101 Topics for the Science Fair – 2024

Science fairs give students the chance to expand their knowledge on fascinating topics and present their unique findings. Such events provide the space to ask deeper questions, further develop critical thinking skills, and foster a creative curiosity. The amount of research and preparation that goes into the science fair makes it an incredible learning opportunity for both students and the audience alike. What’s most important, however, is for students to choose topics for the science fair that first and foremost compel them.

By now you know that science fair topics can be an endless list to choose from. So to make that search a bit easier, here are several focused areas and topics for the big day:

Astronomy Topics for the Science Fair

Astronomy is one of the most popular topics for the science fair. Check out the ten science fair topics below that will help you and others learn more about space.

1. Discover how gravity affects different objects of different sizes.
2. What can traveling into outer space do to the human body?
3. See how the moon’s many phases impact the earth.
4. What does time dilation have to do with space travel?
5. How does space debris interfere with satellite communication?
6. Present a model of what stellar evolution looks like, and its stages and causes.
7. Is it possible for plants to grow in microgravity?
8. Explore how meteorites are formed in outer space and what they are made out of.
9. What are the different types of galaxies in space? What makes them each unique?
10. Is there radiation in space? Discover how space radiation affects electronics.

Chemistry Topics for the Science Fair

Anything chemistry-related makes for an engaging and exciting topic at the science fair. If you’re most interested in chemistry, try thinking of an experiment you can present as your science fair topic.

1. Investigate the rate of reaction by using Alka-Seltzer. Alter the temperature and surface area to see how the reaction rate changes.
2. Create a homemade “volcano eruption” and present your findings on acid reactions.
3. Grow your own crystals at home and dig deeper into how crystals are formed.
4. Explore what goes into saponification and create your own soap at home.
5. What are the factors and elements that go into evaporation?
6. Discover the characteristics and properties of magnets and present what types of magnets exist.
7. How fast do different types of food spoil and at what rate does the food spoilage occur?
8. Find out what the pH levels are for various items you have at home.
9. What are the differences between sugar and artificial sweeteners?
10. Discover how items can impact the rate of rusting. What speeds it up? What slows it down?

Engineering Topics for the Science Fair

For those of you who are more builders or curious about mechanics, why not choose a science fair topic in engineering? Think outside the box if you’re choosing an engineering-related topic for the science fair.

1. Build a model maglev train at home and see how else the technology can be applied elsewhere.
2. Create your own model of a wind turbine at home and experiment with making the most efficient wind turbine for renewable energy.
3. Discover the different parts of 3D printing and how it can be used in various industries.
4. Grow vegetables or plants in a hydroponic garden.
5. Design or re-create several wing designs and observe how aerodynamics come into play.
6. Explore how sound insulation changes depending on what materials you use.
7. Find out how well certain materials help insulate heat or cold more than others.
8. Try constructing a bridge out of various materials and see what maximum weight it can hold.
9. Build your own mechanical claw and dive into the robotics of engineering.
10. What goes into creating a sustainable building? Present your findings.

Environmental Sciences 

A science fair topic in environmental sciences can help you come up with a solution for your local environment. Check out these ten science fair topics addressing environmental sciences concerns below.

1. Explore what effect different types of fertilizers have on the growth of plants and vegetation.
2. How does climate change impact the environment around you? How has it done so already?
3. Just how important is it to recycle materials like plastic and paper?
4. What role do cities have in producing polluted air? How does this impact respiratory health?
5. What happens to the ocean water when there is an oil spill? What becomes jeopardized?
6. Research into the importance and necessity of water purification. What does it take to purify water?
7. Dive into the benefits of renewable energy and how it is sustainable.
8. How does environmental sustainability affect marine life?
9. Give examples of the impact that deforestation has across various countries around the world.
10. Explore how flooding begins and how it affects the local ecosystem.

Health Topics for the Science Fair

A science fair topic related to health is a great way to engage your audience about their own approach to health. Take a look at these ten topics for the science fair concerning health issues today.

1. How does a person’s age impact their reactionary response?
2. What are the impacts of screen time on the quality of sleep? What are the impacts of screen time on focused attention?
3. Present how regular exercise helps lower high blood pressure and its effects on heart rate.
4. What is the difference between whole foods and ultra-processed foods? What are each of their effects on the human body?
5. How far does a sneeze or cough travel? And how quickly can one transmit a common cold through a sneeze or cough?
6. Analyze how color impacts the human body and mind, and give specific examples of what certain colors can do.
7. What is the real significance of washing our hands every day? How does bacteria spread if we don’t?
8. What types of exercises are best suited for different parts of the human body?
9. Examine the different types of diets that exist for people. What effects do they have?
10. How does music impact the human brain and body?

Life Sciences Topics for the Science Fair

A science fair topic in life sciences can often be the most fascinating presentation, depending on what you bring in. Here below are ten topics for the science fair that’ll make people think twice about how they understand the world.

1. Try to extract the DNA from fruits and vegetables, like onions.
2. Present how plants move with light and implement new variables into the experiment, such as using different types of light or covering the seedlings.
3. Does music have an effect on the growth of plants?
4. What power do essential oils have in healing various ailments?
5. Report on what elements can accelerate and contribute to the growth of mold.
6. What effect do coffee grinds have on plant growth?
7. Describe what goes into compost and its process. What does it do to the environment?
8. What goes into a greenhouse and maintaining the livelihood of the plants?
9. When dealing with pests, what are the differences between natural pesticides and synthetic pesticides?
10. What role do bees play in the environment?

Mathematics and Statistics Topics for the Science Fair

It might surprise you that you can do an entire presentation on math and statistics at the science fair. After all, science and math are inevitably connected, often in the most astonishing ways. Check out these ten science fair topics on math and statistics to give you an idea.

1. Explain what Fibonacci numbers are and how they manifest themselves in nature.
2. How much can a balloon carry, depending on its size? And what goes into the lifting of a hot air balloon?
3. Make an experiment with dice and see what all the possible outcomes could be.
4. Study the symmetry in plant design and examine the relationship between plant design and plant species.
5. How was pi (π) first calculated and discovered? How is it applied in the world of math and nature?
6. Examine the relationship between a person’s ring size and their shoe size. Why are these correlated? Is it a myth?
7. Present how different geometric shapes appear in nature and the function of their design, if there are any.
8. What is the difference between acceleration and velocity? What natural elements can impact one or the other?
9. What are prime numbers? How are they distributed?
10. Identify what fractals are and how they appear in nature.

Physical Sciences Topics for the Science Fair

With a science fair topic in physical science, you can really dive into your imagination about what you’d want to learn more of. The list becomes endless, but here are ten to consider in the meantime.

1. Test how conductive various items and materials are.
2. What goes into an electromagnet? Examine what alters the power of the magnet.
3. Gather a few plants and see what types of liquids or solids help their growth.
4. Take a musical instrument and examine how sound travels from the instrument and into the surrounding environment.
5. Create your own compass and explain how the magnetic fields impact its function.
6. What causes the pressure in tires or balls to explode? Explore factors like temperature and materials.
7. What relationship does the height of a ramp have to a skateboarder and the skateboarder’s speed?
8. What are the benefits of having solar-powered panels on a house? Try to create your very own solar-powered mini-panel.
9. What causes a building to be earthquake-resistant? Construct a model of your own to simulate a similar situation.
10. What causes the momentum in a grandfather clock? What makes a pendulum swing?

Technology’s role in society 

If you’re interested in how social media has changed our society, then these science fair topics on technology could be for you.

1. Present the impacts that video games have on cognitive health and thought processes.
2. Is there a significant impact of the use of technology on sleep patterns or sleep quality?
3. How does social media impact the cognitive functions in children, teenagers, and adults?
4. Examine the relationship between screen time usage and mental health.
5. Look into how technology has impacted how people approach their physical health. Are the new gadgets and apps helping us?
6. Discover how Virtual Reality (VR) has shaped healthcare in societies. Does it promote empathy? Increase or decrease anxiety?
7. How soon can children become addicted to smartphones or tablets?
8. Does the increase in social media use have any correlation with in-person social skills?
9. Examine how online learning impacts students as opposed to in-person learning.
10. What has remote working achieved for companies and businesses in today’s world?

 Social Sciences Topics for the Science Fair

Choosing a topic for the science fair in social sciences will probably have you knocking on people’s doors or interviewing your neighbors. But it doesn’t all have to be that way. Take a look at these science fair topics in social sciences that question what we can take for granted.

1. Create a survey on a social issue in your local neighborhood and take a poll. Present your findings through a visualization (e.g. graph) and see how people’s opinions varied or aligned.
2. Does the amount of lighting in a room have an impact on one’s productivity or focus?
3. What type of effect does advertising have on consumer behavior?
4. Examine the impact that music has on memory retention.
5. How does speaking more than one language transform one’s memory or IQ?
6. Study the relationship between temperatures in weather and people’s behavior and mental health.
7. Conduct a survey on how teenagers see the role of therapy for addressing mental health issues.
8. Research and compare the physical and mental health of teenagers before and after social media.
9. What is the bystander effect and how does this impact the definition of social responsibility?
10. What role do animals play in reducing PTSD in teenagers and adults?
11. Examine how the color of a product can affect one’s impulse to purchase or not purchase the item.

Presenting your work

Even for the science fair, try to support your findings as strongly as possible while still using your creativity. Think of approaching your topic just as you would do in an argumentative essay, a debate, or in a speech. During science fairs, it may be that people will come up to you with questions regarding your experiment or results. But don’t panic! Be sure to have fun from the beginning of your project till the end of the event itself. You never know what your efforts could lead you to discover.

Additional Blogs of Interest

• Best Colleges for Biology
• How to Write a Lab Report
• How to Calculate Acceleration 
• Interesting Biology Research Questions