Science Fair Project Ideas

Here are many ideas or starting points for science fair projects.  They are grouped in general areas of science, but not necessarily by official science fair categories.  Ask your teacher to verify your project category.  Don't let big scientific words scare you.  Many of the "big fancy words" are the scientific names of common plants or animals.  Others are words that will become simple once you do your beginning research.  Click on a general area below to see the list of related project ideas.

[Engineering and Related Projects]  [Physical Science, Astronomy]   [Environmental Science]   [Earth Science and Meteorology (Weather)]   [Computers and Computer Science]

Zoology and Botany

  1. The effect of sound on plants
  2. Plants in different environments (light intensity, colour)
  3. The effect of nicotine, air, yeast on mold growth
  4. Factors affecting the strength of hair, the growth of bacteria, molds or yeast
  5. Experiment with Hydroponics
  6. Use seedlings started from seed with three types of soil and >different rates of fertilizer
  7. The effectiveness of Antiseptics and soaps on household bacteria
  8. The effect of air pollution on algae, protozoa, fish, insects or mosses and lichens
  9. Comparing types of artificial light on plant growth
  10. Conditions necessary for the life of a brine shrimp
  11. The commercial uses of algae methods of production
  12. Producing mutations in bacteria, yeast, protozoa or molds
  13. Best conditions for mushroom production, growth of ferns
  14. The effects of ultrasonic antibiotics temperature changes on bacteria count
  15. Microbial antagonism
  16. Reaction of paramecia, planaria to pH, light and temperature conditions
  17. Plant tropisms and growth hormones
  18. Transpiration rates for different plants and conditions
  19. Sugar level in plant sap at different times and dates
  20. Using radioisotopes to study uptake of plant nutrients
  21. A study of territoriality in mice
  22. A study of the cleaning habits of mice
  23. Observation of conditioned responses in different animals
  24. A study of animal phosphorescience and other biolumincescences
  25. Learning and perception in animals and humans
  26. Studies of memory span and memory retention
  27. Age versus learning ability
  28. A study of the relation between physical exercise and learning ability
  29. Is audio or visual information better remembered
  30. The effect of bleaching and dyeing on hair
  31. A study of the percentage of DNA (by weight) in different species
  32. Factors affecting the enzyme's reaction rates
  33. Genetic variations across a Sansevieria leaf
  34. Factors affecting seed germination (e.g. soil temperature, pH)
  35. Root formation in cuttings versus lighting conditions
  36. Factors affecting flowering
  37. Study of sterility in plant hybridgs (F1 and F2)
  38. Comparison of different plant's ability to add humus to the soil
  39. Factors affecting Nodule Formation in Legumes
  40. Can household compounds (e.g. tea) be used to promote good health in plants
  41. Effects of cigarette smoke on the growth of plants
  42. The effects of water impurities on plant growth
  43. The effects of phosphates on aquatic plants
  44. Effect of mineral deficiencies on protein content in soybeans
  45. The effect of excess salinity on plants
  46. A study of the tumours produced in plants by agrobacterium tumifacieus
  47. The effect of polarized light on plant growth directica
  48. The effects of solar activity on plant growth
  49. Tracing solar activity cycles in tree growth rings
  50. The effects of electric fields on plants
  51. The effects of magnetic fields on plant growth
  52. Effects of magnetism on the size and frequency of blooms and fruits
  53. Does magnetizing seeds before planting affect growth
  54. The effects of XRay and other radiation on plants
  55. The effect of music of varying types and duration on plants
  56. Organic fertilizer versus chemical Fertilizer
  57. Study of population fluctuations in insects
  58. A study of toxicity of insecticides versus temperature
  59. Is polarizes light the guidance system for Foraging ants
  60. A study of stimuli that attract mosquitos
  61. The factors affecting the rate at which a cricket chirps
  62. Study of insect of animal behaviour versus population density
  63. A study of diffusion through cell membranes
  64. Growth of plant and animal cells by cloning
  65. Regeneration in sponges, Paramecia, Planaria, etc.
  66. Manipulation of Vegetative reproduction in plants
  67. Search for nearvacuum environment tolerant plants

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Engineering and Related Projects

