Science Fair Project Topics To Avoid Especially For High School Students!

1. Any topic that boils down to a simple preference or taste comparison. For example, “Which Tastes Better: Coke or Pepsi?”
   
   These types of experiments do not involve the kinds of numerical measurements required for science fair projects. They are more of a survey than a scientific experiment!


2. Avoid projects that asks the question, “Which is Best?” This includes most consumer product testing such as the “best” popcorn, bubblegum, make-up, detergents, cleaning products and paper towels.
   
   This type of science fair project only has validity if the investigator fully understands the science behind why the product works and applies that understanding to the experiment. While many consumer products are easy to use, the science behind them is often at the level of a college graduate student.


3. Any topic that requires people to recall things they did in the past.
   
   The data from this type of science fair project tends to be unreliable and therefore should be avoided.


4. The effect of colored lights on plants as well the effect of music or talking on plants and the effect of color on memory, emotion, mood, taste, strength, etc.
   
   It very common for students to do these types of science fair projects at virtually every science fair. Surely you can be more scientifically creative than these types of projects!


5. The effect of running, music video games, or almost anything on blood pressure
   
   The results are either obvious (the heart beats faster when you run) or difficult to measure with proper controls (the effect of music).


6. Any topic that requires measurements that will be extremely difficult to make or repeat, given your experimental equipment
   
   Without measurements, you are not really doing science!


7. Any topic that involves graphology (handwriting analysis)
   
   This type of project is highly subjective and difficult to measure.


8. Science fair projects that involve Astrology or Extrasensory Perception (ESP)
   
   Astrology and ESP have no scientific validity and therefore should be avoided.


9. All science fair projects that involves any of the following situations/conditions:
   
   
   • Any project that makes use of dangerous, hard to find, or illegal materials and/or substances
   
   
   • Any project that requires drugging and/or causing pain or injury to a live vertebrate animal
   
   
   • Any project that creates unacceptable risk (physical or psychological) to a human subject
   
   
   • Any project that involves the collection of tissue samples from living humans or vertebrate animals.
   
   
   
   These four types of science fair projects violates the rules of virtually every science fair from local science fairs held in schools to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair!