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Welcome Speech for a Scientific Conference: Examples & Tips
![how to write a science fair speech Matthieu Chartier, PhD.](https://fourwaves.com/media/0ajhs5qh/moi_2022.jpg?rmode=min&width=144&format=jpeg&quality=90&rnd=132984108107930000)
Published on 15 Feb 2022
Having a well written welcome speech that you’re confident about goes a long way in overcoming public speaking nervousness.
A great welcome speech sets the tone for the conference. It makes everyone feel welcome and creates the appropriate environment for the exchange of knowledge. The speech should broadly outline the contents of the event and, most importantly, make everyone feel excited for what’s to come.
In this article, you will find our best tips to create a successful welcome speech and some examples with analysis for inspiration.
Quick Tips for a successful welcome speech
Formal vs. informal language.
The first thing you should decide is whether you want to use formal or informal language. For larger events that include scientists of various fields where everybody might not know each other, you may want to use formal language. For smaller yearly conferences for researchers in your field where most people know each other, it’s common to use informal language.
I find that, in general, a rather informal or casual speech is more successful. That way you set the tone and bring everyone to the same level, promoting questions, comments, and socialization during the event.
Greet and welcome everyone
Start with a warm welcome. As alluded before, this can range from very formal (“Good morning to all attendees”) to informal (“Hello and welcome, everyone!”). These will be your first words, so you need to grab everyone’s attention—use a clear, strong voice.
A smile goes a long way to make everyone feel welcome and in a good mood. Make eye contact as you start addressing the room.
It can be great to inject a bit of humor, if appropriate. It could be something as simple as, “We are lucky to be in such a beautiful location with so many beaches close by. I hope that is not the main reason you’re here!”.
Talk about the event’s history and purpose
Is it a first-time event, a yearly conference put on by a scientific organization? In any case, you’ll want to mention the motivation behind the conference, what brings you together. If the event is related to a specific organization, you can mention its history and purpose.
Mention any distinguished guests
It is common for scientific conferences to have one or more distinguished guests or speakers. Mention them and thank them for accepting the invitation to participate. Make sure you have their names, credentials and affiliations correct.
Thank creators and/or organizers
If the event is being held for the first time, thank the creators by name. Give some words of appreciation to the organizing committee. You don’t need to mention every single person involved, but rather the essential ones.
State the main topic(s)
Mention the main topic(s) of the conference, the common interests for all attendees. For annual conferences of scientific organizations, a specific subject within the field is usually chosen for each year. For example, for an annual meeting of an immunology organization, the year's topic could be “Infectious Diseases” or “Immunotherapies.”
Touch on the agenda
Briefly outline the event’s agenda. You can mention whether there will be sessions with specific (sub)topics, poster presentations, spaces for exchange and networking. Don’t get into too many details. You can direct people to the conference brochure, if there is one, for specifics on the schedule.
Motivate everybody
End your speech on a high note by getting everyone excited about the talks to come. Highlight all the strengths of the conference: any high-impact research that will be shown, the variety of topics that will be covered, the great number of attendees, the different countries represented.
Introduce the first speaker
If the first speaker follows your welcome speech, don’t forget to introduce him or her. Introduce them with their full name and credentials and give a brief description of their career achievements.
Rehearse a few times
Practice with colleagues and friends to get some feedback and familiarize yourself with your speech. You want to be familiar enough that you don’t need to look down at your notes constantly. However, don’t over rehearse. You don’t want to sound robotic, but rather natural and conversational.
Be sure you know how to pronounce all the names in your speech. Make eye contact with the audience and with specific attendees as you mention their names.
Keep it brief
In general, you should keep your speech short, usually around 5 minutes. Consult with the organizing committee so you know how long they expect you to talk.
In-person vs. virtual event
Virtual events are very common right now and likely will be for a while. This creates some challenges when giving a welcome speech. Making eye contact with the attendees is not possible when you’re on a video call. That being said, you can still give a great speech and get people excited virtually. Just make sure that people can clearly see and hear you before you start.
Welcome speech examples
1. welcome and opening remarks - 2015 coast/ssew symposium.
In the above example of opening remarks for a scientific symposium , the speaker starts by welcoming everyone with a smile and lots of eye contact. It seems the attendees are in the same field of research and among familiar faces. Accordingly, her language is informal. She adds a bit of humor when she talks about collecting money in a bowl.
She follows by explaining the origin of the organization that the symposium is for, along with the main topics that will be covered. In the middle, she asks the audience some questions to keep them engaged. Finally, she creates positive expectations by presenting a “sneak peek” of brand-new research and mentioning “leaders” in the field of microbiome.
2. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering Welcome Speech
Read this welcome speech for an annual international conference.
This seems to be a scientific conference with attendees from various countries and from a broad range of fields. The formal language used is therefore appropriate. The speaker welcomes the attendees and introduces the distinguished keynote speakers.
The origins and goals of the conference are outlined. He broadly describes the topics that will be discussed. Then, he thanks the organizing committee, companies and volunteers involved. Finally, he mentions “internationally notorious speakers,” a great way to spark people’s interest.
3. Welcoming Address | Dale Mullennix
In this welcoming address, the speaker starts by warmly welcoming the audience. He uses rather informal language since it seems this is a regularly held event where most people know each other. He throws in some humor, directly addresses the audience, and asks them questions to grab their attention at the beginning.
By conveying the value that the attendees will find in the lectures to come, he creates anticipation. He makes lots of eye contact throughout and doesn’t even have notes! By the end, he tells a personal story and connects it to the theme of the event.
With these tips and examples, we hope that you are inspired to write a great welcome speech. Remember to keep it brief, conversational, and not overly formal, unless necessary. Eye contact and a smile go a long way.
If you’re looking for more general conference presenting tips, you should read our 15 Best Tips for Presenting at a Conference .
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- 19 December 2018
How to give a great scientific talk
- Nic Fleming 0
Nic Fleming is a freelance science writer based in Bristol, United Kingdom.
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![how to write a science fair speech A person giving a talk at a conference](https://media.nature.com/lw767/magazine-assets/d41586-018-07780-5/d41586-018-07780-5_16346254.jpg)
Credit: Haykirdi/Getty Images
“It was horrific,” says Eileen Courtney. “I was just a bundle of nerves. I wasn’t able to eat for the whole of the previous day. That’s when I realized I needed to get over my fear of public speaking.”
Courtney is a third year PhD candidate studying interactions between metals and two-dimensional semiconducting materials at the University of Limerick, in the Republic of Ireland. Her moment of revelation came as she contemplated presenting her research at the Microscience Microscopy Congress in Manchester, United Kingdom, in July 2017.
The gut-punch feeling of dread that the prospect of being on stage can trigger will be familiar to many early-career scientists. It could be induced by an invitation to an international conference, an academic group meeting or a public engagement event. Or it might be caused by an all-important presentation as part of an interview process.
Although the audiences and goals of a talk may differ, the skills and techniques required to pull it off are similar. So what differentiates a good presentation from a bad one? How can you up your game in front of the lectern? And is being able to impress an audience really all that important?
The answer to that last question is an emphatic yes, says Susan McConnell, a neurobiologist at Stanford University, in California, who has been giving talks on giving talks for more than a decade. “The whole point of doing science is to be able to communicate it to others,” says McConnell. “Whether it is to our close colleagues, other scientists with a general interest in our area or to non-scientists, clarity of communication is essential.”
Engage like a champ
![how to write a science fair speech Drawing of boxing gloves](https://media.nature.com/lw767/magazine-assets/d41586-018-07780-5/d41586-018-07780-5_16346256.jpg)
Great public speaking skills are not sufficient for good presenting, but they help. In August, Ramona J. Smith, a high-school teacher from Houston, Texas, was crowned Toastmasters 2018 World Champion of Public Speaking.
These are her top 10 tips, which she plans to outline in more detail in a forthcoming e-book.
1 Be yourself: people relate to and connect with authenticity.
2 Prepare, practice and perfect: get rid of those crutch words, like ‘um’ and ‘you know’.
3 Describe what you’re telling us: use vivid words to help the audience paint a picture.
4 Vocal variety: change up your tone, volume and pitch to keep the audience engaged.
5 Study the greats: watch what really great speakers do.
6 Get feedback: a practice audience can help you get the bugs out.
7 Appearance: if you look good, you’ll feel good, which will help you give a great speech.
8 Pauses: they give the audience time to think, and help them engage.
9 Body language: use gestures and make use of the space to help deliver your message.
10 Be confident: use your face, body language and stance to own the stage.
Not all researchers recognize the value of taking time out of the lab to tell colleagues about their work. “Some have this idea that if you're spending time giving a talk, you're spending time on marketing which could be better spent doing science,” says Dave Rubenson, co-founder of Los Angeles-based nobadslides.com, a company that provides courses on giving effective slide presentations. “In fact the process of creating a compelling talk and getting your audience to understand it improves both your understanding and theirs, and is central to science itself.” On top of this, Rubenson says, presenting at conferences is a great way to attract the collaborators who can help you break new ground and advance in your career, but only if those listening understand what they’re being shown.
![how to write a science fair speech](https://media.nature.com/w400/magazine-assets/d41586-018-07780-5/d41586-018-07780-5_16349486.jpg)
Nature Events Guide 2019
A good place to begin is in your audience’s shoes. They need to know early on why they should care about what you’re saying. What is the ‘story’ at the heart of your presentation? Creating a concise summary of your talk, upon which you can add complexity, is a better starting point than pondering which of your file of 500 slides you can leave out, Rubenson says.
Presenters often fail because they try to deliver too much complex information. Language and content, normally, has to be designed with the non-specialist scientist in mind. “You have to think about the least knowledgeable person in your audience that you care about reaching,” says Rubenson.
Another common mistake is the use of slides as ‘data dumps’. Remember those times you’ve squinted at overly-busy slides packed with eight small graphs and wondered why the presenter mentions only one? Keep that in mind when designing your own slides. Animation software that lets you add information to slides as you talk about it can help.
Above all, it is important to maintain the focus of your audience.
Conquer nerves
![how to write a science fair speech Eileen Courtney holds up a ball and stick model](https://media.nature.com/lw767/magazine-assets/d41586-018-07780-5/d41586-018-07780-5_16346258.jpg)
Credit: Institute of Physics
Different methods work for different people. Here are Eileen Courtney’s tips for keeping calm at the lectern.
1 Practice in an environment similar to the one in which you will give your talk.
2 Memorize key sentences within an outline, rather than learning it word for word.
3 Ensure you are within the time limit, so the clock is one less thing to worry about.
4 Wear something professional-looking and comfortable, not a new outfit.
5 Avoid overeating and limit coffee intake on the day itself.
You can help to prevent wandering minds by including summary slides at the end of sections. “You can think of a talk as a series of data dives,” says McConnell. “You need to come up for air periodically, and say ‘this is what we just learnt, this is the conclusion and this is how it links to the next part’.”
McConnell describes this and many more ways for researchers to improve their scientific presentation skills in a popular 42-minute online video. Another source of advice is the 2013 book Designing Science Presentations by American neuroscientist Matt Carter. While these offer useful pointers, most people find that when it comes to public speaking and presenting, practice makes, if not perfect, then certainly better.
