THE MELODIES OF MATERIALS

Earlier this month, I proudly presented my research at the Fulton County Regional Science and Engineering Fair (FCRSEF), and it ended up being one of those days that felt both intense and unexpectedly fun at the same time. 

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Going into the fair, I didn’t really know what to expect. I had spent months working on my coacervates project. On one hand, I was proud and confident in my research as it was a novel application of coacervates never researched before. On the other hand, presenting my work in front of judges was a completely different experience.

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When the judges came around, everything suddenly felt a lot more real. You only got one shot to explain your entire project. I had just ten minutes to present months of hard work in a way that was understandable yet conveyed the impact and novelty of my research. There’s no reset, no second chance, just one conversation where everything has to come together.

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The judges asked me thoughtful questions on the application of my innovation. While some of the questions I faced were ones I expected, others definitely caught me off guard. There were moments where I had to pause and really think through my answers instead of just repeating what I had practiced at home in front of my family. However, I had an unreal amount of understanding for this project, as it was my own work, and I was able to answer any question to clear confusion about my research with relative ease. In my opinion, this is the most important part. The judges are testing you to see if you actually have a solid understanding about your work and its surrounding field, not just being able to present it.

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The Results

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By the end of the day, I was eagerly sitting in my seat at the awards ceremony. I was honored to place 2nd in the Materials Science category, which honestly felt a lot more rewarding than I initially expected. Even more exciting was advancing to the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair (GSEF), which takes place from March 26-28th where I’ll have the opportunity to compete again, and potentially even qualify for the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), one of the world’s largest and most commemorable student research conventions. 

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From some of my friends that competed at GSEF in the past, I heard that it’s a completely different ball game than what I experienced at the regional county fair. However, with the amount of work I put in last semester, in addition to my improvements I made day in and day out at the lab this semester, I have no doubt that I can succeed at this competition.

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The Part You Don’t Expect

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As much as the fair itself was about research and competition, some of my favorite moments came after the judging was over.  A few of my friends, especially those at my old school, were also competing that day. We all ended up walking to Taco Bell afterward, in the hot sun with our suits on, and it turned into one of those moments where all the stress of the day just disappeared.

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We went quickly from explaining our projects to judges to casually talking about how everything went, what questions we received, what we wish we may have said differently, and just laughing about the random parts of the long day. It was such a simple thing, but it made the whole experience feel more complete.

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Looking Ahead

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There’s definitely more I want to refine before the state fair. Whether it’s strengthening my project’s results and my explanations, or preparing for tougher questions, I know I can take this project to new heights. That is what I’m looking forward to most.

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Overall, the fair was competitive, but it was also a reminder of why I enjoy doing this in the first place. Research is about learning, improving, and pushing yourself a little further every time. I’m excited to see what is in store for me at GSEF, and hopefully ISEF, but until dhin . . . stay upbeat, and stay tuned.