I remember my first attempt at a science fair project. I thought I would be able to change the world by developing a hydroponic solution that would grow your plants quickly and to a plump size but with environmentally safe chemical species.
Everything was going as schedule. The control group consisted of a set of lima bean and tomato plants grown hydroponically with a commercially available solution. My experimental group consisted of the same type of plants in my newly formulated solution.
Weeks pass as I studied the various qualitative and quantitative variables I considered important in the study (color, foilage condition and density, oddities in flowers/seedpods/etc.). I even grew a second control group in potted soil. This group was where I pollinated the two other groups.
Well, long story short, when the fruits and pods were ready to be picked and examined via dissection, my dogs ate my experiment. Literally, about a month and a half of data collecting ended abruptly by the hunger of my pets. Not as revolutionary as I had hoped for, and I ended up only getting an honorable mention at the local fair.
What prompted this random track down memory lane? PZ has linked to several "bad" science fair projects. Actually, it's the posters comments on each, mostly centering around either what the student is wearing or the title of the presentation. Admittedly, coming up with titles are difficult when in junior high or high school, especially when you have to fit it on one of those poster-board fold-outs. but some of the titles are worth giggling over, especially "Extreme Wood" and "Who's Your Daddy?".
Enjoy.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment