Student Bio Expo FAQ
Q: How does a school become involved with the Expo?
A: Interested schools should contact NWABR. NWABR's policies regarding school participation include the following:
Growth Policy 1: The maximum number of participants is 375.
Growth Policy 2: New schools will be invited to bring up to ten students during their first year of participation. A school may increase the number of student participants in subsequent years if there is space available due to another school dropping out. Exceptional cases will be considered by the Advisory Committee.
Growth Policy 3: For current schools wishing to bring a large number of students to the Expo, each school will initially be limited to thirty-five student participants. More than thirty-five students can sign up for a mentor in the fall, so that each student can generate an Expo project during the school year under the guidance of a mentor. If numbers at the spring registration are low, we will accept additional projects from schools at the discretion of the Advisory Committee. If registration numbers in the spring are high (nearing our maximum of 375), the teacher will be responsible for selecting the thirty-five students he or she would like to participate in the Expo.
Q: What if my school doesn't participate in the Expo?
A: Individual students are always encouraged to register! We welcome students with a strong interest in the Expo to sign up during the registration period in the fall.
Q: Where can I find out specific information about my category?
A: On the NWABR website, at the "Category Requirements" tab.
Q: Can I work with a friend?
A: Groups of students can only work together in Music, Drama & Dance, and Multimedia categories. If working with a group, each student must turn in an individually written, separate Science Background Paper and Artist's Statement. Students must also justify why a team was needed and document the roles fulfilled by each team member.
Q: Are students, who chose to work in groups, allowed to do group research and present on the same topic? Or is one person supposed to do the research and then just ask other students to help with the presentation (drama, music, multimedia)?
A: If ONE individual enters the Expo, he or she can have friends help with music/multimedia/drama. The friends who were not enrolled probably would not come to the Expo, unless they were invited to perform for the whole group after lunch.
If more than one student decides to work as a group and each of them enters the Expo (each registers), each student must do his or her own research on the topic, turn in an individually written Science Background Paper and Artist's Statement. Students must also justify why a team was needed and document the roles fulfilled by each team member, to be included in the Artist's Statement. They could, of course, share the same mentor.
Q: What if I do not know how to do an annotated bibliography?
Look here for background on making an annotated bibliography.
Q: What if I can't afford materials or supplies for my project?
A: A limited number of scholarships are available for material supplies, such as tri-fold boards, or supplies for molecular modeling or art. Click here for the application form, and ask your teacher for more information.
Q: Can I see projects from previous years?
A: Yes! Look under the "Past Winners" tab.
Q: What should I wear to the Expo?
A: This is ultimately up to you, your fellow students, and your teacher. We have found that most students look very professional on the day of the Expo.
Q: When are things due?
A: Your teacher may have his or her own class-specific due dates, but check the calendar page for additional guidelines.
Q: Who do I contact if I am having trouble?
A: your teacher is usually the best place to start! If you have trouble with your mentor or have questions about category requirements or logistics for the day, please contact Joan Griswold at jgriswold@nwabr.org.
Q: Who else will be at the Expo?
A: There will be students from about twenty other high schools there. A tentative list includes these high schools: Ballard, Cleveland, Eastside Catholic, Eastlake, Garfield, Ingraham, International Community, Juanita, Lynnwood, Mercer Island, Royal, Shorecrest, Shorewood, and West Seattle. Parents and mentors are also invited.
Q: What is one piece of advice many former participants give to current participants?
A: "I had no idea there would be so many high-level projects! If I had known the caliber was so high, I would have tried a bit harder."
Q: What should I do with my project when the Expo is over?
A: If you are not planning to keep your project, contact your teacher or NWABR to discuss donating your project for future display.
Q: Are there other opportunities for my Expo project after the Expo is over?
A: Past students have gained internships with their mentors, gone on to other science fairs (such as Intel Science Fair), participated in the NWABR Annual Dinner and showcased their projects at research facilities in the area. It may not be all over on the day of the Expo!
Q: What should I do if I find I need to withdraw from the Expo?
A: Please let NWABR know! You should also contact your mentor and inform them.
Q: Can I participate in the Expo if I am not yet in 9th grade?
A: Students who are younger than 9th grade but working at 9th grade and above level may enter with teacher recommendation.
Q: Can I participate again if I participated last year?
A: Yes, but you must complete a new project significantly different from the one you entered previously.
Q: What if my question isn't answered here?
