How to Win Pennsylvania Science Fair

Are you a budding scientist in Pennsylvania hoping to present your science fair project at the state level? This guide walks you through every step of the process to help you do well at the Pennsylvania Science Fair.

What is the Pennsylvania Science Fair?

The Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) is a statewide organization of junior and senior high school students designed to promote interest in science through research projects and investigations. Pennsylvania is divided into 12 PJAS regions, each made up of two or more counties. Every region has one or more directors and a treasurer who oversee its operation. PJAS also has a State Director, a State Secretary, two State Treasurers, and committees for Judging, Safety, Technicians, and Awards.

Pennsylvania Science Fair Goals

The Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Academy of Science as an affiliate of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, is organized around these objectives:

• Promote greater participation in science and mathematics activities among Pennsylvania’s youth.
• Improve the quality of achievement in mathematics and science by encouraging students to do research and develop original ideas.
• Develop an understanding of the scientific community through close association with leaders in the sciences.
• Improve science club activities through cooperative regional and state meetings.
• Instill true scientific attitudes and humanistic ideals among its members.

Rules and Eligibility

Students in grades 7-12 are invited each year to participate in one of the PJAS Regional Competitions held across Pennsylvania. To compete, students conduct a research project in one of the 12 scientific categories identified by PJAS, then orally present that research to a team of judges at a Regional Competition.

All participating students must have an adult sponsor, who can be a teacher, parent, or scientist. Sponsors guide students through the scientific process and the paperwork required to participate.

Eligibility

• The PJAS Competition is open to all students (parochial, private, public, and home-schooled) in grades 7-12 in Pennsylvania.
• Project eligibility: students must conduct their research in one of the 12 scientific categories, give an oral presentation, and submit any applicable SRC/IRB approval forms.
• Presentation eligibility: students must follow specific guidelines for their oral presentation, so it’s important to read the presentation eligibility guidelines.
• State competition eligibility: eligibility for the PJAS State Meeting is based on a student’s participation and award at the Regional Meeting.

Research & Presentation Scoring Rules

Students’ research and presentations must follow a set of research and presentation rules. Projects are judged on their own merit against the Criteria for Judging, rather than in comparison to other students or projects.

These rules are designed to teach better presentation skills and give judges a uniform set of guidelines:

1. Each project and presentation is judged on its own merit against the Criteria for Judging, not in competition with other research or students.
2. The student presenting must be the one who conducted the research (no substitutes).
3. Students may present a new phase of an ongoing project, but no one may present a research topic from a previous year without significant additional research during the current year.
4. Measurements must be in metric, except where highly specialized equipment is calibrated in other units. Presentations that didn’t use metric will not receive a first-place award, regardless of score.

There are more rules and regulations to follow. Visit this page to learn more about presentation and scoring specifics.

Categories at the Pennsylvania Science Fair

For a complete list of categories with subcategories, visit the official PJAS resource center.

Stumped on what topic to pick? Watch this video for tips from an International Science & Engineering Fair winner.

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Strategies to Win the Pennsylvania Science Fair

1. Choose a Compelling Project

Pick a topic you’re genuinely interested in. Your project should be original, address a real-world problem, and show your scientific thinking. Judges look for projects that show innovation and potential impact.

Need help brainstorming ideas? Check out the idea-generation tool at ScienceFair.io, which uses AI to analyze past winning science fair projects and help you come up with a new idea. The models are trained on thousands of winning Regeneron ISEF, Science Talent Search, and Google Science Fair projects.

2. Master the Scientific Method

The Pennsylvania Science Fair emphasizes a rigorous approach. For science projects, follow the scientific method carefully:

• Question: identify a problem or phenomenon that intrigues you.
• Research: investigate what’s already known. What has been done?
• Hypothesis: formulate a testable prediction based on your research.
• Experiment: design and run an experiment to test your hypothesis, and collect accurate data.
• Analyze: interpret your data. Does it support your hypothesis?
• Conclusion: draw conclusions from your analysis. Did the experiment go as planned? What did you learn?

For engineering projects, use the engineering design process

• Define the problem: identify a need or challenge to address.
• Research and design: explore possible solutions and brainstorm designs.
• Prototype: build a model or prototype of your design.
• Test and evaluate: assess how well your prototype works and make improvements.
• Communicate: document your process and present your findings.

3. Conduct Thorough Research

The backbone of any winning project is solid research. Here’s how to do it well:

• Literature review: start with a thorough review of existing studies to understand the context and background. Use reputable sources like scientific journals, academic books, and trusted websites.
• Data collection: use reliable, valid methods, and make sure your data is sufficient to support your conclusions. Use Google Docs or Sheets to organize your data and research.
• Analysis: analyze your data using appropriate statistical or qualitative methods, and be ready to explain it clearly.

4. Craft an Outstanding Presentation

Your presentation is your chance to make an impression. Focus on:

• Clarity: use clear, concise language and avoid jargon so your presentation is accessible to a broad audience.
• Visuals: include graphs, charts, and images to illustrate your points, and keep them high-quality and relevant.
• Practice: rehearse several times to build confidence and ensure a smooth delivery.

5. Understand the Judging Criteria

Understanding the judging criteria is key. The exact criteria may vary slightly year to year, but judges typically evaluate projects on:

• Scientific thought and engineering goals: the depth of understanding of the underlying principles or concepts.
• Creativity and originality: the level of innovation and the uniqueness of the approach.
• Thoroughness: the completeness of the project, including comprehensive data collection and analysis.
• Skill: the expertise shown in conducting the experiment or building the prototype.
• Clarity: how effectively the project is presented, including the display board and oral explanation.

Want judging tips and access to Rishab’s application PDFs for many top science fairs? ScienceFair.io offers an A-Z Science Fair Masterclass, a course of up to 15 videos on how to win STEM science fairs.

6. Practice Your Presentation

Prepare a clear, engaging verbal presentation. Be ready to explain your research in both simple terms and more technical detail, and practice answering potential questions to boost your confidence.

Want to polish your presentation skills? Book a coaching call with ScienceFair.io experts for personalized feedback and tips.

Conclusion

Doing well at the Pennsylvania Science Fair takes dedication, creativity, and hard work. By following these strategies and using resources like the A-Z science fair guide and coaching calls from ScienceFair.io, you’ll be well-equipped to create an outstanding project that impresses judges and could earn you top honors.