinformatics (using computer science to analyze biological data) Physics Chemistry Material science Engineering (including biomedical engineering) Winning TNJSF Winning at TNJSF requires a combination of a well-executed research project and an effective presentation.

Here are some tips to increase your chances of success: Start Early: Begin your research early to allow ample time for experimentation and refinement.

Choose the Right Category: Select a category that best fits your project.

TNJSF has updated its project categories for 2024, so make sure to check the latest guidelines.

Understand the Judging Criteria: Familiarize yourself with the judging criteria and tailor your project to meet these standards.

Practice Your Presentation: A clear and confident presentation can make a significant difference in how your project is perceived.

Originality is key: Choose a topic that sparks your curiosity and hasn’t been done to death.

Browse recent TNJSF winners online for inspiration, but don’t be afraid to carve your own unique path.

Real-world relevance: Demonstrate how your project addresses a current scientific or engineering challenge.

Does it explore renewable energy solutions, or perhaps a novel method for water purification?

Ground your project in something tangible and impactful.

Feasibility matters: Ensure your project is achievable within the timeframe and with the resources available to you.

Don’t get too ambitious and end up with an incomplete experiment.

I would recommend watching Rishab's blueprint to science fairs after you finish with this blog, as it contains more valuable tips as well as discussion with Shriya Bhat, another high performer at ISEF.

Master the Scientific Method or Engineering Design Process: The TNJSF emphasizes a rigorous approach.

For science projects, meticulously follow the scientific method: Question: Identify a problem or phenomenon that intrigues you.

Research: Investigate existing knowledge on the topic.

What has already been done?

Hypothesis: Formulate a testable prediction based on your research.

Experiment: Design and conduct an experiment to test your hypothesis.

Collect accurate data.

Analyze: Interpret your data.

Does it support your hypothesis?

Conclusion: Draw conclusions based on your analysis.

Did the experiment go as planned?

What did you learn?

For engineering projects, employ the engineering design process Define the Problem: Identify a need or challenge to address.

Research and Design: Explore possible solutions and brainstorm potential designs.

Prototype: Build a model or prototype of your design.

Test and Evaluate: Assess how well your prototype functions.

Make improvements as needed.

Communicate: Document your process and present your findings.

Presenting Your Results Our website has a guide on how to create an effective presentation for ISEF.

It is below https://rishabacademy. com/2024/02/28/creating-a-compelling-science-fair-presentation-storytelling-and-visuals/embed/#?secret=FFO4ZdSe3t#?secret=eqQEKaSR3e Visual Appeal: Design a clear, engaging display that effectively communicates your project.

Use high-quality visuals, informative charts, and a logical layout to guide viewers through your research journey.

Practice Makes Perfect: Rehearse your presentation beforehand.

Speak confidently, explain your experiment or design clearly, and be prepared to answer questions from the judges.

Passion is Contagious: Enthusiasm goes a long way.

Express your genuine interest in your project and its implications.

Conclusions If you are eager to start your science fair journey, you can use Rishab's poster template, which is available to anyone completely for free.

Once your results are obtained, you can present them on that template.

He has won ISEF and so is quite familiar with the process required.

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.