A: Please contact NWABR.
A: Interested schools should contact NWABR. NWABR's policies regarding school participation include the following:
Growth Policy 1: The maximum number of participants is 375.
Growth Policy 2: New schools will be invited to bring up to ten students during their first year of participation. A school may increase the number of student participants in subsequent years if there is space available due to another school dropping out. Exceptional cases will be considered by the Advisory Committee.
Growth Policy 3: For current schools wishing to bring a large number of students to the Expo, each school will initially be limited to thirty-five student participants. More than thirty-five students can sign up for a mentor in the fall, so that each student can generate an Expo project during the school year under the guidance of a mentor. If numbers at the spring registration are low, we will accept additional projects from schools at the discretion of the Advisory Committee. If registration numbers in the spring are high (nearing our maximum of 375), the teacher will be responsible for selecting the thirty-five students he or she would like to participate in the Expo.
Q: What if my school doesn't participate in the Expo?
A: Individual students are always encouraged to register! We welcome students with a strong interest in the Expo to sign up during the registration period in the fall.
Q: Where can I find out specific information about my category?
A: On the NWABR website, at the "Category Requirements" tab.
Q: Can I work with a friend?
A: Groups of students can only work together in Music, Drama & Dance, and Multimedia categories. If working with a group, each student must turn in an individually written, separate Science Background Paper and Artist's Statement. Students must also justify why a team was needed and document the roles fulfilled by each team member.
Q: Are students, who chose to work in groups, allowed to do group research and present on the same topic? Or is one person supposed to do the research and then just ask other students to help with the presentation (drama, music, multimedia)?
A: If ONE individual enters the Expo, he or she can have friends help with music/multimedia/drama. The friends who were not enrolled probably would not come to the Expo, unless they were invited to perform for the whole group after lunch.
If more than one student decides to work as a group and each of them enters the Expo (each registers), each student must do his or her own research on the topic, turn in an individually written Science Background Paper and Artist's Statement. Students must also justify why a team was needed and document the roles fulfilled by each team member, to be included in the Artist's Statement. They could, of course, share the same mentor.
Q: What if I do not know how to do an annotated bibliography?
Look here for background on making an annotated bibliography.
Q: What if I can't afford materials or supplies for my project?
A: A limited number of scholarships are available for material supplies, such as tri-fold boards, or supplies for molecular modeling or art. Click here for the application form, and ask your teacher for more information.
Q: Can I see projects from previous years?
A: Yes! Look under the "Past Winners" tab.
Q: What should I wear to the Expo?
A: This is ultimately up to you, your fellow students, and your teacher. We have found that most students look very professional on the day of the Expo.
Q: When are things due?
A: Your teacher may have his or her own class-specific due dates, but check the calendar page for additional guidelines.
Q: Who do I contact if I am having trouble?
A: your teacher is usually the best place to start! If you have trouble with your mentor or have questions about category requirements or logistics for the day, please contact Joan Griswold at jgriswold@nwabr.org.
Q: Who else will be at the Expo?
A: There will be students from about twenty other high schools there. A tentative list includes these high schools: Ballard, Cleveland, Eastside Catholic, Eastlake, Garfield, Ingraham, International Community, Juanita, Lynnwood, Mercer Island, Royal, Shorecrest, Shorewood, and West Seattle. Parents and mentors are also invited.
Q: What is one piece of advice many former participants give to current participants?
A: "I had no idea there would be so many high-level projects! If I had known the caliber was so high, I would have tried a bit harder."
Q: What should I do with my project when the Expo is over?
A: If you are not planning to keep your project, contact your teacher or NWABR to discuss donating your project for future display.
Q: Are there other opportunities for my Expo project after the Expo is over?
A: Past students have gained internships with their mentors, gone on to other science fairs (such as Intel Science Fair), participated in the NWABR Annual Dinner and showcased their projects at research facilities in the area. It may not be all over on the day of the Expo!
Q: What should I do if I find I need to withdraw from the Expo?
A: Please let NWABR know! You should also contact your mentor and inform them.
Q: Can I participate in the Expo if I am not yet in 9th grade?
A: Students who are younger than 9th grade but working at 9th grade and above level may enter with teacher recommendation.
Q: Can I participate again if I participated last year?
A: Yes, but you must complete a new project significantly different from the one you entered previously.
Q: What if my question isn't answered here?
A: Please contact NWABR.