That notion is central to Toastmasters International, a non-profit organization that helps individuals improve their public speaking skills through its network of more than 16,000 branches in 143 countries. At weekly or fortnightly meetings, members practice speeches and give each other feedback. It was to her local branch that Eileen Courtney turned last summer after realizing her presenting skills needed work. It seems her decision paid off. In May she was runner-up and audience favourite in the 3 Minute Wonder competition, a science communication challenge run by the London-based Institute of Physics in which entrants have one slide and 180 seconds to present their research to non-specialists.
“I’ve recently had to give other presentations and I’ve calmed down a lot, as a result of both going to Toastmasters and through teaching as part of my PhD,” says Courtney. “As you get more experience of speaking in front of a crowd, it becomes a lot less scary.”
Nature 564 , S84-S85 (2018)
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-018-07780-5
This article is part of Nature Events Guide 2019 , an editorially independent supplement. Advertisers have no influence over the content.
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Emily Lakdawalla • Feb 06, 2018
Speak your science: How to give a better conference talk
Bad presentation often gets in the way of good science. It's a shame, because science is awesome. So if you're a scientist who's interested in improving how you present your science, read on.
This post is a revised and updated version of one I wrote in 2013. Here's a recording of me giving this talk at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona on February 5, 2018 .
I can summarize my advice in three words:
Respect your audience.
Each one of the people in your audience is another person, like you. Their time is as valuable as yours. Work to deliver them a presentation that is designed for them, to inform and interest them in your work, and to leave them pleased that they spent that 5, 10, or 50 minutes of their valuable time listening to you.
Here are some questions to guide you in preparing a good talk.
To whom are you speaking?
Think carefully about your audience. Who are they, and what can you assume about what they already know about your topic? Is it an audience of your peers within your subspecialty? Is it space scientists more generally? Is it scientists and engineers? Is it a funding body? If it's the public, do they come to the room knowing a lot about space? Or is it a general audience?
The wider an audience you are addressing, the more context you will need to provide to them. If you do not provide the people in your audience with the information that they require in order to understand you, it is the same as telling them that you do not care if they understand you or not.
For a scientific conference, I suggest targeting your talks at an audience that is familiar with the scientific process but whose subspecialty is entirely different from yours. Are you an astronomer? Pitch your talk to a geologist. An experimenter? Pitch your talk to a theoretician.
Really good speakers are ones who manage to communicate something to everybody in the room, no matter who they are or how much they already know. To the relatively uninformed, you should at least answer: What is the question behind your work, and why is it important? What did you learn, and why does it matter? At the same time, to the well-informed, you should convey how your work has added to, broadened, or contradicted what has come before it.
Identifying your audience allows you to identify what words are jargon and what are not. Words are wonderful things, and our subspecialties have a lot of vocabulary that is dense with information. But if a word is not familiar to your audience, it will confuse rather than clarify. Sometimes, a jargon word is unavoidable; it may be the focus of your presentation. In that case, take care to define it more than once through the course of your presentation, and reinforce your teaching of the jargon word with context.
Acronyms and initialisms are a special class of jargon. It's easy to fall into a bad habit of using acronyms. They are often the most important nouns in your presentation. But unlike in a paper where you can define it, and people can look back if they forget what it means, there is no way to "look back" in a talk. I have attended many talks in which a TLA* is defined in the first moment, and if you miss it you are lost for the rest of the talk. Really, it often takes no more time to speak the words than to speak the letters.
(*TLA = Three Letter Acronym)
What do you want your audience to learn?
It amazes me that people prepare talks without ever asking themselves this question, but they appear to. A lot of people spend too much time describing their research methods -- what they did and what their data look like. It's easy to understand why people make that mistake. What you did is, after all, what you spent most of your time doing. But the whole point of your research effort was to learn something that you could then communicate to others. There's no need to force your audience to endure the same tedium. You can save your audience all that work by telling them what it was you learned.
Here's an exercise that I highly recommend: Compose a tweet summarizing your talk. It doesn't need to have perfect grammar, but it needs to be a sensible statement. In that limited space, you are not likely to say a whole lot about your methods! "I mapped clay minerals on Mars” describes what you did, but not why, or what you learned from it. "Large areas of Mars experienced rainfall over tens of thousands of years." Cool.
Make that tweet your conclusion slide. Make sure that your talk builds to that conclusion. How are you going to do that? Well....
What is your story?
It is impossible to overemphasize the importance of narrative in a talk. Standing up in front of an audience, you are telling a story in which you are the principal character. Stories are fun. If you tell a good story, you hook your audience, and then they will willingly follow you even into the dark corners of your subspecialty.
Stories are also functional, especially for people in the audience who may be struggling to follow you on that journey. If, for example, you have managed to tell your audience that this is a crime story, pretty much everybody in the room should be able to understand what the crime was at the beginning of your talk. Then, if you lose them while you're talking about evidence gathering, you still have a chance of picking them back up again when you tell them: that was the evidence, and this piece of evidence led me to the perpetrator. Even if an audience doesn't get spectroscopy or understand what a general circulation model is, they probably get how crime stories work.
Maybe you are not solving a mystery, but are instead an intrepid explorer who has gone to a place no one has gone before. Maybe you have fought a pitched battle with a legendary monster of a data set. (This is a great framework for a presentation about a null result; you get to be the tragic hero.)
Narrative is not just helpful to your audience; it's helpful to you, too. It provides a structure for your talk and helps you determine what is crucial to conveying your message and what is not. This is very important when you consider the following question:
How long do you have to speak?
You cannot say all the same things in a 15-minute talk slot as in a 1-hour colloquium. You just can't. Don't even try. However, you can tell the same story, which is why I put "story" before "time limit" in this blog post. Do you have a favorite novel that's been made into both a miniseries and a movie, and maybe even a 1-hour show? Think about the differences in story among these. As you go from longer to shorter versions, you see reductions in characters, in settings, in subplots, and finally, in the main plot line itself. Yet the story (usually) remains recognizable. Exactly the same process is necessary to go from a scientific paper to a colloquium to a long conference talk to a short conference talk.
It is especially important for very short talks to practice your talk and then, if it is too long, cut out information that is not needed to tell your story. Think of the poor audience, especially the undercaffeinated, the jet-lagged, the many people in our highly international community who are interpreting your spoken words as a second language. You cannot solve the problem of a too-long talk by talking faster. Simplify the story that you are trying to tell.
Some people solve the problem of a too-long talk by running over time. Do not do this. It is incredibly disrespectful to your audience.
If you talk through the time intended for discussion, the message to the audience is: I am here to talk to you, not hear from you. I do not care whether you understood my talk.
If you run into the next person's time, the message is worse: I believe myself to be more important than the next speaker. I also believe myself to be more important than the entire audience's opinion about which talk they intended to be watching during the time slot I am usurping.
It is only now, once you have identified your audience, your take-home message, and the shape of your story, that you should begin to think about making a PowerPoint presentation.
What visuals will serve to amplify your story?
I've observed that a lot of people use the phrase "prepare a talk" as though it is synonymous with "compose a PowerPoint presentation." Don't do that. The purpose of slides is to emphasize or amplify points that you, the speaker, are making with your voice and your body language. No matter what, your slides should serve to enhance your presentation, not to distract from it.
In fact, you should be capable of delivering your entire talk without any slides at all, because I promise you it will happen sooner or later that an A/V disaster will require you to. (I once gave a half-hour talk about amazing Solar System photos without being able to show a single photo.)
The number one error that almost everyone makes with PowerPoint presentations: There are too many words on your slides. People do this as insurance against forgetting their words, but it is bad for a conference presentation.
We use the same parts of our brains to process spoken language and written language. If you show me a slide containing more than a few words, I must choose between reading your slides and listening to you speak. I am physically incapable of doing both at the same time. Instead, I jump between reading some text and listening to some speech and then I miss things and I get lost. If your entire talk is written out on your slides, why the heck are you even talking to me? I read faster than I hear. You could just stand up there silently and advance your slides periodically. Instead, of course, what you do is turn your back to the audience in order to read your slides aloud, which is, again, an act of disrespect, even if you don’t intend it as such.
When I first wrote this article, I strongly advocated putting no words on slides . I still advocate that position for public talks. But commenters made several good points about why some words are useful, so I've adjusted my advice. Titles on slides are valuable as signposts through talks, especially for people who don't share your language. Writing out jargon or otherwise unfamiliar words helps you teach those words to your audience. In every case, though, the text on the slide should serve to emphasize or underline the points you make with your speech. They should enhance or clarify, not distract from, the words issuing from your mouth.
One advantage of having few words on slides is that if you find you have misjudged the pacing of your talk, it's not obvious to your audience when you are skipping material or slowing down in order to return to the right pace!
Graphs are a challenge in talks. Used well, they can make a scientific point clearly and succinctly. Used poorly, they can be a distraction. Graphs that are good for scientific papers are typically lousy for talks. It's not just a matter of font size and color. Good paper graphs have high information density, so throwing a fully developed graph on a slide is worse than presenting your audience with a paragraph of text.
Sometimes, you don't need a visual to emphasize a point. In those cases, consider not having one. Put up a blank slide and watch the entire audience suddenly make eye contact with you. I like to put blank slides in places where I am making transitions in talks. It is a reminder to me to remind the audience where we came from and inform them where we are going. I can look them in the eye and check in with them to see if they are still with me, and let them know that the story is about to shift.
Your final slide is a special slide. It may be the one that the audience sees the longest. Do not have a slide that says only "Questions?" Instead, put your tweet-length conclusion on it. Write your name and some kind of contact information on it for the benefit of people who want to discuss your work with you. And then thank the audience for the gift of their attention, and invite them to ask questions.
Try to anticipate the questions your audience will have about your talk. You might have some backup slides prepared after your conclusion slide. This is a good place for the graph from your paper or to paste in some text on your methods because they may be useful tools in your response to a persnickety question. With a little luck, you can look like a genius for having just the right backup slide in your deck. If no one asks a question, one of these slides can serve as an opportunity to say just a little bit more about your work, or to advertise your collaborators' presentations.
Preparing to give your talk
Practice . I'm not just talking about practicing the specific talk. I mean, practice speaking about your science. Talk to your coworkers, your friends, your roommates, your family, your hairstylist, your cab driver. My plumber loves visiting my house because he loves to talk with me about space. Take advantage of any opportunity to speak to people about science. Practice is important because speaking is a different skill from writing.
Regardless of who is in your audience, you must use less jargon in a spoken talk than in a written paper. In a paper, if I come across a term whose meaning I don't recall, I can look it up. In a talk, I can't do that. The words you speak may not be as precise, but more people will understand your meaning, and remember, that's the goal.
Relatedly: Simplify your sentences . In a technical paper, a single sentence can span a whole paragraph. It's a way to armor sentences against criticism. But in speech, if I lose track of which statement your lengthy list of clauses is modifying, I lose the whole sentence. Complete a thought before moving to the next. Avoid passive voice. Give your sentences clear subjects, verbs, and objects. If a point is important, repeat it. Repetition is like verbal underlining.
If you tend to talk fast when you are nervous, then practice speaking more slowly and carefully, enunciating your words. Don't be afraid of silences -- you don’t need to fill every moment with sound.
