HOW TO MAKE GOOD PROJECT OF SCIENCE...?

What is a Scientific Project

A scientific project is a study of a problem carried out with a objective of finding out a solution of the problem. It involves defining the problem, making the hypothesis, observation, collection of data through survey or experimentation, its analysis and then arriving at conclusion to find out the solution. A scientific study paves the way for a practical solution of a vexed problem. The approach needs to be well planned and systematic otherwise errors may creep in, leading to aggravation of problem than to its solution. Jumping to quick and erroneous conclusions are considered to be unethical in scientific studies.

How to do a good project

Make a group of like minded people numbering not more than five. They may belong to your school or your locality. Discuss amongst your group the activity you all would like to do. It will be good and satisfying for you all if you take up a local specific issue. Community interaction and cooperation is also expected in all cases. Never select a project that does not give you satisfaction and scope for learning new things. Depending upon the subject area chosen, now it is time to look for a guide. The person could be your teacher, experienced NCSC participant or any of your family member. Do not let the guide to work for your project. He/She has to be a path finder only.
Analyse the problem and make a work plan. Divide your responsibilities. It is good to discuss the questionnaire, design of experiments, method of community interaction etc. amongst your group. Keep interacting with team member, guide teacher regularly. Do accept critical suggestions which improve outcome of your project.
Do not derive big conclusions as you are working in a small area with a small sample size. Do not generalise your observations/conclusions.
Create community awareness of about your findings and try finding out solutions. You may use media to focus attention of your authorities to help solving the problem, but first have discussions or give representations to the involved authority(ies).
Try finding ways and means of solving the problemby scientific inputs and community involvement. Keep proper records of your made by you and interest shownby them. This will not only help in making your project report but in the follow-up action with higher authorities/community.
If one strategy or solution does not work try finding out alternative. Do not give recommendations only. You must try implementing of at least a few suggested recommendations first.
You may not succeed in the efforts made to solve the problem but you should be able to find possible bottleneck in implementing your suggested strategy. Keep your record of them.
Once you are working in a group you all have contributed in doing the activity. All should respect and value the efforts made by your team members. Each one of the team members has total understanding about the project, but due to certain logistic reasons only one person is allowed to come to the state/national level. All you should sit together and decide who will represent your group at state and national level. This does not in any way negate efforts of other team members. In the evaluation procedure, co-operation within the team and also community plays and important role in the selection of the proposals.
Proper documentation will help you in presentation of your report. For writing the project report read the section on ‘How to write a project report’.
You are supposed to present important findings or innovative procedures with the help of posters. Do not take help of any professional artist for the same. Each poster should be self contained. The posters should be well labeled giving title of project, participants. These posters not only help you while making presentation but also help other children who could not make participate during your presentation to understand and appreciate your work.
Note that in NCSC projects which are innovative (in idea or even methodology) only draw attention Do not spend money on video/audio recording, DTP of your presentation, making unnecessary slides. These display methods do not attract the evaluators.
You may spend money on
developing some gadget, working model(s)
material for awareness generation
The project which keep continuing even after completion of NCSC tenure for a particular year, are source of attraction of evaluators and community. Keep your state coordinators informed about such work even if you are above 17 and cease to be participant of NCSC.

How to do a Survey

Survey is the key to accurate data collection which leads you to finding out the results and drawing conclusion(s) after proper interpretation of the data. The process of surveying is very tricky and needs extreme care. It is very important to be careful in deciding the type and number of questions and size of the sample population among which you will carry out the survey.
Sample size is very important for a survey work to accurate and meaningful. Sample size means number of units/specimen (e.g. persons/families) surveyed. If the size of the sample is very small then there are possibilities of you making wrong conclusions. For your results to be accurate, the minimum number of samples should be 100. This data should be collected using representative sampling procedure.
What is a representative sample? Say there is correlation between a particular observation and economic status of a person, then while collecting samples we should take due care that a particular number of samples is collected from each group of people having the same economic status. Similarly, if there is a correlation between age of a person and diseases, care should be taken so that samples are taken from different age groups.
How to write a Project

1. Use A-4 size paper (8" x 11.5") for writing the report.
2. To make the cover page of the report use the format given at the annexure.
3. You may use regional language to write the report but the information to be provided in the first page must be in English.
4. Write on one side of the paper.
5. The report should be either neatly typed or handwritten.
6. Sketches, photographs may be used.
7. Make at least 2 copies of project, one for submission at Registration and other for your use for presentation

        

Report Content 
Report Presentation