By Dr. Harman Brah, MD · Judge, California Science & Engineering Fair
You do not need a university lab to do research that wins at a science fair. Strong projects are built on computers, outdoors, at home with simple equipment, or in community labs, and judges care far more about the question and the thinking than about where the work happened.
Four ways to do research without a university lab
Computational projects. Analyze public data, build and test a model, or write code that answers a real question. These need a laptop and a clear question. They also usually avoid pre-approval rules, which makes them a good choice if you are starting late.
Field projects. Measure something in the world: water quality in a local creek, plant growth across your neighborhood, noise levels around school. The data is real, and the question is often original because nobody has measured your exact place.
Engineering projects. Design, build and test something against a clear goal. The testing is the science: repeated trials, measured results, honest comparison.
Community labs. The Bay Area has community biology labs where students can do bench work. One of our mentees ran his Regeneron STS project at BioCurious, a community lab in Santa Clara.
Why a famous lab can actually hurt
Research done alongside adult researchers at an institution is allowed for Regeneron STS, but judges assess whether the work is substantially the student’s own. A student in a big lab often struggles to show which decisions were theirs. A student who designed a smaller project start to finish can explain every choice, and that is what wins at the board.
What still applies
- Pre-approval rules. Projects with human participants, vertebrate animals or certain biological agents need review before any data is collected, wherever the work happens.
- Controls and honest statistics. This is where most projects lose points.
- Ownership. The question, the data and the writing must be the student’s.
Where to start
Pick the type that fits your interest and your calendar. If your county fair is in March and you are starting in the winter, a computational or engineering project that avoids pre-approval is often the smart move.
Our mentors help students design projects that fit the resources they actually have, including bench work when it makes sense. See our research mentorship, or read how to come up with a project idea.
FAQ
Can I win a science fair without a lab?
Yes. Computational, field and engineering projects win regularly. Judges care most about the question, the data and how well you explain your choices.
What is a community lab?
A shared lab space open to the public, where students can do bench work. BioCurious in Santa Clara is one example.
Is a computational project a good science fair project?
Yes, and it often avoids pre-approval rules, which helps if you are starting late.
Does working in a university lab help with Regeneron STS?
It is allowed, but judges assess whether the work is substantially the student’s own. You need to show clearly which decisions were yours.
More guides on this topic
- My Child Does Research in a University Lab, Do They Need Outside Help for Regeneron STS?
- Can University Lab Research Go to the County Science Fair and ISEF?
- My High Schooler Is Working with a Professor. What Should They Do with the Research?
- Junior Doing Research in a University Lab: When to Start the STS Application
- How to Explain Lab Research to STS Judges Without Sounding Like the Postdoc
Planning a Science Fair or STS Project?
This guide is the general version. Work one on one with a physician who judges at the California state fair and a PhD chemist, on a project your student owns from the first question to the final poster.