When it comes to science fair projects, who better to learn from than someone who has already won? Past winners have been through the whole process, and their advice can save you a lot of trial and error.
What winners know that you don’t
They’ve been through the whole process
A winner has gone from the first rough idea all the way to the final presentation. That experience gives you a head start on:
- Project selection: how to choose a topic that’s both original and actually doable. Winners know the difference.
- Time management: how to balance research, experiments, and writing things up without scrambling at the end.
- Finding resources: which tools and mentors are worth your time. Winners usually have a short list they keep going back to.
They know what judges actually want
Winners understand how judges think, which is hard to figure out from the outside:
- What gets weighted most: which parts of your project judges care about, and which they don’t.
- Common pitfalls: the mistakes that quietly cost points.
- Presentation strategy: how to put your project’s strengths front and center.
They know how to get past roadblocks
Every good project hits problems. Winners can share how they worked through theirs:
- Experimental setbacks: how to adapt when things don’t go to plan.
- Messy data: how to make sense of complicated results.
- Limited resources: creative ways to work within what you have.
They know how to present
A great project can still fall flat with a weak presentation. This is where winners stand out:
- Visual appeal: building a display board that pulls judges in.
- Speaking clearly: explaining a complex idea in plain, concise terms.
- Q&A prep: anticipating the tough questions judges will ask, and having answers ready.
Get advice from a real winner at ScienceFair.io
Want expert guidance on your own project?
Book a ScienceFair.io Coaching Call and work one-on-one with someone who has actually won. Their feedback can be the difference between just competing and competing to win.
Meet our mentors
Our mentors have excelled in their own fields and competitions. We have over 25 of them. Here are a few examples of who you could work with:
- Ram Goel, MIT: A biotechnology enthusiast who won a Regeneron ISEF Grand Award for his work in genetic engineering. Now at MIT, Ram likes helping students take their research further.
- Shriya Bhat, Harvard: A first-place winner at the Broadcom MASTERS with several chemistry awards, Shriya brings deep subject knowledge and a knack for original thinking.
- Shobhit Agarwal, Stanford: An expert in computer science and robotics who won second place at ISEF. At Stanford, he works on AI and enjoys mentoring students in STEM.
- Harish Krishnakumar, Princeton University: Harish specializes in the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS). From Seattle, Washington, he won 1st Prize Oral in Physical Sciences at the 2023 National JSHS.
Book a Science Fair Coaching Call with one of our mentors today.
Leave a Reply