Senior Science Research
Overview
- The first goal of this class is to turn the lab work you've done into marketable products. Everyone will produce a research report, a poster, and a slide presentation.
- The second goal of this class is to enter as many science, technology, engineering, and mathematics competitions as possible including the Regeneron Science Talent Search (Regeneron STS), Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS), Terra NYC STEM Fair, St. Joseph's College High School Poster Session, Afro-Academic Cultural Scientific Technological Olympiad (ACT-SO), Brooklyn College Science Day, and others.
- The third goal of this class is to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through service to Midwood High School, New York City, and the world.
- Grades are based partly on how much you do (the more things you try, the better your grade will be) and partly how well you do them (the better your work is, the better your grade will be). Important dates are in red. Students who fulfill the nominal class requirements will receive a grade of 85% (G) in the 1st marking period, 90% in the 2nd marking period, and 95% for the semester. There will be many opportunities for extra credit.
Fall Semester
Fall Meetings for Seniors
Check the big calendar on midwoodscience.org often. Individual, team, or small group meetings are the way business gets done. Large group meetings are rare. Keep your supervising teacher up to date on your progress. Do not hesitate to tell us of problems. Above all, do not miss your appointments. They count significantly toward your grade.
- September
- Entrance meeting on the second day of the semester. Everyone attends.
- Semester overview (see Google Classroom for notes)
- September meeting
- Summer lab log
- Research report 1st draft
- Regeneron STS status (individual projects only)
- Entrance meeting on the second day of the semester. Everyone attends.
- October
- First meeting
- Research report 2nd draft
- Regeneron STS registration & paperwork (optional)
- Neuroscience registration & paperwork (optional)
- Second meeting
- Research report 3rd draft
- Regeneron STS registration & paperwork (optional)
- Competitions
- Neuroscience Research Prize (optional) Wednesday, November 2, 2022
- First meeting
- November
- November meeting
- September/October lab log
- Research report final draft
- Regeneron STS registration & paperwork (optional)
- JSHS registration & paperwork (optional)
- Terra NYC registration & paperwork (mandatory)
- Competitions
- Regeneron Science Talent Search (optional) Wednesday, November 9, 2022
- Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (optional) Monday, November 21, 2022
- November meeting
- December
- First meeting
- Terra NYC registration & paperwork (mandatory)
- November lab log
- Research report supplemental draft (optional)
- Second meeting
- Terra NYC registration & paperwork (mandatory)St. Joseph's College High School Poster Session registration (mandatory)
- Poster instructions
- Application for Change to Weighted Research Course (1.05)
- Research report supplemental draft (optional)
- Competitions
- Terra NYC STEM Fair (mandatory) Monday, December 19, 2022
- First meeting
- January
- Poster meeting
- Scientific poster first draft
- Terra NYC status
- St. Joe's status
- JSHS status
- Exit meeting
- Poster status
- Terra NYC status
- St. Joe's status
- JSHS status
- Grades
- Poster meeting
Regeneron Science Talent Search
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 (research report)
- Students are encouraged to enter this competition for extra credit (and to reduce their work load in the future).
- This competition is a combination of a research report and something similar to a college application (personal essays, letters of recommendation, transcripts, standardized test scores, and lots of short answer questions).
- Read the the rules and instructions from the Society for Science.
- Register and begin the application process in front of your supervising teacher at SmartApply during September or October.
- This application has multiple parts
- Personal Info
- Essay Questions — This includes an abstract and layperson's summary (a.k.a. executive summary).
- Project Recommendation — Your mentor does this part.
- Teacher Recommendation — Your supervising teacher does this part.
- Counselor Recommendation (a.k.a. Secondary School Report) and Official School Transcript — The College Office does this part. This really isn't a "recommendation" in the traditional sense.
- A research report.
- And for those who need it vertebrate animals, human participants, IRB, informed consent, etc.
- The entire process for students is done electronically. There are no paper documents. Save a copy of the final application pdf and submit it to Mr. Elert via sneakernet.
- The deadline for entry is Wednesday, November 9, 2022. You must provide proof to your supervising teacher that you have met this deadline and completed the application process before the end of the school day Tuesday, November 8, 2022.
- The top 300 Scholars will be announced on Tuesday, January 10, 2023.
- The top 40 Finalists will be announced on Tuesday, January 24, 2023.
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)
Monday, November 21, 2022 (research paper)
Sunday, February 5, 2023 (presentation)
- Seniors who have completed a research report before the application deadline may enter this competition for extra credit. The competition has two parts: a research report and a slide presentation.
- Team projects are allowed, but only one member of the team will present. Any other members of the team must attend as observers. Presenters will receive more credit than observers. All team members are responsible for contributing to the research report equally.
