Are you in school and working on an innovation or expanding on existing knowledge? Join Eskom Expo for Young Scientists and exhibit your project at one of 35 regional expos countrywide. Conduct research and present it in written and visual form at your nearest expo region
SCIENTISTS IN THE MAKING
THIS IS WHERE IT ALL STARTS
TYPES OF PROJECTS
Your project idea can be classified as one of four types of projects, namely:
Scientific Investigations/ Experimental – They follow a method that answers a research question and tests a hypothesis, usually through observations and experimentation. It involves collecting and analysing data to reach a conclusion.
Engineering/ Computer Science – They follow a design process according to the criteria, to build, test-redesign and retest a prototype/product/solution e.g. a device or a computer code.
Social Sciences – They follow a systematic approach that involves answering questions or testing a hypothesis of the functioning of human society by observations and analysing of human behaviour, social relationships, social issues, and other phenomena.
Mathematics/ Theoretical – These projects explore quantity, structure, space and change. Starting with an observation, problem or question, make conjectures/ hypotheses, prove your claim using new or existing methods, make valid deductions and test your ideas theoretically. Your reasoning and arguments must be logical.
GETTING STARTED:
To register make sure you have the following:
VALID EMAIL ADDRESS
REGION NAME
SCHOOL NAME
— all learners to register own accounts, even group projects.
A GOOD EXPO PROJECT:
The best expo projects are not always complicated, but are imaginative and well executed.
An innovative solution to an existing problem
A new approach/ methodology to an existing solution
An insight into social behaviour
GETTING STARTED – PROJECT:
PRESENT THESE PROJECT DOCUMENTS AT THE EXPO:
Research Plan and Journal:
An outline of what and how you intend to conduct your research project. It is written in future tense. The journal is a record of ALL the work of the research project, it’s like a project diary. It can be handwritten.
Project Report:
The purpose of a project report is to communicate your ideas and results in full detail, in a way that is understandable to judges and your peers.
Abstract:
An abstract is a summary of the project report, and it is written after the project report is completed. It must be clearly written, be in past tense and must be concise.
Poster:
A poster is a display of a summary of the project report. The poster must be printed on A4 pages, in landscape or portrait, and stuck onto a project display board in logical order. Project display boards will be provided at Regional Expos and at the ISF
Video (Optional):
Brief video showing how you went about conducting tests (experimental, participants, prototype, etc.)
REPORT YOUR FINDINGS
Follow this process when analysing your project / experiment
Topic / Problem
It is important to be clear about your research topic or the problem being addressed. Why this is important and what is the impact of addressing this topic or problem?
Background
Must include a literature review section. The hypothesis and variables must be properly stated
Method / Procedure
A concise description of the scientific procedure followed in your study.
Results
Explain and analyse your results.
Discussion
Discuss your findings. Is it solving your problem? Is it adding to the knowledge base of the field? Explain the significance.
Conclusion
Link to hypothesis. What is your conclusion.
Bibliography
List the most important references (e.g. science journal articles, books, Internet sites) that were used to get information about the topic. This information must be referred to in the introduction.
TEACHERS
ARE YOU A TEACHER AND WANT TO REGISTER YOUR SCHOOL TO PARTICIPATE? To register make sure you have the following:
Valid email address
Valid ID/ Passport No.
Region name
School name
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