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Broadcom MASTERS 2011 finalist Meagan Bethel of Tucson, Arizona, at the Maryland Science Center where she and her teammates participated in a science challenge.Broadcom MASTERS/Robin Weiner Photography

As temperatures drop and days grow shorter, middle and high school students across the country begin gearing up for science fair season. While these competitions typically take place in the spring, the qualifying projects can take several weeks or even months to plan, carry out and summarize. That means late fall and early winter are an ideal time for students to start brainstorming project ideas.   

But science fair planning can overwhelm many students. Some become intimidated at the prospect of designing a project that’s never been done before. For others, this event may be their first experience in long-term project coordination. And for parents, it’s often a time spent wondering how best to help their children without taking over the project themselves.

The good news is that a student’s own interests can lay the groundwork for a great science fair project. And by knowing what those interests are, parents often can help steer students toward projects that will prove personally meaningful and rewarding.

Visit the new Science News for Kids website and read the full story: Science fair as a family affair

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Daniel Feeney was the first place winner in the Broadcom MASTERS 2011 for his project, Are Waves the Dominant Force Driving Diversity in the Intertidal Zone?. Daniel is pictured with his mother at Public Day where finalists discuss their science and engineering projects with students, teachers, parents, scientists, engineers and members of the general public who share their enthusiasm for science and engineering.Broadcom MASTERS/Robin Weiner Photography

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Broadcom MASTERS finalists left to right: Samantha Rowland and Namrata Balasingam participate in the science team challenge to build a simple Rube Goldberg machine.Broadcom MASTERS/Robin Weiner Photography

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