Science Fair

The range of research topics reflects the wide curiosity and diverse interests of Austin Prep’s eighth graders. Students pursue questions that connect scientific concepts with real-world applications, often exploring ideas that extend beyond what might appear in a traditional classroom unit.

Examples of student investigations include:

• Testing the flexibility of different types of hockey sticks
• Generating electricity using the conductivity of various fruits
• Investigating the disease etiology of asthma
• Studying the most effective studying habits
• Exploring methods to make cell phone batteries last longer
• Experimenting with how to make low-fat ice cream that still tastes good

Some projects also incorporate tools from Austin Prep’s Digital Fabrication Lab, where students design and 3D print components that support their experiments and research designs.

The Science Fair takes place in Austin Prep’s fourth-floor science classrooms, offering families an authentic glimpse into the spaces where students learn each day. During the school day, students participate in peer-viewing sessions that allow them to practice presenting their research and responding thoughtfully to questions.

In the evening, families and members of the Austin Prep community return to the classrooms as students stand beside their posters, presenting their findings to visiting guests and a panel of faculty judges from across all academic departments. The atmosphere blends academic rigor with celebration, as students share their discoveries with confidence and pride.

Outstanding projects are later recognized during a school-wide community meeting, where students are celebrated for their research before their peers and faculty.

The Science Fair experience develops more than scientific knowledge. As students manage an independent research project from question to conclusion, they strengthen habits of curiosity, persistence, and intellectual ownership that extend well beyond the science classroom.

By the time students present their work, they are not simply describing an assignment—they are explaining discoveries they have made themselves. Standing beside their posters and answering questions from families, faculty, and peers, students demonstrate both the depth of their learning and the confidence that comes from sustained inquiry.