- Deadline to submit applications and upload documents is
Monday, November 21, 2022. Applications are done online and have the following basic components:
- Name, contact, and other info about the presenter
- Abstract
- Research paper
- Parental consent form
- Supervising scientist form
- "Call for papers" form
- Human subjects form (if applicable)
- Biography of the presenter
- Photo of the presenter
- Prepare a slide presentation for the symposium. Presenters will rehearse in February. The Symposium will be held at York College in Jamaica, Queens Sunday, February 5, 2023 from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Breakfast and lunch are provided.
- The top students at the NYC Metro JSHS move on to compete in the National JSHS April 12–15, 2023 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Terra NYC STEM Fair
Monday, December 19, 2022 (research report)
February 18–March 8, 2023 (virtual prelims)
Sunday, March 26, 2023 (I.R.L. finals)
- Students in this class must enter and participate in this event.
- Register online in November when instructed by your supervising teacher.
- Read the rules and guidelines to ensure your application will be accepted.
- Begin filling out the application as soon as possible. Your "Research Plan" from junior year is now called the "Project Summary" and is written in past tense.
- The application deadline is Monday, December 19, 2022, but everyone is expected to finish Friday, December 16, 2022.
- This year's Preliminary Round for all students will be held on February 18–March 8, 2023 at virtual.
- The top 6 projects in each category will be invited to participate in the Finals Round Sunday, March 26, 2023 at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering.
- The Awards Ceremony follows on Friday, March 31, 2023 at virtual
- 13 projects will be selected to represent New York City at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Dallas, Texas May 13–19, 2023.
St. Joseph's College High School Poster Session
Saturday, February 4, 2023 (poster session)
- Students in this class must participate in this event.
- Register online in December with your supervising teacher.
- Students who wish to compete as a team must register individually with the exact same project title.
- This event is open to high school students who have completed research in any scientific area during the past year and can present their findings in a poster.
- The posters will be judged by professors and/or scientific professionals and cash prizes will be awarded for outstanding entries.
- The competition is held at St. Joseph's College - New York in the Clinton Hill area of Brooklyn at 245 Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205 on Saturday, February 4, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Awards are presented at the end of the event and breakfast is provided.
- This event is sponsored by the New York Section of the American Chemical Society.
Posters
The spring semester is full of events where you are expected to talk about your project to the public. This is typically done while standing next to a 4 foot wide by 3 foot tall poster that summarizes your project. In January, you will a prepare such a poster for use throughout the spring semester.
Fall Lab Logs
- Junior lab logs start with the January lab log, which is due on the first business day of February.
- Senior lab logs are due at the start of each month, with two exceptions.
- Summer lab logs are due on the first Monday of the semester.
- Combined September/October lab logs are due in November.
- November lab logs are due in December.
- December lab logs are due in January.
- January lab logs are due in February.
Honors Science Research
Honors credit is available for juniors and seniors who work on their project under the supervision of a mentor (PhD, MD, other qualified professional) affiliated with a regulated research institution (university, hospital, government agency, etc.). Eligible students will have their class grade weighted by 1.05 when their transcript average is computed. (AP classes are weighted by 1.1, in comparison.)
In order to qualify, students need to…
- Juniors
- Fall semester: Be accepted into a regulated research institution by a mentor before the end of December. Have your mentor email us saying that you will be an intern, volunteer, etc. or that they will be supervising, mentoring, or advising you with your project. (Let them decide on the language.)
- Spring semester: Keep a lab log of the work you do for this class in February, March, April, and May. Meet the goal for the number of hours each month (typically 16 hours). If you do not have a mentor at the beginning of the semester, you need one by the end of May.
- Seniors
- Fall semester: Keep a lab log of the work you do for this class in September, October, November, and December. Meet the goal for the number of hours each month (typically 16 hours). Have your mentor fill out and sign a Qualified Scientist Form for the Terra NYC STEM Fair before the deadline in December.
- Spring semester: Have your mentor contact us saying that you will continue to work with them or other people in their lab as an intern, volunteer, etc. Keep a lab log of the work you do for them (and for the class in general) in February, March, April, and May. Meet the goal for the number of hours each month (typically 16 hours).
Spring Semester
Spring Meetings for Seniors
Check the big calendar on midwoodscience.org often. Individual, team, or small group meetings are the way business gets done. Large group meetings are rare. Keep your supervising teacher up to date on your progress. Do not hesitate to tell us of problems. Above all, do not miss your appointments. They count significantly toward your grade.
- February
- Entrance meeting in the first 2 weeks of the semester.
- Expectations for the semester
- Competitions
- St. Joseph's College High School Poster Session (mandatory) Saturday, February 4, 2023
- Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (if selected) at York College in Jamaica, Queens on Sunday, February 5, 2023
- Entrance meeting in the first 2 weeks of the semester.
- March
- March meeting (before end of marking period)
- Prepare for Terra NYC finals (if selected)
- Prepare for ACT-SO (optional)
- First marking period service logs
- Service options for April
- Terra NYC STEM Fair
- Terra NYC Preliminary Round (mandatory) at virtual, February 18–March 8, 2023
- Terra NYC Finals Round (if selected) in the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Sunday, March 26, 2023
- Terra NYC Awards Ceremony (if selected) at virtual, Friday, March 31, 2023
- March meeting (before end of marking period)
- April
- April meeting (before end of marking period)
- Prepare for Brooklyn College Science Day (optional)
- Prepare for JSHS Nationals (if selected)
- Prepare for ISEF (if selected)
- Second marking period service logs
- Service options for May and June
- April meeting (before end of marking period)
- May
- May meeting
- Competitions
- Midwood High School Science Fair (mandatory) Thursday, May 25, 2023
- Brooklyn College Science Day (optional) Friday, May 5, 2023 [?]
- JSHS Nationals (if selected) April 12–15, 2023
- Regeneron ISEF (if selected) May 13–19, 2023
- Application for Change to Weighted Research Course (1.05)
- June
- Exit meeting
- Third marking period service logs
- Return your drawer keys
- Grades and other exit topics
- Exit meeting
Senior Service
- Students will be available to assist research teachers during their free periods or before or after their regularly scheduled school day. Each period of work counts as one point toward your final grade. A period of work may require a full 45 minutes or a fraction thereof.
- Seniors should plan to complete 10 periods of service in each marking period or obtain an equivalent number of points through other means. More periods will result in a higher grade — fewer periods, a lower grade.
- Students may perform additional periods of service to substitute for the St. Joseph's College Poster Session or the Terra NYC STEM Fair in the event of illness or failure to qualify.
- Examples of acceptable service activities include, but are not limited to…
- Read resumes and cover letters.
- Assist sophomore teachers with the set up and take down of labs, experiments, demonstrations.
- Mentor sophomore students as they prepare for the Midwood Science Fair.
- Speak to the sophomores about how you found your lab and what you did there.
- Seniors will keep service logs. Logs will be checked at monthly meetings and one or two days before the end of each marking period. Totals for each marking period will be recorded by Mr. Elert. Log entries should contain the following information…
- Date and period of service.
- Elapsed time.
- A brief description of what was done.
- A signature from the supervising teacher (Ms. Cunningham, Ms. Goldstein, or Mr. Elert).
St. Joseph's College High School Poster Session
Saturday, February 4, 2023 (poster session)
- Students in this class must participate in this event.
- Register online in December with your supervising teacher.
- Students who wish to compete as a team must register individually with the exact same project title.
- This event is open to high school students who have completed research in any scientific area during the past year and can present their findings in a poster.
- The posters will be judged by professors and/or scientific professionals and cash prizes will be awarded for outstanding entries.
- The competition is held at St. Joseph's College - New York in the Clinton Hill area of Brooklyn at 245 Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205 on Saturday, February 4, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Awards are presented at the end of the event and breakfast is provided.
- This event is sponsored by the New York Section of the American Chemical Society.
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)
Monday, November 21, 2022 (research paper)
Sunday, February 5, 2023 (presentation)
- Seniors who have completed a research report before the application deadline may enter this competition for extra credit. The competition has two parts: a research report and a slide presentation.
- Team projects are allowed, but only one member of the team will present. Any other members of the team must attend as observers. Presenters will receive more credit than observers. All team members are responsible for contributing to the research report equally.
- Deadline to submit applications and upload documents is
Monday, November 21, 2022. Applications are done online and have the following basic components:
- Name, contact, and other info about the presenter
- Abstract
- Research paper
- Parental consent form
- Supervising scientist form
- "Call for papers" form
- Human subjects form (if applicable)
- Biography of the presenter
- Photo of the presenter
- Prepare a slide presentation for the symposium. Presenters will rehearse in February. The Symposium will be held at York College in Jamaica, Queens Sunday, February 5, 2023 from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Breakfast and lunch are provided.
- The top students at the NYC Metro JSHS move on to compete in the National JSHS April 12–15, 2023 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Terra NYC STEM Fair
Monday, December 19, 2022 (research report)
February 18–March 8, 2023 (virtual prelims)
Sunday, March 26, 2023 (I.R.L. finals)
- Students in this class must enter and participate in this event.
- Register online in November when instructed by your supervising teacher.
- Read the rules and guidelines to ensure your application will be accepted.
- Begin filling out the application as soon as possible. Your "Research Plan" from junior year is now called the "Project Summary" and is written in past tense.
- The application deadline is Monday, December 19, 2022, but everyone is expected to finish Friday, December 16, 2022.
- This year's Preliminary Round for all students will be held on February 18–March 8, 2023 at virtual.
- The top 6 projects in each category will be invited to participate in the Finals Round Sunday, March 26, 2023 at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering.
- The Awards Ceremony follows on Friday, March 31, 2023 at virtual
- 13 projects will be selected to represent New York City at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Dallas, Texas May 13–19, 2023.
24/7 Lecture
Write a 24/7 lecture for the midwoodscience.org website and press release mailing list. The idea for this assignment came from the annual Ig Nobel Prize Awards organized by the scientific humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research. Each 24/7 Lecturer explains their topic twice…
First, a complete, technical description in 24 seconds. Then, a clear summary that anyone can understand in 7 words.
This is a written assignment for this class, not a performance piece as it is at the actual event (2 samples, 3 samples, 3 samples).
A fast talker could probably squeeze out 2½ words per second or 60 words in 24 seconds. Write a summary of your research project in 60±10 words that is not afraid to use technical language. Then write a 7 word summary that is poetic, clever, or witty. Include at least one original graphic element, which means no artwork "made by the internet". A graphic element could be a photograph (natural or staged), a drawing (freehand or technical), or a graph (if it is interesting or has special visual appeal). Also, come up with a very short title for your "lecture".
If you would like to do this assignment, submit it to your supervising teacher via email. They will give you feedback. When it is good enough to go on the class website it will be posted for you. After several entires have been posted they will be combined into one message and sent out to the Midwood Science press release mailing list.
Brooklyn College Science Day
Wednesday, April 5, 2023 [?] (abstract registration)
Friday, May 5, 2023 [?] (poster session)
- Brooklyn College Science Day is an annual poster competition for graduate, undergraduate, and high school students. This competition is mandatory for all Midwood seniors with Brooklyn College mentors (optional for juniors). Students working at other CUNY schools may be allowed to participate at the discretion of the event organizers.
- Registration instructions can be found on the for students page. Submit your application before Wednesday, April 5, 2023 [?].
- The poster session will be held from 9 AM to 2 PM on Friday, May 5, 2023 [?] at the Student Center (a.k.a. SUBO), which is two blocks away from Midwood on Campus Road. Awards are announced at the end of the event and lunch is provided.
Midwood High School Science Fair
| Thursday |
|---|
| 25 |
Thursday, May 25, 2023
All Science Research students participate in this event.
- Sophomores
- Bring something to eat or drink
- Participate as contestants
- Feast
- Juniors and Seniors
- Help set up
- Participate as judges
- Feast
- Help clean up
- Alumni and Teachers
- Participate as judges
- Feast
Spring Lab Logs
- Junior lab logs are due on the first business day after the end of each month. They are worth points toward your grade and are necessary to qualify for Honors Science Research. All juniors are required to keep a lab log starting in January.
- Senior lab logs are due on the first business day after the end of each month but are only used to qualify for Honors Research. Only a few seniors are typically eligible for Honors in the spring semester.
Honors Science Research
Honors credit is available for juniors and seniors who work on their project under the supervision of a mentor (PhD, MD, other qualified professional) affiliated with a regulated research institution (university, hospital, government agency, etc.). Eligible students will have their class grade weighted by 1.05 when their transcript average is computed. (AP classes are weighted by 1.1, in comparison.)
In order to qualify, students need to…
- Juniors
- Fall semester: Be accepted into a regulated research institution by a mentor before the end of December. Have your mentor email us saying that you will be an intern, volunteer, etc. or that they will be supervising, mentoring, or advising you with your project. (Let them decide on the language.)
- Spring semester: Keep a lab log of the work you do for this class in February, March, April, and May. Meet the goal for the number of hours each month (typically 16 hours). If you do not have a mentor at the beginning of the semester, you need one by the end of May.
- Seniors
- Fall semester: Keep a lab log of the work you do for this class in September, October, November, and December. Meet the goal for the number of hours each month (typically 16 hours). Have your mentor fill out and sign a Qualified Scientist Form for the Terra NYC STEM Fair before the deadline in December.
- Spring semester: Have your mentor contact us saying that you will continue to work with them or other people in their lab as an intern, volunteer, etc. Keep a lab log of the work you do for them (and for the class in general) in February, March, April, and May. Meet the goal for the number of hours each month (typically 16 hours).