DIVISION/TOPIC Descriptions 

A Life and Health Sciences project deals with living organisms, including their organization, processes and relationships to each other, and their environment. This includes fields such as: biology, botany, zoology, animal behaviour, environment/ecology, health/medicine, food/nutrition, and social sciences such as anthropology and psychology.

A Physical and Chemical Sciences project examines the nature and interaction of energy and/or non-living matter. This includes fields such as: engineering, earth sciences, physics, chemistry, and astronomy.  

A Mathematical and Computer sciences project uses mathematical models and/or computer equipment or programs to simulate or solve theoretical or real-world problems.  Projects that create or improve a computer program or computer hardware belong in this Division. Projects using computers for the sole purpose of storing and handling data do not belong in this Division; instead, they belong in the Division that best describes the subject matter of the data.

A Consumer Goods project performs a comparison of products or foods by means of product testing, taste tests, price/value comparisons or uses. Test or compare consumer goods or food products. Food Sciences projects examine food systems and interactions between ingredients, including shelf-life studies, and microbiological and chemical testing. Projects in this category might also fit in the Physical/Chemical Sciences, Health/Medical Sciences or Life/Biological Sciences categories, depending on the nature of the project.

1. study of any aspect of the material universe beyond the earth's atmosphere

• study of chemical processes in living organisms

• study of plant life

• study of the compositions, behaviour, structure and properties of matter (atoms, molecules, crystals) and how they change during a chemical reaction

• development of computer equipment or programs
• use of a computer to accomplish a task where the data is of secondary significance
• projects using computers for the sole purpose of storing and handling data do not belong in this Topic; instead, they belong in the Topic that best describes the subject matter of the data
• in many cases, the topic of Engineering might also apply to projects in Computer Science

• study of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting plants, animals and their ecosystems

• testing or comparison of consumer goods or food products

• study of the wearing away of metals due to chemical reactions
• a common example is rusting of metals

• study of the planet Earth, including atmosphere, oceans, biosphere and the solid earth
• geology, oceanography and climatology projects may all be included in this topic

• application of knowledge of physical processes to solve a problem or achieve a purpose
• normally focuses on a new process or a new product
• for example, a study of Bernoulli's Principle would come under the topic of Physical Science, whereas the application of such a principle to improve aerodynamics and wing design would come under the topic of Engineering

• study of biological and/or physical factors within an environment
• ecology, pollution, resource management, sustainable development and capture/recapture projects may all be included in this topic
• depending on the nature of the project, the topics of Earth, Life, Physical or Chemical Sciences might also apply to projects in Environmental Science

• study of nutrition, food systems and interactions between ingredients, including shelf-life studies and microbiological and chemical testing

• application of science to answer questions of a legal nature
• projects in this topic study trace evidence and can be chemical, biological or physical in nature

• study of the digestive system

• study of biology at the molecular or cellular level
• genetics, heredity and variation, interactions between various systems in a cell, and microorganisms, such as viruses and bacteria, may all be included in this topic

• study of human life or lifestyle and its translation into improved health for humans, including effective health services and products
• physiology, genetics, disease, nutrition, pharmacy, psychology, and the health of populations may all be included in this topic
• projects in this topic include animal research only if it has a direct application to human health

• study of indoor/outdoor air quality, or a study involving heating, ventilation, or air conditioning

• study of living organisms, including their organization, processes and relationships to each other and their environment
• biology, plant studies, animal behaviour, ecology, health, and psychology may all be included in this topic

• study that uses a map to communicate the results or analysis of a scientific problem

• study of the fundamental properties and characteristics of materials
• projects in this topic study properties of matter and their application to science and engineering

• use of mathematical models to solve theoretical problems
• in many cases the topic of Physical Science might also apply to projects in Mathematical Science

• study of the discovery, production and utilization of oil and natural gas

• study of energy and/or non-living matter

• study of contaminants in a natural environment, including pollution of air, water and soil

• study of mental processes and behaviours

• study of naturally replenished energy from natural resources including sunlight, wind, rain tides, geothermal heat

• study of how people learn, behave and interact; and of their relationships within society
• psychology, sociology, communication studies, anthropology and education/learning may all be included in this topic

• application of science to solve a problem

• study of the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye