Prepare your Plant Science Project Award project

To enter the Plant Science Project Awards, students must:

• select any topic relating to the theme
• design their own experiments and activities or follow our pre-designed examples
• complete a scientific report detailing their findings, research and links to agricultural industries
• keep a science journal reflecting on their experiments and activities.

Step 1: Design the experiment

Design your own experiments and activities, or follow our pre-designed experiment in the competition guidelines.

Step 2 : Record the findings

Students can either complete a scientific report or design a poster detailing their findings, research and links to agricultural industries.

We've designed factsheets for you to share with students:

• Write a scientific report
• Produce a scientific poster
• Follow the scientific method

Write a scientific report

Scientific reports communicate the results of science experiments.

If you're aligning this project to the Australian Curriculum, you may need to follow a different scientific report writing format. You're welcome to use alternative reporting structures to meet your curriculum requirements.

Scientific reports usually have:

• Title: Either a title page or a main heading.
• Abstract: Paragraph summarising the project and tasks.
• Introduction: Predictions or hypothesis, aims of the experiments, background information on the topic.
• Materials and methods: How they set up the experiments and activities and the materials used.
• Results: A factual account of findings, observations made, data displayed in tables or graphs, photos samples or sketches.
• Discussion or conclusion: Interpretation and explanation of experiment results.
• References or bibliography: Alphabetical list of books, magazines, journals, websites, interviews, etc.
• Appendices: Other relevant information that is not essential but supports results and conclusions (interview question and answer sheets, notes from farm or industry visits), results of extra activities or experiments completed.

Design a scientific poster

Scientific posters contain important information, photos, graphs and diagrams that summarise students' experiment findings and research.

They follow the same heading structure as reports:

• Title: Experiment title.
• Author/s: List the student/s involved, year levels and school name, plus a photo of the author(s) if permissions allow.
• Introduction: Aims/hypothesis of the experiment, background research on the topic.
• Materials and methods: How you set up the experiments/activities and the materials used.
• Results: Summary of observations, table/graph of the results, diagrams, photos.
• Conclusion/Discussion: Interpretation and explanation of the experiment results.
• References: List of reference materials used in your research.
• Acknowledgements: List of people who assisted (e.g. teacher, classmates, school gardener, parents, farmers or professionals they may have interviewed).
• Contact information: Year level, school name, school phone number, school logo/emblem.

Step 3: Keep a science journal

A science journal is a record of observations, experiences and reflections. The science journal is a separate document to the final scientific report.

It contains a series of dated entries, which may include thoughts, ideas, raw notes, drawings, diagrams, photographs, etc.

Using a science journal provides an opportunity for students to be engaged in a real science situation as they keep a record of their observations, ideas and thoughts about the project.

The science journal is a useful assessment tool if you are considering using the competition project for a curriculum activity.

Step 4: Prepare your entry

Your entry can be either hard copy or electronic.

Hard copy:

• Word processed or neatly handwritten documents stapled, bound or presented in a display folder.
• Handwritten science journal in a separate exercise book or diary, or can be done digitally via OneNote (or similar).

Electronic files:

• Saved as PDF.

Posters can be:

• designed electronically and saved as a PDF
• handwritten on cardboard sheets (ideal for younger students).

View examples of prize-winning entries

• 2020 Runner-up 'Global Food Security' animation entry by Year 10 student from Centenary Heights State High School.
• 2019 'The Banana Song' Global Food Security entry by Year 10 student from Glasshouse Christian College.
• 2011 Winning poster entry by Year 11 student from Gin Gin State High School.