Have you ever wondered what types of projects tend to win science fairs?

Or are you looking for an innovative and attention-grabbing idea for your next science fair entry?

From exploring cutting-edge technologies to uncovering novel solutions for global challenges, science fairs will provide you a platform to pursue and share your scientific findings.

Historically, science fair winners have spanned a wide range of disciplines.

Many of these projects not only demonstrate a deep understanding of scientific concepts but also offer practical solutions.

In this post I will examine ideas that have been successful in the past to provide inspiration.

Science Fair Information The International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is the largest pre-college science competitions, drawing thousands of the world’s most talented young scientists from over 80 countries.

At ISEF, you will present cutting-edge research across various scientific disciplines, vying for scholarships, internships, and grand awards.

The fair not only showcases your achievements but also promotes global scientific collaboration and networking, providing a platform to engage with experts and explore future scientific careers.

Getting to ISEF is a long journey that begins at local and regional science fairs.

Success at these levels eventually leads to qualification for ISEF.

Since it is such a difficult achievement, it looks very impressive on applications.

It demonstrates that you are among the best in the world for your research.

There are also other science fairs that you could participate in, but I thought I would make mention of ISEF since it is the largest and most competitive.

Past Projects Synthetic DNA Engineering With ICOR Rishab Jain‘s project delves into the field of synthetic biology, focusing on improving protein production in E. coli, vital for vaccine development.

The core of his work is codon optimization, which involves selecting the best DNA sequences to enhance protein synthesis.

Traditional methods often overlook cellular dynamics, leading to inefficiencies.

Jain introduced ICOR, a tool that applies a recurrent neural network (RNN) with a bidirectional long short-term memory (LSTM) architecture, analyzing a dataset of high-expression E. coli genes.

This approach allows for a nuanced optimization of DNA sequences, aligning more closely with the cellular environment and improving protein production.

ICOR’s effectiveness was demonstrated through rigorous testing against standard methods, showing significant advancements in protein expression efficiency.

This breakthrough offers a sophisticated strategy for enhancing recombinant protein production, with broad implications for biotechnology and vaccine development.

Materials and Requirements: Coding knowledge, computational resources (high-performance computing system capable of handling large datasets), specialized software for implementing models, comprehensive genomic datasets, statistical and data analysis software Getting Started: To begin a project like this, first solidify your foundational knowledge in bioinformatics and machine learning.

Then, acquire any needed computational tools and genomic data.

Develop a project plan that outlines your approach, ensuring you include stages for model training, testing, and validation.

As you progress, continuously refine your model design based on feedback and results, and prepare to document and present your findings!

Award: Regeneron Young Scientist Award (i. e.

TOP 3, winning $50,000!) at ISEF 2022 Neurobiology of Suicide: Claudin-5 Is a Biomarker Natasha Kulviwat‘s study explores the possibility of identifying biological markers for suicide by examining the breakdown of claudin-5, a key component of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), in human postmortem brain tissues.

The research assessed claudin-5 levels along with cytokines IL-6 and IL-8, which were found to be elevated in individuals who had died by suicide, suggesting a link between BBB disruption and suicide.

Additionally, the study analyzed stressful life events, claudin-5’s localization in the brain, and gene expression related to neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.

Molecular docking was used to explore how well current medications interact with claudin-5 and related proteins, finding potential for targeting specific pathways in suicide prevention.

The findings indicate that claudin-5 could be a biomarker for suicide risk, pointing to new directions for therapeutic interventions.

Materials and Requirements: Brain tissue samples, lab equipment and reagents, bioinformatics and data analysis software, psychological and other assessment tools, statistical software Getting Started: Start by getting the right biological samples and ensure you have the necessary ethical approvals.

Get access to a suitable lab (get a mentor!) with the needed equipment and reagents for your specific analyses and invest in reliable data analysis software.

Then, outline your research plan, detailing your experimental procedures and data analysis methods and ensure these align with your study’s goals.

This structured approach will guide your project from conception through to data collection and analysis, setting a clear path for your investigation!

Award: Gordon E.

Moore Award ($50,000) at ISEF 2023 “Every forty seconds, suicide steals a life, yet no biomarkers exist for suicide. ” Natasha Kulviwat The above quote is an example of how certain ideas can be used to craft a compelling story.

The Inchworm Robot with Skateboard Yuyang Wang‘s project focuses on creating bionic robots inspired by the movement of caterpillars and inchworms, designed to navigate challenging environments like power grids and cable systems where human intervention is risky.

These robots, developed through four generations, have evolved from basic wire-pulling and friction control capabilities to advanced designs that allow for bending navigation, obstacle avoidance, and simultaneous multi-pipe traversal.

The latest model can switch between grabbing and wheel modes, enhancing its efficiency and adaptability.

With the ability to maneuver under sticks of varying diameters, these robots hold promise for applications in grid maintenance, breakage detection, and more, pushing forward the possibilities in robotics with biomimetic design principles.

Materials and Requirements: Knowledge of coding, high-torque servo motors for precise movement control, microcontrollers and signal processing units, sensors, grabber mechanisms with adjustable grip, omni-directional wheels, software development environment for coding and testing robot behavior, diverse set of sticks and pipes Getting Started: Start by gaining a basic understanding of robotics and biomimicry principles, and research to create a plan for robot design.

Acquire the necessary materials such as servo motors, sensors, and microcontrollers, and begin experimenting with basic prototypes, focusing on wire pulling and friction control for initial movement.

Then, iterate through design improvements, gradually incorporating advanced features like obstacle avoidance and other mechanisms you hope to include!

Award: Craig R.

Barrett Award for Innovation ($10,000) at ISEF 2023 An Important Note You shouldn’t design your project to be the same as the ones that came before it.

The purpose of research is to make original contributions to the scientific world.

Use these ideas to start your own brainstorming.

You are likely someone who is driven to solve many issues in the world, so use these competitions as a platform to do so.

Use that drive to create a valuable project and your chances of winning will skyrocket Conclusions Take a look at Rishab’s STEM student guide, which is available to anyone completely for free.

This has a lot of information that will help you create the most effective science fair project as well as other opportunities such as competitions and research programs.

Also watch his YouTube playlist that will teach you how to do research.