PRINCE GEORGE'S AREA SCIENCE FAIR ASSOCIATION

Category Descriptions

• Behavioral and Social Sciences: Human and animal behavior, social and community relationships--psychology, sociology, anthropology, archaeology, ethology, ethnology, linguistics, learning, perception, urban problems, reading problems, public opinion surveys, educational testing, etc.
• Biochemistry: Chemistry of life processes--molecular biology, molecular genetics, enzymes, photosynthesis, blood chemistry, protein chemistry, food chemistry, hormones, etc.
• Botany: Study of plant life--agriculture, agronomy, horticulture, forestry, plant taxonomy, plant physiology, plant pathology, plant genetics, hydroponics, algae, etc.
• Chemistry: Study of nature and composition of matter and laws governing it--physical chemistry, organic chemistry (other than biochemistry), inorganic chemistry, materials, plastics, fuels, pesticides, metallurgy, soil chemistry, etc.
• Computer Science: Study and development of computer hardware, software engineering, internet networking and communications, graphics (including human interface), simulations / virtual reality or computational science (including data structures, encryption, coding and information theory).
• Earth and Space Sciences: Geology, minerology, physiography, oceanography, meteorology, climatology, astronomy, speleology, seismology, geography, etc.
• Engineering: Technology; projects that directly apply scientific principles to manufacturing and practical uses--civil, mechanical, aeronautical, chemical, electrical, photographic, sound, automotive, marine, heating and refrigerating, transportation, environmental engineering, etc.
• Environmental Science: Study of pollution (air, water, and land) sources and their control; ecology.
• Gerontology: Study of the aging process in living organisms.
• Mathematics: Development of formal logical systems or various numerical and algebraic computations, and the application of these principles--calculus, geometry, abstract algebra, number theory, statistics, complex analysis, probability.
• Medicine and Health: Study of diseases and health of humans and animals--dentistry, pharmacology, pathology, ophthalmology, nutrition, sanitation, pediatrics, dermatology, allergies, speech and hearing, etc.
• Microbiology: Biology of microorganisms--bacteriology, virology, protozoology, fungi, bacterial genetics, yeast, etc.
• Physics: Theories, principles, and laws governing energy and the effect of energy on matter--solid state, optics, acoustics, particle, nuclear, atomic, plasma, superconductivity, fluid and gas dynamics, thermodynamics, semiconductors, magnetism, quantum mechanics, biophysics, etc.
• Zoology: Study of animals--animal genetics, ornithology, ichthyology, herpetology, entomology, animal ecology, paleontology, cellular physiology, circadian rhythms, animal husbandry, cytology, histology, animal physiology, invertebrate neurophysiology, studies of invertebrates, etc.
• Team Projects: Study conducted by two or three students in any discipline.