  1. Design considerations for "Solar Heated" homes
  2. Design considerations for "Solar-Cell" powered homes
  3. A study of propeller designs for wind generators
  4. Production of electrical energy from mechanical sources
  5. Study of efficient home insulation
  6. Comparing Insulative Properties of various natural and commercial insulators
  7. The effect of landscaping and architecture on energy consumption
  8. Efficiency studies on transformers
  9. The effect of temperature on resistance
  10. Study of formation of images on a T.V tube
  11. Efficiency studies of L.E.D.'s (light emitting diodes)
  12. L.E.D illumination versus incandescent illumination in practice
  13. Voice communication with infrared light and fibre optics
  14. Find the maximum speed in fibre optic links
  15. Study of various phosphors in fluorescent lighting
  16. Structure versus strength in dams
  17. Testing and comparing consumer products

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Physical Science, Astronomy

  1. Study of accuracy of calculators
  2. The mathematics of snowflakes
  3. Observational orbit determination of comets, meteors or other minor planets
  4. The effect of solar activity on radio propagation
  5. Observations of sunspots, flares and prominences
  6. A study of solar flares through the sudden enhancement of atmospherics
  7. The identification of elements in the solar and stellar spectra
  8. Experimental exploration of the photoelectric effect
  9. Experimenting with electron diffraction
  10. Observations of magnetic permeability of different materials
  11. Comparing magnetic pysteresis for different material
  12. A study of radiation patterns from different antenna types
  13. Factors affecting scent propagation
  14. Factors affecting sound propagation
  15. Factors affecting sound dampening
  16. Index of refraction of liquids versus temperature
  17. Index of refraction of liquids versus amount of additive
  18. A study of infrared qualities of certain solutions
  19. Crystal growth rates versus solution strengths, temperature, etc
  20. Observation of freezing rates of water for different starting temperatures
  21. Reproduce the stanley miller experiments "The Origin of Life"
  22. Find the optimal gas mixture for a stanley miller experiment
  23. Experimenting with various separation techniques (e.g. electrophoresis)
  24. A study of catalyzed reactions
  25. A study of saponification reactions
  26. A study of esterification reactions
  27. The physics of ski waves

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Environmental Science

  1. The study of flora in a given region
  2. Observations of urban wildlife
  3. Study of adaptations of city flora to smog
  4. An ecological study of the animal and plant populations occupying the same tree
  5. The effects of crowding (with the same or other species) on a certain plant
  6. Annual variations in the ecology of a body of water
  7. A study of a shoreline
  8. Observations of the spread of Dutch Elm disease
  9. A study of the relation between soil type and vegetation
  10. A study of the relation between vegetation and insects
  11. Monitoring the changes in wildlife caused by human encroachment
  12. The study of the impact of pollution on an ecosystem
  13. A study of water pollution from feed lot farms
  14. Tracing chemical(e.g. DDT) concentrations in successive food chain levels
  15. Ozone destruction experiments
  16. A study of air purification methods
  17. Efficient methods of breaking down crude oil in seawater
  18. Experimenting with microbial degradation of petroleum
  19. Experimenting with biodegradability
  20. Finding efficient methods of harvesting and using plankton
  21. Find and ink that would decompose for recycling paper

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Earth Science and Meteorology (Weather)

  1. Observations of experimentally induced seismic waves
  2. Is there a relation between sunspot cycles and earthquakes
  3. Observations of geomorphic factors in the local areas
  4. Tracing glacial till fragments to local rock outdrops
  5. Exploring methods of controlling erosion
  6. Fossil studies in limestone and other rocks
  7. A study of phosphorescence as a tool for geologists
  8. Comparison of the load bearing strength for different soils
  9. Observations of fluctuations in stream flow following rain
  10. Study of air tides: phases of the moon versus barometric pressure
  11. Effects of weather on human emotions
  12. Changes in snow density and other characteristics with time
  13. The factors affecting ice patterns on glass
  14. Study of the relation between wind direction and temperature inversions
  15. A study of small scale wind currents around buildings
  16. Observations of local anomalies in the earth's magnetic field

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Computers and Computer Science

  1. Studies of storage/retrieval techniques for computer systems
  2. Handling of data transfer between 1/0 devices
  3. Data manipulation and information management techniques and procedures
  4. Applications in education using the computer as an education tool
  5. Compiler design
  6. Statistics and random number problems
  7. Simulation of non-science areas e.g. history, life or other planets
  8. A programmable processing unit design, function and operation
  9. Developing a video game
  10. Pascal programming tools
  11. Developing a program to write a new custom program
  12. Use of computers in managing industrial processes
  13. Using computers to help people do what they want to do

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