Other random tips that didn't fit
Color blindness is more common than you might think. What this means: never, ever use a color spectrum to represent a continuously varying property. Vischeck is a super website to use to ascertain whether your graphics will be incomprehensible to the color-blind.
Your slides will almost certainly not be able to serve as a stand-alone record of your presentation. If your slides could stand alone, then your presence wouldn't be necessary. Regrettably, many institutions use PowerPoints as documents of record. For that, either prepare a second version of your slides that has the text you intend to say as fine print, or include your talk notes as a backup slide after the end of your presentation.
DO put your name on your slides. If you want people to be interested in your work beyond the few minutes of your talk, especially if you are a relatively obscure person in your field (say, a student), consider putting your name in the corner of every slide. If nothing else, make sure to put your name and contact information on your conclusion slide.
A word on the number of your slides. It's a commonly cited rule of thumb that you should have about one slide per minute. That assumes that people (or you) will be reading your slides. This one-per-minute rule of thumb doesn't work as well if your slides aren't word-heavy. And it makes the PowerPoint presentation drive your talk organization, rather than the other way around. So, I don't find that rule of thumb particularly useful. Focus, first, on what you want to say. Have slides at appropriate places to emphasize what you are saying. If you can't say what you need to say in your allotted time, you need to say less. Eliminate slides or slide content that are no longer needed to support what you are no longer saying.
A word on animations. If your presentation contains an animation (and they can be awesome visuals), make sure you have tested that your animation works. If you do not have an opportunity to test using the exact system that is employed in the conference hall, have a backup plan that does not involve berating the A/V setup. I like animated GIFs in PowerPoint presentations because they always seem to work. If you know you will have control of the clicker, an even easier way to do a not-very-many-frame animation is just to put one frame per slide and advance them manually. That will work even if your PowerPoint is turned into a PDF.
A word on anxiety about forgetting your talk. I think a lot of people write their entire talk on their slides because they're afraid they'll stand up in front of all of those people and forget what they want to say. I have a lousy memory and have no hope of memorizing an entire speech. Here's a method I use instead. I try to memorize the first sentence I intend to say about each slide or sequence of slides. When I advance the slide, I glance at it, and that triggers the sentence I intended to say when I advanced that slide. If I have words on slides, they are usually just titles; those titles also serve as cues to help me get my intended first sentence out.
How to be more expressive when you speak? If you're not naturally expressive, speaking at conferences isn't going to be good enough training. Try getting some experience elsewhere -- whatever suits you. Take an acting or improv class. Go out and speak to children. The younger the children, the more expressive you'll have to be to retain their interest. Volunteer to read to kids at a library.
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How to Present a Science Project
Last Updated: August 17, 2023 Fact Checked
This article was co-authored by Meredith Juncker, PhD . Meredith Juncker is a PhD candidate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. Her studies are focused on proteins and neurodegenerative diseases. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 54,592 times.
After creating a science project , you’ll likely have to present your work to your class or at a science fair. Try to give yourself a few weeks to plan and put together your presentation. Outline your main points, make note cards, and practice ahead of time. Make a clear, neat display board or PowerPoint presentation. When it comes time to present, relax, speak clearly and loudly, and avoid reading your presentation word for word.
Putting Together Your Presentation
![how to write a science fair speech Step 1 Start planning your presentation early.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/63/Present-a-Science-Project-Step-1-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Present-a-Science-Project-Step-1-Version-2.jpg)
- Finish up your experiment, research, and other aspects of your project.
- Get the materials you’ll need for your display board.
- Start to imagine how you’ll organize your information.
![how to write a science fair speech Step 2 Make an outline.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/70/Present-a-Science-Project-Step-2-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Present-a-Science-Project-Step-2-Version-2.jpg)
- An introduction to your topic or the problem you’ve addressed.
- How the problem impacts the real world (such as how a better understanding of the issue can impact humans).
- Your hypothesis, or what you expected to learn about through your experiment.
- The research you did to learn more about your topic.
- The Materials that you used in your project.
- Each step of your experiment’s procedure.
- The results of your experiment.
- Your conclusion, including what you learned and whether your data supports your hypothesis.
![how to write a science fair speech Step 3 Consider writing out your presentation.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/2f/Present-a-Science-Project-Step-3-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Present-a-Science-Project-Step-3-Version-2.jpg)
- When writing your speech, try to keep it simple, and avoid using phrases that are more complicated than necessary. Try to tailor the presentation to your audience: will you be presenting to your class, judges, a higher grade than yours, or to an honors class?
- Writing out your presentation can also help you manage your time. For example, if you’re supposed to talk for less than five minutes, shoot for less than two pages.
![how to write a science fair speech Step 4 Create notecards.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/fc/Present-a-Science-Project-Step-4-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Present-a-Science-Project-Step-4-Version-2.jpg)
- For example, if you've made a volcano, make sure you know the exact mix of chemicals that will create the eruption.
![how to write a science fair speech Step 6 Practice making your presentation.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/f8/Present-a-Science-Project-Step-6.jpg/v4-460px-Present-a-Science-Project-Step-6.jpg)
Creating Your Display Board
![how to write a science fair speech Step 1 Purchase your display board.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/b6/Present-a-Science-Project-Step-8.jpg/v4-460px-Present-a-Science-Project-Step-8.jpg)
- When you purchase your board, you should also acquire other materials, like a glue stick, construction paper, a pencil, markers, and a ruler.
![how to write a science fair speech Step 2 Organize your board clearly.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/9c/Present-a-Science-Project-Step-9.jpg/v4-460px-Present-a-Science-Project-Step-9.jpg)
- Consider using the top left corner for your topic introduction, the section under that for your hypothesis, and the bottom left section to discuss your research.
- Use the top right corner to outline your experiment’s procedure. List your results underneath, and finally, put the section with your conclusion under the results.
![how to write a science fair speech Step 3 Use large, easy to read fonts in dark colors.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/9c/Present-a-Science-Project-Step-10.jpg/v4-460px-Present-a-Science-Project-Step-10.jpg)
- Be sure to use a dark font color that’s easy to see from a distance.
- You can also write everything out by hand. Draft your lettering in pencil before using a pen or marker, and use a ruler to make sure everything is straight.
![how to write a science fair speech Step 4 Mount headings, text, and graphs with construction paper.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/bc/Present-a-Science-Project-Step-11.jpg/v4-460px-Present-a-Science-Project-Step-11.jpg)
- Before gluing anything, make sure you plan out each section’s position and are sure everything will fit without looking cluttered. Use rulers to make sure everything is positioned evenly.
![how to write a science fair speech Step 5 Create a clear PowerPoint presentation if necessary.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/57/Present-a-Science-Project-Step-12.jpg/v4-460px-Present-a-Science-Project-Step-12.jpg)
- Consider including 1 slide for each section, like 1 for the title of your project, 1 for your hypothesis, and 1 that outlines each main point of your research. If a slide becomes too dense, break it down by concept.
- Limit the text to 1 line and include a visual aid, like an image or a graph, that demonstrates the concept or explains the data. [6] X Research source
Giving a Great Presentation
![how to write a science fair speech Step 1 Dress to impress.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/e4/Present-a-Science-Project-Step-13.jpg/v4-460px-Present-a-Science-Project-Step-13.jpg)
- Take the time to iron your clothes and tuck your shirt in to avoid looking sloppy.
![how to write a science fair speech Step 2 Relax...](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/6b/Present-a-Science-Project-Step-14.jpg/v4-460px-Present-a-Science-Project-Step-14.jpg)
- It’s a good idea to use the restroom before you have to present your project.
![how to write a science fair speech Step 3 Speak clearly and loudly.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/1d/Present-a-Science-Project-Step-15.jpg/v4-460px-Present-a-Science-Project-Step-15.jpg)
- It can be really hard to resist, but try to avoid saying “um” or “uh” during your presentation.
- Speaking when you have a dry mouth can be difficult, so it’s a good idea to keep a water bottle handy.
![how to write a science fair speech Step 4 Engage your audience.](https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/52/Present-a-Science-Project-Step-16.jpg/v4-460px-Present-a-Science-Project-Step-16.jpg)
- Remember it’s better to be honest if you don't know how to answer a question instead of making something up. Ask the person who asked the question to repeat or rephrase it, or say something like, "That's certainly an area I can explore in more detail in the future."
Community Q&A
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- ↑ https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/teacher-resources/science-fair-projects/#sciencefairpresentation
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KVTLT6QeTE
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHXidlH-dBw
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3hT6Ocf39w
- ↑ https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/science-fair/judging-tips-to-prepare-science-fair
About This Article
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Science Projects > Science Fair Projects > Science Fair Tips
Science Fair Tips
So, you’re entering a science fair. Now what? These six simple science fair tips will take you from picking your project to nailing your presentation. And who knows — you may even have some fun along the way!
Science Fair Tip #1
![how to write a science fair speech science fair tips](https://learning-center.homesciencetools.com/wp-content/uploads/science-fair-life-science-thumbnail-300x188.jpg)
Science Fair Tip #2
Don’t reinvent the wheel with your science fair topic . A good topic can have revolutionary ideas, but more importantly, judges will want to know what you learned (and if you used the scientific method ) . Hint: It’s OK to take an existing science project and use it as your own! Just modify the variables you test to make your project unique.
Topics that relate to current issues and concerns in society tend to score high points in science fairs. However, you still need to thoroughly think it through and research well to score high. Such topics usually relate to how we can improve or maintain our health, welfare, and/or way of life. We suggest avoiding politically charged topics, if necessary. It is hard to stay neutral, and it is usually hard, if not impossible, to scientifically test your theory.
Science Fair Tip #3
Do your own work . Judges will evaluate what you know about your project and what you learned during the process of your project — from start to finish. If your parent, brother or sister, friend, or classmate does all your work, you won’t learn anything. Where’s the fun in that?
Science Fair Tip #4
Make sure your project is a science project . To be considered a science fair project , your project must use the scientific method and answer a question . So, you must collect and analyze data in order to conclude whether or not your hypothesis was correct. Demonstrating how something works is not a science project. For example, demonstrating a collection of magic eye tricks does not constitute a science project because no data was collected.
However, if you compare how long it takes specific groups of people (such as children and adults, boys and girls) to see the magic eye tricks, then you have a science project. Why? Because you are collecting data and you can use that data to draw conclusions. (Although elementary science fairs have permitted observation/demonstration projects in the past, more and more science fairs also want elementary students to use the scientific method and collect data. Therefore, it’s best to cover your bases and avoid doing a simple observation/demonstration project.)
Science Fair Tip #5
Keep your project simple . Try to test only one variable or one hypothesis in your project. The more experiments in the project, the harder it is to keep track of all the factors that influence your science project. After all, there is always next year to expand on this year’s project. Consult our Science Fair Guide for more information on c om pleting a science fair project.
![how to write a science fair speech science fair tips](https://learning-center.homesciencetools.com/wp-content/uploads/purchase-orders-from-home-science-tools-thumbnail-300x188.jpg)
Science Fair Tip #6
Relax during the interview when presenting your project . The judges aren’t there to torment you or pick apart your project. Instead, they want to see that you did your own work (based on how well you understand your project), that your project addresses all parts of the scientific method, that you did the steps correctly, and that you identified any factors that may have caused inaccurate results. Many judges want to know how you can improve your science project, or what you would change to correct inaccuracies. The best advice we can offer you for the interview is this: know your project inside and out.
Armed with these science fair tips, the scientific method, and our science fair guide , you might be bummed that science fair only comes once a year!
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SCIENCE COMMUNICATiON: HOW TO CRAFT AN ELEVATOR PITCH
Explaining your work.
One of the most terrifying questions scientists can get is “What do you do?” Even non-scientists are known to freeze up when asked this question. This phenomenon illustrates that, while we all should be able to explain what we do briefly and simply—without fear—it can often be challenging.
This type of response is known as the “elevator pitch,” for explaining what you do in the time it takes to ride an elevator. In addition to speaking to someone in an actual elevator, an elevator pitch is useful when anyone, other scientists included, asks “What do you do?” Being able to explain your science in a quick, efficient way helps non-scientists access your science to improve public perceptions of science and scientists and ensures that science that enters the public eye is accurate and not misinterpreted. We offer tips to help you ace any opportunity to explain your work.
![People speaking outside during a Chapman Santa Fe conference image](https://www.agu.org/-/media/Feature/Common/Agu/Images/Horizontal/AGU-Sharing-Science-Speaking-Outside.jpg?h=675&iar=0&w=675&hash=6F5085A07D4321E167F36FC176018AF0)
Tips for crafting your pitch
- 1 Reel ‘em in with a one-liner. If you had one sentence to explain your research, what would you say?
- 2 Don’t use jargon . Words commonly used in your scientific discipline might get in the way of your audience clearly understanding your science. Learn how to speak with simplicity and precision.
- 3 Draw them in. Explain what the major question or problem you are studying is and share what you’ve found or what’s next. Be sure to let them know why it matters and showcase the value of science.
- 4 Keep it short; under two-minutes. Craft an introduction and use your one-liner to start things off. Don’t try to cram an entire thesis into two minutes. Distill your message and your science down to a highlight reel.
- 5 The main point of an elevator pitch is that it can be universal. Think about whether it could be understood by a wide audience.
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How to Write a Convincing Science Fair Research Proposal
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For students interested in the STEM fields, there are many extracurriculars to choose from. You might join the Math or Science Olympiad team, you could join the Computer Science Club, or you could even volunteer as a naturalist at a local conservation area.
If you are interested in scientific research, you might pursue the opportunity to secure a research assistant position or shadow various scientific researchers. But if you truly want to take the helm and guide your own research, your path may lead you to participating in the science fair.
The science fair is a traditional component of many high school science programs, with participation ranging widely from school to school and science fair to science fair. At some schools, the science fair might be a rite of passage expected of every student. At others, it attracts a handful of dedicated science die-hards.
Regardless, most science fairs feature presentations by students who have completed experiments, demonstrated scientific principles, or undertaken an engineering challenge. Participants are judged by a panel of experts who score each presentation according to a rubric. Traditionally, awards are presented for the top-scoring projects.
There are many science fairs beyond school-sponsored fairs, too. Regional, state, national, and even international fairs are open to students who qualify through their schools and work their way up through the science fair circuit. Others, like the Regeneron Science Talent Search, are open through an intensive application process.
If you are considering entering a project in the science fair, you will need to think carefully about your subject matter, your experimental design, and the relevance of your work before committing to a project. Many science fairs will even require that you complete a formal research proposal to demonstrate the level of thinking you’ve put into your experiment before beginning it.
In this post, we will outline the purpose of a research proposal for the science fair, the common elements of such a proposal, and how you can go about writing a comprehensive research proposal that is sure to impress.
What is the Purpose of a Research Proposal?
A research proposal has three primary purposes. The first purpose is to explain what you intend to do. This is essentially what you will do in your experiment or project, summarized into a basic overview.
The second function of a research proposal is to explain how you intend to accomplish this. You will give a brief summary of the methods and techniques that you intend to employ, and list the materials that you will need to do so.
The final point of a research proposal is to explain why this project should be done. Here, you will discuss the important or relevance of this study. Basically, in this portion of your proposal you’ll answer the question, “so what?”
Now that you know the aim of a research proposal, you can begin to prepare to write one. -->
Step-By-Step Guide to Creating a Research Proposal
1. narrow down the subject area..
Before you go into your project in any sort of depth, you’ll need a fairly good idea of what your project’s focus will be. In order to narrow this down, you should consider a few different angles.
First, ask yourself what you’re interested in. You will be more likely to feel engaged and passionate about a project that is genuinely interesting to you, so take some time to carefully consider the areas of science that you find the most fascinating. Even if they don’t seem particularly well-suited to a science fair project at first, you never know what you might be able to come up with through some collaboration with mentors or through some background research. Keep a running list of areas of science that sincerely fascinate you.
Next, consider any specialized labs or equipment to which you might have access. Does your best friend’s mother work in a lab with highly specialized tools? Does your school have a state-of-the-art wind tunnel or fully equipped greenhouse? These are all possible resources you can utilize if you want your project to truly stand out. Of course, it’s completely possible to choose a project that shines on its own without any specialized equipment, but if you’re looking for every boost you might get, having access to specialized technology can be a great advantage to make your project truly unique.
Finally, consider if you know a teacher or other professional who might be willing to mentor you. You can also seek out a mentor specifically if you can’t think of anyone obvious. Having a mentor in your field will provide you with invaluable insight into practice and past research in the field.
In the ideal world, you would find a project that maximizes all of your resources, including your interests, access to equipment, and an enthusiastic mentor. Don’t worry if you can’t secure all three, though. Plenty of science fair participants go on to do quite well relying on only their own dogged determination and commitment to their subject matter.
2 . Decide How Your Experiment Will Be Done
If you have a mentor, teacher, or adviser willing to consult with you, schedule a time to sit down with them and discuss what you’d like to do. If you can’t find someone more experienced than you, even discussing your ideas with a trusted classmate, parent, or older sibling is a good idea. Sometimes the outside perspective will help to fine-tune your design or identify areas for improvement.
You should also begin some research at this stage to learn how similar projects have been conducted in the past. Use the results and limitations from these experiments to help guide your own experimental design.
As you do so, keep in mind any limiting factors. Remember to consider what equipment you have at your disposal, the time commitment you’re able to make, and the materials that you’ll need to acquire.
In addition, be sure to check the rules of the specific science fairs you’ll be attending. Some have strict regulations designed to keep you safe, like limiting the ways in which potentially hazardous chemicals can be used. Other rules are designed to keep the environment safe, like placing restrictions on how you dispose of foreign substances or non-native species. There are also ethical rules that govern the use of human participants or vertebrate animals in your studies. Make sure to check which rules govern the fair in which you’re participating and how they might impact your ideas before you put any more thought into your project.
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3. Background Research
Your background research should be fairly comprehensive at this point and will be the single largest component of your research proposal. You should focus on your research on relevant past studies that inform your work either by identifying areas for future research or by identifying limiting factors in their own research. You should also research past experiments that support or attempt to disprove your working theory.
Finally, your research should clearly show why the project is relevant. What is important about it? What does it add to the field? Why should we care? Make sure that you can communicate the scientific value of the project you’re proposing.
4. Write Your Proposal
Once you’ve chosen a project, decided how you’ll undertake it, and done the relevant background research, you are finally able to begin drafting your research proposal. Check with your school or science fair to see if there is a specific format or form that you’re required to adhere to. If not, and you are producing a general research proposal, follow this format:
This should be a one-paragraph description of the project, your hypothesis, and the goals of your experiment. Here, you provide a brief overview of your project for anyone who is skimming your work.
Introduction/Literature Review:
This is the bulk of your proposal. In your literature review, you present what is currently known about your project’s focus and summarize relevant research that has been done in the field. You will discuss previous discoveries in your field, including how they were made and what they lend to your current work.
You will also show what is interesting and ground-breaking about your research idea. In this section you will need to summarize why your project is relevant, what makes it important, and how the field or current base of knowledge could change or be improved due to your project’s results.
As you write your literature review, you’ll need to be sure that you’re using high-quality, accurate sources. It’s best to rely on scholarly journal articles or reference books. Be wary of using the Internet, as many sources are unverified. If you are using online resources, be sure to verify their source. Published, peer-reviewed scholarly articles are best.
It’s also important to include proper citations for every source cited. You’ll need to list all your sources in the appropriate format in your bibliography along with citing them in the text of your proposal when you quote directly or reference specific data. If you aren’t sure how to cite properly, check out the Scientific Style and Format page.
Hypothesis:
This is the working theory that you are testing and what you expect the results will be, based off what you have learned through your background research.
Materials and Methods:
In this section you’ll provide a precise, in depth description of how you plan to test your hypothesis and what tools or materials you’ll need to do so. Summarize your experimental design, specifically referring to how you will control and replicate the experiment. Also list the equipment and materials that you will need for undertaking your experiment.
Conclusion:
Here, you will reiterate how your proposed research will advance knowledge in the scientific field and outline any potential longterm impact that your work could have on theory or practice within the field.
Bibliography:
List all sources used in appropriate format. Refer to the Scientific Style and Format page if you aren’t sure how to do so.
What Happens After I Submit a Research Proposal?
After you submit the research proposal, it will be reviewed by your teacher or a science fair administrator or adviser. It will be approved, rejected, or returned for revisions based on its feasibility, value to the scientific field, and adherence to the science fair rules and regulations.
While larger, more selective science fairs will have to select only a limited number of candidates based on the merits of their research proposals, it is fairly uncommon for a science fair research proposal to get completely denied at the school level. Usually, in these cases, your proposal will be returned to you with requests for edits or further clarification. You have most likely consulted with your teacher or adviser throughout the process of developing your proposal, so nothing should come as a complete surprise when you receive feedback.
If your proposal is rejected and you don’t receive constructive feedback, don’t be shy about respectfully requesting some feedback to help you shape a better, more effective proposal in the future.
If your proposal is returned for revisions, you should feel encouraged. While you still have some work to do, this is generally a sign that with a few tweaks, your proposal will be accepted. Meet with a teacher, mentor, or adviser to review the revisions requested and address each thoroughly before returning the proposal for another round of review.
If your proposal is accepted, congratulations! It’s time to get to work. While your proposal itself was probably a time-consuming endeavor, your research will ultimately be easier for having taken the time and care to craft a precise proposal. Your research will be more focused and likely a smoother process due to all your careful planning, and you will be able to use large chunks of your written work in your final scientific report.
Don’t be intimidated if you’re getting ready to write a science fair research proposal. It can be a long process to fine-tune your project and focus your proposed research, but the work that you put in now ultimately makes your job easier in the long run.
Looking for help navigating the road to college as a high school student? Download our free guide for 9th graders and our free guide for 10th graders . Our guides go in-depth about subjects ranging from academics , choosing courses , standardized tests , extracurricular activities , and much more !
