Abstracts are limited to a maximum 250 words. The abstract should include the following:

• purpose of the experiment
• procedure
• data
• conclusions

It may also include any possible research applications. Only minimal reference to previous work may be included. An abstract must not include the following:

• acknowledgments (including naming the research institution and/or mentor with which you were working), or self-promotions and external endorsements
• work or procedures done by the mentor

TIPS ON WRITING A PROJECT ABSTRACT

A project abstract is a brief paragraph or two (limited to 250 words or 1,800 characters) highlighting and/or summarizing the major points or most important ideas about your project. An abstract allows judges to quickly determine the nature and scope of a project.

Sample abstracts from winning projects can be found on our website and there are many other sites that have examples of projects for both junior and senior division.

• Emphasize these aspects: purpose (hypothesis), methods (procedures used), data summary or analysis, and conclusions.
• Focus only on the current year’s research.
• Omit details and discussions.
• Don't include irrelevant or redundant information. For example, when listing materials used, don't include things like: a computer, paper, pencil, tools, etc.
• Use the past tense when describing what was done. However, where appropriate use active verbs rather than passive verbs.
• Use short sentences, but vary the sentence structure.
• Use complete sentences. Don’t abbreviate by omitting articles or other small words in order to save space.
• Avoid jargon and use appropriate scientific language.
• Use concise syntax, correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

AVOID A REWRITE

• Focus on what you did, not on the work of your mentor or of the laboratory in which you did your work.
• Do NOT include acknowledgements, self promotion or external endorsements. Don’t name the research institution and/or mentor with which you were working and avoid mentioning awards or honors (including achieving a patent) in the body of the abstract.
• Be sure to emphasize the current year’s research. A continuation project should only make a brief mention of previous years’ research (no more than a sentence or two).