1. Choose a topic
Start with something you find interesting: a problem, question, observation, idea or project you have already worked on.
Good advice
How does an idea become a good project?
A good project does not need to be large or perfect from the beginning. It needs a clear question, a careful method and a good explanation of what you did and what you learned.
Start simple: choose one question, one method and one clear way to show what you found.
First steps
Start with a question you can work with.
Many people begin with an idea that is too large. That is normal. The next step is to narrow the idea so that it can be investigated, tested or explained clearly.
2. Narrow the question
Try to make the question clear enough that you can collect data, test a solution or explain results.
3. Think about method
How will you reach a result? Through measurements, an experiment, interviews, a survey, design, programming or source work?
Research question
A good research question is clear, focused and possible to work with.
The question does not need to be perfect immediately. It may change while you work on the project. Most importantly, it should help you explain what you are trying to find out.
Too broad
“How does technology affect young people?”
Clearer
“How do students in my school use AI for homework?”
Why?
The second question is more focused, and it is easier to choose a method, collect data and present results.
Sources and previous knowledge
You may build on what others have done.
Science builds on previous knowledge. It is normal to read articles, look at previous projects, use data or get ideas from others. What matters is that you clearly describe your sources and explain your own contribution.
Find sources
Look at what has already been written, measured, tested or designed in relation to your project.
Compare
Think about how your project connects to previous knowledge. Are you testing something new, comparing results or looking at a new context?
Give credit
Explain where ideas, data, images, methods or information come from. This strengthens your project.
Method
Choose a method that fits the question.
If you want to measure something
Think about what you will measure, how often, under what conditions and how you will record your results.
If you want to ask people
Think about who you will ask, what questions you will use, how you will protect personal information and how you will interpret the answers.
If you want to build a solution
Think about what problem the solution should solve, how you will test it and how you will evaluate whether it works.
If you want to analyse data
Think about where the data comes from, what it shows, what limitations it has and how you can explain the results.
Report and presentation
Explain the project so that others understand it.
A good presentation does not only describe the result. It also explains why the project matters, how you worked on it and what could be done next.
What did you investigate?
Begin with a clear description of the question or problem.
How did you work?
Explain the method so that others can understand your work.
What did you find?
Show the main results and explain what they mean.
Presenting to the jury
Practise explaining the project in your own words.
When you present the project, you need to explain what you did and answer questions. The jury wants to understand the thinking behind the project, not only see a perfect result.
Explain the beginning
Why did you choose this project? What made it interesting to you?
Describe the process
What did you do first, what changed along the way and how did you reach your conclusion?
Prepare for questions
Think about what might be unclear and practise answering questions about method, results and next steps.
Common mistakes
What should you avoid?
Project too large
Try to choose a project that can be completed and explained well within the time you have.
Unclear method
If the method is unclear, it becomes difficult to explain how the results were produced.
Hiding sources
Using sources is not a weakness. Showing where the knowledge comes from is a strength.
Remember
The project does not need to be perfect to be interesting.
A good project shows that you thought about the question, tried a way to answer it and learned something from the process. It is normal for results to surprise you or for the project to raise new questions.
Simple reminder
Question → Method → Results → Explanation → Next steps.
Next step:
Choose one idea and write a short description of the project. Try explaining it in three sentences.