For more information about the science fair and opportunities for students interested in the STEM fields, see these valuable CollegeVine posts:
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- Ultimate Guide to the AP Research Course and Assessment
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- How to Get a Research Assistant Position in High School
- An Introduction to the AP Capstone Diploma
- How to Choose a Winning Science Fair Project Idea
- How to Plan and Implement an Independent Study in High School
- A Beginner’s Guide to the Science Fair
- Guide to National Youth Science Camp
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Science Fair Discussion StartersWhere to start. The key to a successful project is for the student to choose a topic that is meaningful to him or her. It shouldn’t be a flat, academic exploration—it should connect to the student’s own life interests. Perhaps the topic might be related to cooking, sports, or even advertising. For instance, have you ever see a commercial and wonder if the claims are really true? Does one brand of diapers really hold more liquid than another? Do all brands of bubble gum make the same size bubbles? How permanent are permanent ink markers? Does the absence of a basketball net affect free throw accuracy? In a nutshell: thinking like a scientist means being curious about something. We’ve created a one-stop resource for teachers and parents whose kids have asked the age-old question: What should I do for my science fair project? We’ve opted to share some uncommon ideas in the hopes that they’ll spark even greater curiosity in your students. Spend some time reviewing the links on this page. You’re sure to find some amazing new ideas. If you’d like to share other science fair links, please let us know in the Comments section below! AgricultureAgriculture doesn’t have its own category in science fairs, but it is a part of many of the official categories. Here, we’ve put together a few basic ideas for agricultural science fair projects from the USDA . Your students can use these ideas as a starting point for coming up with their own projects.
Are you looking for a chemistry or interdisciplinary science fair project idea? Here’s an enormous list of chemistry science fair project ideas . Acids, Bases & pH – These are chemistry projects relating to acidity and alkalinity, mostly aimed at the middle school and high school levels. Caffeine – Is coffee or tea your thing? These projects relate mostly to experiments with caffeinated beverages, including energy drinks. Crystals – Crystals can be considered geology, physical science, or chemistry. Topics range in level from grade school to college. General Chemistry – This is a broad collection of different types of science fair projects relating to chemistry. Green Chemistry – Green chemistry seeks to minimize the environmental impact of chemistry. It’s a good topic for middle and high school students. Plant & Soil Chemistry – Plant and soil science projects often require a bit more time than other projects, but all students have access to the materials. Science Projects in Energy – Energy science activity ideas. Renewable Energy Science Projects – Science ideas in renewable energy and energy conservation. Fire, Candles & Combustion – Explore combustion science. Because fire is involved, these projects are best for middle school and higher grade levels. Environmental ScienceEarthquakes – Science Fair Project Ideas – Science Fair Projects from the US Geological Survey on earthquake predicting, impacts, seismology, and more. Environmental Science Projects – Science fair projects about reducing, reusing, and recycling waste materials. Pollution – Explore sources of pollution and different ways to prevent or control it.
Food ScienceBelieve it or not, food—and cooking—involves a great deal of science! Plus, it’s a topic that many students can appreciate even if they’re not interested in the usual scientific fields. If cooking isn’t their idea of fun, there’s also the related area of Household Project Testing . Researching products and understanding how people select them is an interesting science fair topic for students who might not ordinarily enjoy science. Use these questions to help trigger more food-related science fair ideas.
Materials ScienceMaterials science involves physical science and engineering. Science fair projects can invent new materials, improve existing materials, test the properties of materials, or compare the suitability of different materials for a specific purpose. Here’s a look at some science fair project ideas in this field of research.
Sports ScienceSports science projects may be attractive to students who don’t see how science is practical in everyday life. These projects may be of particular interest to athletes. General TipsIf anyone is an expert on science fairs, it’s Dr. Maille Lyons, also known as the “Science Fair Coach.” Her website is friendly, informative, and brimming with helpful tips on some of the finer points of science fair presentations. You can also check out her blog, “ All about Science Fair Judging .” Science Fair Project Guide – Process of planning, developing, implementing and competing in science fair activities. Science Fair Project Guide Book – This 36-page PDF for teachers, students and parents shows you how to get started and plan a great science fair project. This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 24th, 2018 at 12:58 am and is filed under College level , Elementary level , High School level , Middle School level , science fair . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response , or trackback from your own site. Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed . Sign Up for Our Newsletter!As a subscriber, you’ll receive FREE lesson ideas and exclusive sale offers – plus $5 off your next order of $50 or more! Sign up now .
Theme: Contempt by Vault9 . Get a free blog at WordPress.com ![]() Wonders of Science speech {3 Examples}Do you want to deliver a Speech on the Wonder of science that will make everyone speechless? Don’t worry! Here below are some excellent speeches on the same topic. Grab the one best for you. 1 Minute Speech ExampleHello, all of you, Before I start my speech I would like to wish you great greetings from the bottom of my heart. And I would like to thank you all for having me a chance to deliver this speech! The scientist is not a person who gives the right answers, he is one who asks the right questions. -Claude Levi-Strauss This is a quote about science I personally like the most. “Science” – The tinier the word, the more wonderful its influence across the globe. Look all around yourself. What do you see? I am pretty sure everyone can quickly observe the pure presence of science in some form. By using the information and observations, a lot of inventions took place that assists us in various ways. These inventions were hard to be accomplished earlier but science made them possible. This is why each scientific invention is a wonder of science. Moreover, Science is something that can not get to an end. It is an endless process towards advancements and expertise. I have much more to say but time is limited and respect time. Thank you all for listening to my views on the wonders of science. [Also Read]: Excellent Essay on The Wonders of Science ![]() 2 Minute Speech ExampleWhat is science? The short answer is -Science is nothing but a systematic way of exploring new possibilities. It is a process of questioning complexities. Science has invented many things that seemed to be impossible earlier. So, each scientific invention is fundamentally a wonder of science . Today we all are surrounded by scientific inventions that are helping humanity in many ways. Moreover, Science is an endless process towards progress and expertise. We feel very relaxed while using fans, televisions, air conditioners, smartphones, computers and countless wonders of science. These wonders of science have made every experience better than ever. We can not think of a life without the presence of these. In fact, Earlier, human life was very discomforted and hard. Science and technology have become a part of our daily life. Science is a proven blessing for humanity. The wonders of science have helped humans in each sector of society be it agriculture, medicine, inventions, transportation, renewable energy, and much more. 4 Minute Speech ExampleBefore I get started, I would like to thank you all for having me deliver this speech. And also wish you all greetings and wishes. My topic of the speech is The wonders of science . Here is what my views are about science. Everyone may definitely have some knowledge of history. Just look into the history of human life and compare that with the present scenario. The difference can clearly be understood. From the invention of the first wheel to the invention of the internet, everything has brought unusual value to humanity. Every wonder of science has provided us with immeasurable comfort. There is no doubt that electricity is the biggest invention of science. It serves us in hundreds of ways in houses, factories, mills and more. Earlier it was said that the world is very big. But today our reach to the world on our fingertips because of science. Science is actually based on facts, not on myths. And facts are some statements that tend to give the same results for the same efforts done previously. For instance, rubbing two rocks will always generate sparks. So, The invention of fires comes under the wonders of science. After that human evolution grabs speed. Over time new techniques developed and made human life easier and easier. From growing efficient crops to transporting them, from finding causes of a disease to treating it, everything got simplified by the inventions in the related field. Today, we will get paralysed without the company of science. To sum it up, Science is beneficial and destructive at the same time for humanity. Hence, it must be correctly used for the bigger benefit of mankind. We need to ensure the clever use of these scientific devices in order to save the earth from the harmful side of science. Science is a wonderful gift to humanity, we should not distort it. Thank you all for listening to me. I hope you all enjoyed this speech. Latest topics
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'Did Stalin write this?' Internet torches Trump's call to 'purge' GOP of dissenting voices![]() David McAfeeSenior editor, david joined raw story in 2023 after nearly a decade of writing about the legal industry for bloomberg law. he is also a co-founder and a commissioning editor at hypatia press, a publisher that specializes in philosophical works that challenge religion or spirituality.. ![]() Donald Trump on Saturday called for the Republican party to "purge" individuals who oppose him, leading to widespread condemnation online. The former president over the weekend took to his own social media network, Truth Social, to slam Georgia Republicans who have opposed him since his alleged efforts to undermine the state's results in the 2020 election, which Trump lost to President Joe Biden. "Congratulations to Georgia GOP Chair, Josh McKoon, for going after the failed former Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, who realized he could never win again, and quit his run for Office - His name is Geoff Duncan," Trump wrote. "He is a total lightweight, and went to work at a low salary for Fake News CNN. His sole function is to knock Donald J. Trump, but people don’t want to hear him, or that, and it’s one of the many reasons that CNN’s Ratings are so low (although, Jake Tapper and Dana Bash were very fair to me on the Crooked Joe Biden Debate)." ALSO READ: We asked 10 Republican senators: ‘Is Kamala Harris Black?’ Things got weird fast . He continued, suggesting that "Georgia should throw this 'bum' out of the Party." "He is unelectable and not respected by anyone, other than your lightweight Governor, Brian Kemp who, if it wasn’t for me, would have never been Governor," Trump then added. "We have to purge the Party of people that go against our Candidates, and make it harder for a popular Republican President to beat the Radical Left Lunatics. Geoff Duncan is a loser who is disintegrating on his own. Congratulations to Josh McKoon for purging our Party of Misfits and people that don’t want to see us succeed!" In a follow-up post, Trump targeted Brad Raffensperger, Georgia Secretary of State, who infamously received a call in which Trump asked him to "find" 11,000 votes. "Brad Raffensperger has to do his job, and make sure this Election is not stolen. Brian Kemp should focus his efforts on fighting Crime, not fighting Unity and the Republican Party! His Crime Rate in Georgia is terrible, his Crime Rate in Atlanta is the worst, and his Economy is average," Trump wrote. "He should be seeking UNITY, not Retribution, especially against the man that got him the Nomination through Endorsement and, without whom, he could never have beaten Stacey Abrams. He and his wife didn’t think he could win. I said, 'I’m telling you you’re going to win.' Then he won, he was happy, and his wife said, 'Thank you Sir, we’ll never be able to make it up to you!' Now she says she won’t Endorse me, and is going to 'write in Brian Kemp’s name.' Well, I don’t want her Endorsement, and I don’t want his. They’re the ones who got Fani Willis and her boyfriend all 'jazzed up' and ready to go. He could have ended that travesty with a phone call, but he doesn’t want to end it because he’s a bad guy." He continued: "Think of it, I got this guy elected and he did not want to do what the State Senate wanted on Election Integrity. He works with Raffensperger, he works with Geoff Duncan—It’s all a team. I truly believe they would rather see the Republican Party lose than win!" In response to Trump's comment about purging certain GOP officials, independent journalist Aaron Rupar asked, " Did Stalin write this?" Writer Eric Kleefeld said, "Liquidating the Never Trumpers as a class." Conservative Army Iraq War Veteran Peter Henlein said, "Don’t get mad at me or anyone else on the right when we call out Trump’s bulls--- because it’s August 3rd. We are 3 months from Election Day……and Trump is attacking two term Georgia Governor and ultra solid conservative Brian Kemp. Wake up. Trump hates conservatives. He wants them out the GOP." Stories Chosen For YouShould trump be allowed to run for office, 'embarrassing and gross': trump approves of 'racial attacks' on kamala harris at his rally. Donald Trump on Saturday celebrated the speech of a woman who made "racial attacks" against Vice President Kamala Harris at the former president's weekend rally. Days after Trump himself questioned Harris' racial identity at an event for Black journalists, Michaelah Montgomery, a conservative activist, took the stage at Trump's rally to further that attack line. "The same Black people who are mad at Trump for being confused about her race, ethnicity, nationality, whatever, are seemingly forgetting that, while you're touting her as a savior for Black people, she identifies as an Asian woman," Montgomery said. "She chose her side and it wasn't ours." After the speech, Trump took to his own social media network, Truth Social, to voice his approval. "Great job by Michaelah Montgomery. What a speech!" Trump wrote. "A special person with a fantastic future!" Others on X, however, were not fans of the attack. Independent journalist Aaron Rupar flagged the race-based comments, saying, "Trump supporters at his rally in Georgia are making racial attacks on Kamala Harris." Radio host Zerlina Maxwell called Montgomery's comments "embarrassing and gross." Conservative attorney and anti-Trump activist George Conway said, "This would be more upsetting were it not so self-defeating." National security attorney Bradley P. Moss said in response to the speech, "They're really doing this. Great campaign plan, folks." Watch the video below or click here. 'Why not do it?' Conservative cornered on CNN over 'terrified' Trump changing debate termsA Republican was put on the defense on Saturday as a Democratic insider put him on the spot over Donald Trump's decision to back out of a previously agreed upon debate on ABC, in favor of a Fox News appearance. Appearing on CNN, Democratic strategist Maria Cardona cornered Republican strategist Alex Vogel over Trump's decision to make a new plan for a debate on Fox News. The former president has argued that, because President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race, a renegotiation of the terms is warranted. When asked about Trump's motives for the attempt to change venue and other terms, Cardona described Trump as "terrified." "I think it shows that he wants to do it on Fox. He wants to do it with an audience because those two things are like security blankets for him and that's what he needs right now, this race has completely discombobulated him and the people around him," she said. "They have no idea how to approach running against somebody who is so accomplished, who is whip smart, who has a background as a prosecutor and Donald Trump is a 34 times convicted felon." The host noted that ABC and Fox News are very different networks, and asked Vogel why Trump would fight for such a change. "The audience is something that he thrives on or believes he could thrive on. So what's your response to that?" the host asked. "A couple of things. Number one, it's important to remember. We had a Biden campaign and a Trump campaign. And for the first time in American history, we had a presidential campaign go blue screen of death, literally completely brick and meltdown," Vogel replied. "And the party on a dime has said, we're going to anoint somebody new. It is absolutely critical..." The host interrupted to refocus on the original question, saying, "It's a different network that is very much more Trump-friendly." "It's different campaign. It's a completely different dynamic than therefore, let's have a conversation about how to debate," Vogel said. "People deserve frankly, to be introduced to her. I know how those previous debates have been. I remember watching Tulsi Gabbard do her her magic in the debate the last time that Vice President Harris ran, and I also know how the last debate went for President Trump and Joe Biden. I do not believe in any way this is a lack of interest in being on a debate stage with her. But why should..." Cardona interrupted him, saying, "Then why not just keep it? That's what they agreed to. Is he afraid of doing it on ABC? Then why not do it?" Watch below or click the link here. 'We should be so far beyond that': GOP senators back on defense as Trump attacks backfireDonald Trump's decision to make personal attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris in front of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) in Chicago last week has Republican senators who had lined up behind his bid for a return to the Oval Office scrambling to come up with words to defend it or fleeing reporters looking for comment . According to a report from the Washington Post, Republican lawmakers were enjoying smooth sailing backing the former president as the focus of the election was on whether President Joe Biden was up to running for re-election. That all changed when Biden stepped aside and Harris stepped into the spotlight as the apparent Democratic presidential nominee. ALSO READ: We asked 10 Republican senators: ‘Is Kamala Harris Black?’ Things got weird fast . The report notes that things took a turn for the worse for GOP senators who had grown weary of defending Trump over the years and were enjoying the respite. After the former president made his highly-criticized comments about Harris' ethnic background, insisting that he had "turned Black" while also holding forth on "Black jobs" in front of the NABJ, GOP lawmakers are now back to trying to deflect questions about Trump's words. According to the report, "...as Trump marched through the GOP primaries without any serious competition, and as voters soured on Biden amid questions about his capacity to serve, Senate Republicans embraced what they considered to be a certain victor, especially since he led them to believe that he was a different candidate," adding, "By 3 p.m. Wednesday, all those hopes for a unity-and-policy-centric campaign came undone." The report notes that Sen. John Thune (R-SD), a senior GOP leader, had to be asked to stop and talk to reporters about Trump's latest behavior, where he offered up, "Um, the campaign is — needs to be — mostly about the issues. There’s plenty to talk about, and I just think that’s where the focus needs to be." According to the Post's Paul Kane, "In the flip of a switch, Republicans were back on defense, reassuming the same roles they had been playing in years past." While the Post is reporting the former president has a few defenders unconcerned about his latest attacks, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) used the opportunity to rage at how the Trump campaign is going so far. “Think about it," she told reporters on Wednesday. "What have we been talking about all week long? Childless cat women, DEI candidates. Now, is she Black? Is she Indian?” On Thursday she doubled down and bluntly stated, "A campaign built on insults of an individual — we should be so far beyond that. It should not be about which nasty name you can call somebody. It should be about the issues.” You can read more here . ![]() Criminologist explains why remaining Trump cases may never go to trialA breathtaking scam: inside georgia's newest voter suppression tactic, how harris is outmanning trump. Copyright © 2024 Raw Story Media, Inc. PO Box 21050, Washington, D.C. 20009 | Masthead | Privacy Policy | Manage Preferences | Debug Logs For corrections contact [email protected] , for support contact [email protected] . J. D. Vance’s Insult to AmericaMy dad came here for a reason, and it wasn’t the dirt of a graveyard. ![]() Produced by ElevenLabs and News Over Audio (NOA) using AI narration. On November 10, 1948, Vladimir Gavora jumped into the frigid waters of the Danube River. That year, a pro-Soviet government had seized power in his native Czechoslovakia. Vladimir was 17 years old, and had been caught tearing down the new government’s propaganda posters. With the secret police on his tail, he decided to escape by swimming to Austria. He finished high school in a refugee camp in West Germany, won a scholarship to come to America, studied at the University of Chicago, and made his way to the then-territory of Alaska. There, he built a successful business and raised a family of nine children—one of them, me. When he died in 2018, he was hailed as the man who did more than any other to shape the development and growth of his corner of the Last Frontier. I thought of Dad last week, when the Republican vice-presidential nominee, J. D. Vance, said something that profoundly misjudged and disrespected his memory. “America is not just an idea,” Vance said in his introductory speech to the American people at the Republican National Convention. Americans won’t fight and sacrifice for “abstractions.” Shared history, he assured us, is what we care about. And shared dirt. He used the morbid image of a cemetery plot in Kentucky coal country, where generations of his family have been laid to rest. He expressed his desire for his children to one day bury him there and—carrying his morbidity to the extreme—for them to eventually follow him. The notion that America is an idea has always lifted up our country, and for good reason. The fact that America was founded on the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the governing limits of the Constitution makes us unique among nations. Most countries trace their origins to tribal identity. But America has its origins in the revolutionary idea that the government cannot deny men and women an equal opportunity to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Both our friends and foes have recognized this difference. No less than Joseph Stalin railed against American “exceptionalism” when our workers refused to join in solidarity with his murderous revolution of the proletariat. Read: Hillbilly excuses Vance went out of his way to trash this exceptionalism, to say that America is not distinguished by its creed, no matter what Stalin thought. In the same speech, he acknowledged the contribution of immigrants like his wife’s parents, who came here from India. But in repudiating the American ideal, he insulted the reason immigrants come to America in the first place. Did Dad have the preamble to the Declaration of Independence in mind as he swam across the Danube to freedom? Probably not. Was it the abstraction that “all men are created equal” that kept him company as he huddled in the trunk of a car through the Soviet zone of Austria? Dad never talked with me about what exactly was in his head during that fateful crossing. But I assume it wasn’t the ringing words of Thomas Jefferson. So, okay, Dad may not have been driven by the idea of America. But he was driven by what that idea—the American creed of equal opportunity— created in the American nation. He was driven to find a place where he knew he could control his destiny. Some, generally on the left, have accused Vance of advocating Christian nationalism or white supremacy by denigrating America’s founding ideals. In fact, he is doing something even more damaging to the American experiment. The words all men are created equal have always served as (at least) a moral voice and (at most) a legal bulwark for poor, powerless Americans. The words have not always been honored, and we have taken far too long to fulfill their true meaning. But they have been there, through slavery, through Jim Crow, through anti-Jewish and anti-Catholic bigotry. They have changed this country for the better. What these words confer to all Americans is agency . This is one of the most underrated words in American politics. Better even than freedom , agency captures both the opportunity and the responsibility that is promised by the American idea. Our founding documents are a guarantee not of success, but of the opportunity for success. Vance used to understand this. His masterful autobiography, Hillbilly Elegy , electrified a nation on the verge of electing Donald Trump precisely because it acknowledged the agency of the people in the poor, drug-addicted community and family into which he’d been born. Vance took a hard look at where he came from and saw a self-destructive culture that had turned its back on its agency. He understood that economic forces were working against his community, but he bravely took that community to task for its self-imposed victimhood. Vance described how, one after another, his relatives, friends, co-workers, and neighbors refused to take responsibility for their situation. Young men walked away from good jobs. Single mothers used their food stamps to buy soda that they sold for cash. Everyone’s life was tough, but it was always somebody else’s fault. That bracing message took a 180-degree turn last week. And it’s no coincidence that Vance used the same speech in which he denigrated the idea of America to deny the agency he once subscribed to his fellow hillbillies. Suddenly, he was describing people who work with their hands in midwestern swing states as helpless victims with no responsibility for their plight. “America’s ruling class wrote the checks,” he said. “Communities like mine paid the price.” Does Vance really believe what he is saying? It’s hard to reconcile these words with the courage of the young author. But he wouldn’t be the only one to have given up on the American ideal. What my father saw in America is something that too many Americans no longer see for themselves. We do not teach our children the gifts and responsibilities of their birthright. Our elite universities see the founding ideals of America as either racist lies or plain old lies. One result is that too many young Americans feel entitled to be saved by the government, rather than working to save themselves. Read: I hope Trump kept the receipt In Czechoslovakia, the government confiscated our family’s liquor business and sent my grandmother to a work camp for burying her share of the inventory in her backyard. That is the lack of agency my father escaped. He came to Alaska with a degree in economics from Milton Friedman at the University of Chicago. When the job he was promised at the University of Alaska fell through for lack of funding, he didn’t sue the university for breach of contract. He took the first job he found in the want ads: delivering milk. He was the most overqualified milkman in Alaska, if not America. He ended up owning all of the stores he once delivered milk to. Dad was born and grew up in a small town in Czechoslovakia. Like Vance, he lived near a cemetery. It is full of Gavoras going back generations. But Dad is buried 4,700 miles away on a hillside overlooking Fairbanks, Alaska. He had no past there. No native culture. No native language. But he left his homeland behind for a successful, chosen life—a life made possible by the idea that is America. About the AuthorElection 2024: Political candidates to appear at Iowa State FairTwo presidential candidates to appear. ![]() DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Television Iowa Capitol Bureau) - Gates open at the Iowa State Fair next Thursday. While it’s best know for it’s food and fun rides, it’s also known for the politics. The politics at the fair this year isn’t going to be anything like last year’s before the caucuses. Independent Candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Libertarian Chase Oliver are set to give speeches on the long-running Des Moines Register Political Soapbox. Drake University Political Science Professor Rachel Paine Caufield says she expects them to use the fair to try and drum up some support. “Show that you’re on the ground among people answering questions, being authentic, being comfortable in that sort of setting around real voters. Getting a little bit of publicity,” Caufield said. She adds she can’t imagine either Oliver or Kennedy shave off any meaningful support from Former President Donald Trump in Iowa come November. Also set to give soapbox speeches are three Libertarian candidates running for Congress and the four Democrats. “Democrats have really struggled to extend the reach of their party and their issues beyond the populated areas in Iowa and so this gives them a chance to talk to a much broader swath of Iowa voters,” Caufield said. Democrat Ryan Melton, who’s running in Northwest Iowa’s 4th congressional district, is one who’s planning to speak. “To me, it feels like a fundamental obligation that if you’re going to run for an office in which you’d represent the people, you should expose yourself to public scrutiny as much as you possibly can,” Melton said. Melton says the fair is a great way to know what’s on voter’s minds. “You need to get uncomfortable and talk to all kinds of people about everyone’s background and stressors so that you can be as well-rounded and knowledgeable as a congressional candidate as possible,” Melton said. This is the first time since 2018 that libertarians will be on the ballot statewide. Caufield says going to the fair is a great way for them to let people know they’re back on the ballot. Libertarian congressional candidate Charles Aldrich says he’s given a speech before and plans to do so again this year. He says the crowd was small, but some enthusiastic people were there. “Most of them were just sitting there resting so it’s like there wasn’t much in the way of questions but at least they were somewhat attentive,” Aldrich said. Only one Republican, Congressman Zach Nunn, is set to speak. Caufield says Iowa Republicans are confident about their chances in November. She adds the other three members of Congress are still serving and unlikely to step away from that. You can find the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox schedule by clicking here . Conner Hendricks covers state government and politics for Gray Television-owned stations in Iowa. Email him at [email protected] ; and follow him on Facebook at Conner Hendricks TV or on X/Twitter @ConnerReports . Copyright 2024 KCRG. All rights reserved. ![]() Another crab found in another Downtown Sioux City building![]() Husband and wife get laid off from John Deere on the same day![]() Bus carrying the Sioux City Explorers catches on fire on the way to Illinois![]() Body recovered from Floyd River in Sioux City identified![]() Sheriff provides details surrounding Lake Henry drownings![]() Dear Siouxland: It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later![]() Solar company goes dark, leaving residents on the hook for thousands![]() Fugitive on the run for 30 years captured after police stop for minor bicycle violationLatest news. ![]() Siouxland came together in remembrance of Sonya Massey during vigil![]() McCook Lake working with Red Cross on long-term flood resources, meeting to be held next week![]() Siouxland celebrates summer at the Summer Celebration parade in Hartley, Iowa![]() 60-year-old motorcyclist identified in fatal Lincoln County crash on Tuesday![]() Additional counties approved for FEMA assistance under Major Presidential Disaster Declaration in response to June severe weather![]() Niobrara Ford dealership sentenced in violation of Clean Air Act![]() Highway Patrol announces August sobriety checkpoints in 14 counties![]() Heart Walk kicks off raising awareness for heart healthScientists Owe Taxpayers Comprehensible ScienceFunding agencies should require publication of plain-language summaries, Amanda N. Weiss writes. By Amanda N. Weiss You have / 5 articles left. Sign up for a free account or log in. ![]() pablohart/E+/Getty Images Scientists are often lauded as working toward the public good, so why are most scientific findings hidden within dense, jargon-filled texts? Federal agencies that fund science should hold researchers accountable for making their findings accessible and understandable to nonscientists. From 2020 to 2023, the percentage of U.S. adults that have either “a great deal” or “a fair amount” of trust in scientists declined in spite of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (and potentially stemming from communication missteps therein). This bodes poorly for public favor of scientific evidence–based policies to address global health and environmental emergencies. The federal government provides the majority of funding for academic research and development. The taxpayers whose money funds this research deserve to have easy access to the research findings. Accordingly, in August 2022, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy released a memorandum stating that by the end of 2025, federal agencies should update their policies to ensure all publicly funded research papers are made accessible to the public for free without delay. This is part of a larger global movement toward making science open and accessible to all without barriers (including journal paywalls). However, simply having the ability to view a webpage with a journal article doesn’t mean that the work will be truly accessible. Scientific papers are highly technical and often include field-specific jargon that can be indecipherable to nonscientists and even to other scientists with expertise in different fields. A fairer scientific enterprise would include easily accessible, layperson-friendly explanations of scientific research findings. While federal funding agencies often require grant applicants to propose how their science will matter outside the lab, these measures are not enough. For example, many researchers who receive grants from the National Science Foundation are unable to deliver on all their proposed “broader impacts,” especially for impacts aimed at marginalized groups. The National Institutes of Health grant-review process includes criteria for significance and innovativeness, but not public outreach, which has sparked concern from some scientists. Notably, the inclusion of existing impact and significance criteria in grant applications doesn’t ensure that those impacts will actually result from the projects. NSF Project Outcomes Reports and NIH Final or Interim Research Performance Progress Reports do require a public-aimed summary of findings and impacts, but these are only required at the completion of the funding (or at the time of funding renewal for interim reports). Additionally, outcomes are printed exactly as submitted by the awardee, which means that the level of comprehensibility for lay audiences can vary. Furthermore, these public-facing reports are posted in large grant information databases, which are not go-to sources for scientific information, even for scientists. If these federal agencies truly want the science they fund to impact the lives of all citizens, they should require their grant recipients to disseminate their findings more regularly in easy-to-find places. Less publicly minded scientists might argue that requiring direct lay audience communication would take time away from critical research tasks, but a case study of a Swiss sustainability research center suggests that performing outreach is not correlated with a reduction in publications or citations; instead, scientists who did certain types of outreach tended to have higher numbers of publications and citations. Furthermore, research papers that are shared through traditional press or social media have increased engagement and can help scientists expand their professional networks. Even research scientists who don’t stray outside academia can benefit: nontechnical resources can help quickly prime them in key concepts in fields outside their expertise if their own projects veer in an unexpected direction. Additionally, although research professors are busy keeping their labs running and bringing in funding, they are not usually the ones conducting the bulk of experiments and drafting papers: primary authors are often graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, or staff scientists. Outreach responsibilities could be conducted similarly, with the funded professors serving an advisory role to their trainee and employee scientists who have primary authorship. As a minimum baseline for accountability, federal agencies could require publicly funded scientists to write jargon-free, plain-language summaries of their findings to accompany their academic publications. This communication medium could be reasonably documented and verified in annual research grant progress reports. Ideally, these summaries could be maintained in a well-advertised government-hosted repository so that readers could have a centralized place to search for reliable information. For example, patients could search the repository for information about health conditions to help them make decisions about treatment options. This setup would eliminate concerns about the science being misrepresented in other media sources, since the summaries would be directly from the researchers. Editors’ Picks
Plain-language summaries are already beginning to grow in popularity, including within scientific publications. For example, the journal PLOS Medicine asks authors to answer a few key questions about the research for a general audience, and Taylor & Francis Expert Collection journals allow authors to publish plain-language summaries of publications as independently citable articles. However, this is not universal and not required by some of the highest-impact science research journals. Notably, hosting research summaries in a government repository is a feasible goal, as it could be modeled after infrastructure that already exists for biomedical research. The NIH’s National Library of Medicine hosts the PubMed Central repository, which has more than 10 million research articles accessibly archived online, and PubMed (the broader repository of research paper citations and abstracts) already displays plain-language summaries if received from the publisher. This setup could be collectively implemented by all science funding agencies. The creation and maintenance of such a repository would admittedly have financial costs, reducing availability of already competitive research grant funding (only about 21 percent of NIH research project grant applications get funded ). But if the general public doesn’t trust scientists to produce safe and applicable results, how can we ensure that funded research will even be accepted and have the chance to yield positive impacts? The price of making science broadly welcome in public decision-making might be a slight reduction in funding, and we might just have to accept that. Plain-language summaries alone will likely not be the holy grail for improving trust in scientists: They’re static texts that don’t communicate in a way that accounts for social contexts, emotions, values and learning styles . However, a study about psychology research plain-language summaries suggested that they were more comprehensible and resulted in better understanding than scientific abstracts. Importantly, requiring scientists to write plain-language summaries of their papers is an actionable first step that government funding agencies can take to hold university scientists accountable to the very public that pays for their research. By making science truly approachable to all, we can pave the way for trust-building and encourage support for evidence-based decision-making. Amanda N. Weiss is a Ph.D. candidate in cell and molecular biology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and previously served as science communication chair for the Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy Group. ![]() Program Innovation: Pre-Career Expo Huddle Gets Students Connection-ReadySeton Hall’s Pre-Professional Advising Center teaches students the whys and how-tos of networking prior to its annual Share This ArticleMore from views. ![]() How to Better Justify Intercollegiate AthleticsLou Matz writes that colleges should consider a competitive sports major akin to majors in dance and music. ![]() Rethinking Student EngagementStudents have changed, and instructors should reconsider their assumptions about what engagement means, Mary C. ![]() Survivability Is Not SustainabilityThe existential question of institutional survivability may mask more important questions about sustainability and mi
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Advertisement Supported by David French On Jan. 6 many Republicans blamed Trump for the Capitol riot. Now they endorse his presidential bidRioters walk on the West Front at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. Democracy scholars are warning that political parties must accept the results of fair elections, reject violence and break ties to extremists. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., smiles as he holds a photo line to say farewell to staff and lawmakers on his last day in Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023. McCarthy was ousted as House speaker in October by his hard-right detractors, including some of Donald Trump’s most loyal allies among the House GOP. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) FILE - In this Jan. 6, 2021 file photo insurrectionists loyal to President Donald Trump riot outside the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) Former President Donald Trump leaves the stage during a commit to caucus rally, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, in Mason City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) FILE - Speaker-elect Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., puts the gavel down before speaking at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) — In the follow-up to their 2018 bestseller “How Democracies Die,” authors Daniel Ziblatt and Steven Levitsky write about three rules that political parties must follow: accept the results of fair elections, reject the use of violence to gain power and break ties to extremists. In the aftermath of the 2020 election , they write, only one U.S. political party “violated all three.” Saturday marks the third anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol , and Donald Trump , the former president, is far-and-away the leading Republican candidate in 2024. He still refuses to acknowledge his earlier loss to President Joe Biden . Far from rejecting the rioters, he has suggested he would pardon some of those who have been convicted of violent crimes. Rather than distance himself from extremists, he welcomes them at his rallies and calls them patriots. And Trump is now backed by many of the Republican leaders who fled for their lives and hid from the rioters, even some who had condemned Trump. Several top GOP leaders have endorsed his candidacy. The support for Trump starkly highlights the divisions in the aftermath of the deadly storming of the Capitol and frames the question about whose definition of governance will prevail — or if democracy will prevail at all. “If our political leaders do not stand up in defense of democracy, our democracy won’t be defended,” said Levitsky, one of the Harvard professors whose new book is “Tyranny of the Minority.” “There’s no country in the world, no country on Earth in history, where the politicians abdicated democracy but the institutions held,” he told The Associated Press. “People have to defend democracy.” The third anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack comes during the most convulsive period in American politics in at least a generation, with Congress barely able to keep up with the basics of governing, and the start of the presidential nominating contests just over a week away. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., center, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, is flanked by former U.S. Capitol Police Staff Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, left, and Rep. Glenn Ivy, D-Md., speaking during a news conference at the Capitol on threats to democracy three years after the January 6th riot, in Washington, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Democracy scholars are warning that political parties must accept the results of fair elections, reject violence and break ties to extremists. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Trump’s persistent false claims that the election of 2020 was stolen — which has been rejected in at least 60 court cases , every state election certification and by the former president’s one-time attorney general — continue to animate the presidential race as he eyes a rematch with Biden. Instead, Trump now faces more than 90 criminal charges in federal and state courts, including the federal indictment brought by special counsel Jack Smith that accused Trump of conspiring to defraud the U.S. over the election. Biden, speaking Friday near Pennsylvania’s Valley Forge, commemorated Jan. 6, saying on that day “we nearly lost America — lost it all.” While the Congress returned that night to certify the election results and show the world democracy was still standing, Biden said Trump is now trying to revise the narrative of what happened that day — calling the rioters “patriots” and promising to pardon them. And he said some Republicans in Congress were complicit. Matthew Graves, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia spoke to reporters on Thursday (Jan 4) saying “much work has been done to hold members of the mob responsible for the crimes they committed.” “When the attack on Jan. 6 happened there was no doubt about the truth,” Biden said. “Now these MAGA voices — who know the truth about Trump and Jan. 6 — have abandoned the truth and abandoned the democracy.” At a quieter Capitol, without much ceremony planned for Saturday, it will be the last time the anniversary will pass before Congress is called upon again, on Jan. 6, 2025, to certify the results of the presidential election -- democracy once more put to the test. Rep. Jamie Raskin, the Maryland Democrat who led Trump’s impeachment over the insurrection, said Biden’s 306-232 electoral victory in 2020 remains “the hard, inescapable, irradicable fact that Donald Trump and his followers have not been able to accept — to this day.” Raskin envisions a time when there will be a Capitol exhibit, and tours for visitors, to commemorate what happened Jan. 6, 2021. Five people died during the riot and the immediate aftermath, including Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed by police. All told,140 police officers were injured in the Capitol siege, including U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick who died later. Several others died later by suicide. One officer, Harry Dunn , has announced he is running for Congress to “ensure it never happens again.” Trump’s decision to reject the results of the 2020 election was the only time Americans have not witnessed the peaceful transfer of presidential power, a hallmark of U.S. democracy. A giant portrait of George Washington resigning his military commission hangs in the U.S. Capitol, a symbol of the voluntary relinquishing of power — a move that was considered breathtaking at the time. He later was elected the first U.S. president. Trump opened his first rally of his 2024 presidential campaign with a popular recording of the J6 Prison Choir --- riot defendants singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” recorded over a phone line from jail, interspersed with Trump reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. More than 1,200 people have been charged in the riot, with nearly 900 convicted , including leaders of the extremist groups the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers who are serving lengthy terms for seditious conspiracy . Trump has called Jan. 6 defendants “hostages” and said there was so much love at the “Stop the Steal” rally he held near the White House that day before he encouraged the mob to march down Pennsylvania Avenue, assuring he would be with them at the Capitol, though he never did join. Allies of Trump scoff at the narrative of Jan. 6 that has emerged. Mike Davis, a Trump ally sometimes mentioned as a future attorney general, has mocked the Democrats and others for turning Jan. 6 into a “religious holiday.” Republican Kevin McCarthy, who went on to become House speaker, had called Jan. 6 the “saddest day” he ever had in Congress. But McCarthy, R-Calif., retired last month he endorsed Trump for president and said he would consider joining his cabinet. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has said he would back whomever becomes the Republican Party nominee, despite a scathing speech at the time in which he called Trump’s actions “disgraceful” and said the rioters “had been fed wild falsehoods by the most powerful man on Earth because he was angry he lost an election.” Asked about Trump’s second-term agenda, GOP lawmakers brushed off his admission that he would be a dictator on “day one.” “He’s joking,” said Trump ally Byron Donalds, R-Fla. “Just bravado,” said Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn. “There’s still checks and balances.” Levitsky said when he and his colleague wrote their earlier book, they believed that the Republicans in Congress would be a “bulwark against Trump.” But with so many of the Trump detractors having retired or been voted out of office, “We were much less pessimistic than we are today.” ![]() |
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Preparing for Science Fair Judging— Practice Makes Perfect! If you can communicate your science fair project well, you maximize your chances of winning. Write up a short "speech" (about 2-5 minutes long) summarizing your science fair project. You will give this speech when you first meet the judges.
Preparing for Science Fair Judging— Practice Makes Perfect! o If you can communicate your science fair project well, you maximize your chances of winning. o Write up a short "speech" (about 2-5 minutes long) summarizing your science fair project. You will give this speech when you first meet the judges. (Remember to talk about the theory ...
Before the fair, prepare a five-to ten minute speech that is a summary of the information on your backboard/tri-fold; explain your project in simple terms so anyone can understand it. Start by introducing yourself, the title of your project and how you came up with your idea for the project. Then go through
The purpose of this document is to enlighten the process of science fair judging. It is meant to broadly explain the facets of judging and provide practical tips for all judges, especially new judges. This is oriented to the Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair (PRSEF), but the concepts are applicable to any science fair. This ...
But science fairs actually mean a lot more than most people think. There is so much that you can get out of a science fair. Obviously, you learn a lot about science; Students do not write a whole lot in school. A science fair may be the longest paper you've ever written, so it actually helps you improve your writing skills.
2. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering Welcome Speech. Read this welcome speech for an annual international conference. This seems to be a scientific conference with attendees from various countries and from a broad range of fields. The formal language used is therefore appropriate.
7 Appearance: if you look good, you'll feel good, which will help you give a great speech. 8 Pauses: they give the audience time to think, and help them engage. 9 Body language: use ...
The Oral Presentation. Download in Adobe Format. (5 kb) When you decide to be in a science fair, you must consider your presentation as important as any other part of your project. Practice will make the difference in how well you present yourself to the judges. Here is a step-by-step approach to constructing your presentation:
• Preparing for Science Fair Judging—Practice Makes Perfect! o If you can communicate your science fair project well, you maximize your chances of winning. o Write up a short "speech" (about 2-5 minutes long) summarizing your science fair project. You will give this speech when you first meet the judges. (Remember to talk about the theory ...
Science Fair Presentation Guide Use this script to guide you in presenting your awesome science fair project! You may add other important information as well. Hello! My name is _____ and I am in _____ grade. For my science fair project, I chose to investigate _____. I chose this topic because _____.
Here's a recording of me giving this talk at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona on February 5, 2018. I can summarize my advice in three words: Respect your audience. Each one of the people in your audience is another person, like you. Their time is as valuable as yours.
6. Practice making your presentation. First, practice by yourself or in a mirror. If you have a time limit, time yourself to make sure your presentation isn't too long or short. Ask your parents or a friend if you can present your project to them, and ask if they have any pointers. 7.
Tips on how to ace your science fair presentation, including what the judges will be looking for and how to properly deliver your information. Good luck to a...
prepare a science pitch. Jeffrey Aguirre Lab's The Elevator Pitch for Scientists has examples of a 15-second introduction and a 30-second poster pitch. The California's Stem Cell Agency recently held a Science Pitch Competition and the contestants' entries are posted. My personal favorites are William Kim, Lina Nih, Mirina Bershteyn, Andrew
Science Fair Tip #5. Keep your project simple. Try to test only one variable or one hypothesis in your project. The more experiments in the project, the harder it is to keep track of all the factors that influence your science project. After all, there is always next year to expand on this year's project. Consult our Science Fair Guide for ...
Practice! Practice! Practice! You should ask a parent, friend, teacher, or mentor, to pretend to be a judge so you become comfortable in a judging situation. Even non-scientists can be helpful, since you can still practice explaining your project to them. Ask for feedback afterwards on your clarity and presentation.
For the career and professional development portion of the fair, you have many options, ranging from a formal keynote speech to an informal networking reception. For example, workshops offer you the opportunity to provide your attendees with a great deal of information on a given topic, like grant writing, resume writing, or interviewing skills.
4. Keep it short; under two-minutes. Craft an introduction and use your one-liner to start things off. Don't try to cram an entire thesis into two minutes. Distill your message and your science down to a highlight reel.
Step-By-Step Guide to Creating a Research Proposal. 1. Narrow down the subject area. Before you go into your project in any sort of depth, you'll need a fairly good idea of what your project's focus will be. In order to narrow this down, you should consider a few different angles.
Science Fair Project Guide - Process of planning, developing, implementing and competing in science fair activities. Science Fair Project Guide Book - This 36-page PDF for teachers, students and parents shows you how to get started and plan a great science fair project. The Society for Science & the Public (SSP) has a "Fair Finder" web ...
1 Minute Speech Example. Hello, all of you, Before I start my speech I would like to wish you great greetings from the bottom of my heart. And I would like to thank you all for having me a chance to deliver this speech! The scientist is not a person who gives the right answers, he is one who asks the right questions.
National security attorney Bradley P. Moss said in response to the speech, "They're really doing this. Great campaign plan, folks." Watch the video below or click here.
In the same speech, he acknowledged the contribution of immigrants like his wife's parents, who came here from India. But in repudiating the American ideal, he insulted the reason immigrants ...
Gates open at the Iowa State Fair next Thursday. While it's best know for it's food and fun rides, it's also known for the politics. The politics at the fair this year isn't going to be ...
From 2020 to 2023, the percentage of U.S. adults that have either "a great deal" or "a fair amount" of trust in scientists declined in spite of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (and potentially stemming from communication missteps therein). This bodes poorly for public favor of scientific evidence-based policies to address global health ...
Key Info. Your conclusions summarize how your results support or contradict your original hypothesis: Summarize your science fair project results in a few sentences and use this summary to support your conclusion. Include key facts from your background research to help explain your results as needed. State whether your results support or ...
Unless you're the King or Mick Jagger, it's only fair on young people if you retire Let the driver pick the music and don't dawdle at the services - my guide to road trip etiquette
Prime time featured a rousing speech by the wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, a song by Kid Rock and a speech by Dana White, the chief executive of the Ultimate Fighting Championship — all as warm-up ...
An abstract is an abbreviated version of your science fair project final report. For most science fairs it is limited to a maximum of 250 words (check the rules for your competition). The science fair project abstract appears at the beginning of the report as well as on your display board. Almost all scientists and engineers agree that an ...
WASHINGTON (AP) — In the follow-up to their 2018 bestseller "How Democracies Die," authors Daniel Ziblatt and Steven Levitsky write about three rules that political parties must follow: accept the results of fair elections, reject the use of violence to gain power and break ties to extremists.. In the aftermath of the 2020 election, they write, only one U.S. political party "violated ...