Biology Science Fair Project Ideas

Science fair projects give you the opportunity to experience science and biology through hands-on activities. In order to ensure that you have a great biology project, it is important that you first understand biology and the scientific method. Simply put, biology is the study of life. Life is all around us which means that there are enormous possibilities when considering a biology science project. We use the scientific method as a means of studying science and biology. Scientific inquiry starts with an observation followed by the formulation of a question about what has been observed. Then comes designing a scientific experiment to answer the question posed. How to Find Science Project Ideas JGI / Jamie Grill / Getty Images So where do you get ideas for biology science fair projects? The answer is from almost anywhere. The key is to start with a question that you would like to find an answer to and use the scientific method  to help you answer it. When choosing a science fair project topic, make sure that you select a topic that you are interested in. Then narrow this topic down to a specific question. Below you will find science fair project ideas primarily related to biology. Remember that these samples are meant to give direction and ideas. It is important that you do the work yourself and not just copy the material. Also, be sure that you know all of the rules and regulations for your particular science fair before you begin your project. Plant Project Ideas Some soil bacteria stimulate brain neuron growth and increase learning capacity. JW LTD/Taxi/Getty Images Plants are important to life as we know it. They provide everything from food, clothing, and shelter to medicine and fuel. Plant projects are popular because plants are abundant, inexpensive, and relatively easy to study during experimentation. These experiments allow you to learn about plant processes and environmental factors that impact plant life. Plant-based science projects: Find more than 20 ideas for science fair projects involving plants.Soil chemistry: Learn about soil chemistry with these example projects about plant science and the chemical composition of soil.Popcorn studies: Enjoy these fun, easy, and interesting experiments with popcorn. Human Body Project Ideas Illustration of the arterial system in the human body, shown in a standing figure. Note the feathery network of blood vessels in the left and right lungs (next to the heart). Arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to the bodys tissues. JOHN BAVOSI/Science Photo Library/Getty Images If you have ever wondered how the body works or about all the biological processes that keep the body functioning, then you should consider a science project on the human body. These projects allow you to gain a better knowledge of how the body functions and also provide insight into human behavior. Human body projects: If your interest is in biological processes and human behavior, this resource has several ideas for projects on the human body, including the study of the effects of music, temperature, and video games on mood.Kids neuroscience experiments: This is a nice collection of experiments relating to neuroscience. It includes projects dealing with reflexes, the nervous system, biological rhythms, and more.Human hair projects: Find several ideas for doing projects about hair. Topics include hair growth rates and hair loss management. Animal Project Ideas Fernando Trabanco Fotografà ­a/Moment/Getty Image Animal science projects allow us to understand various aspects of animal life. They provide information about animal anatomy, behavior, and even provide insight into human biological processes. Before deciding to do an animal project, be sure that you get permission and avoid animal cruelty. Some science fairs do not allow animal experiments, while others have strict regulations for animal usage. Animal projects: Find great ideas for projects involving insects, birds, amphibians, fish, and mammals. Discover how light, pollution, and magnetic fields affect animals. Researching Your Science Project Ideas Catherine Ledner / The Image Bank/ Getty Images After you have come up with an idea and topic for your science project, you must research your topic. Research involves finding out everything you can about the scientific principles involved with your project idea. There are several resources available for researching your science fair project. Some of these include your local library, science books and magazines, internet science news sources, and teachers or educators. The most helpful thing that you can do when researching for your project is to take excellent notes. Record references for the books and other materials you have used in your research.Take notes on simple experiments on which to base your experiment.  Keep notes on diagrams used in similar experiments.  Record observations from other experiments.Keep notes on samples of logs and other means for collecting data.  Make lists of materials that you might want to order and their suppliers. It is important that keep track of all the resources used in your research as these source materials will be required for listing in the bibliography for your science fair project report.