Scientific Discovery Begins with Expeditions

Over the last 100 years, our understanding of the world has evolved tremendously. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the idea of plate tectonics had not been developed, we believed that the Milky Way galaxy was the entire universe, and we never imagined that many of our planet’s plant and animal life might one day become extinct. Today, we know that plate tectonics is a major force that shapes Earth’s surface, that the universe stretches far beyond our galaxy, and that the biodiversity of Earth’s living things is of critical importance not only to human survival, but also to the continued functioning of the Earth system.

Each year our Museum scientists endeavor to gain more knowledge about these and other important subjects. They travel across the planet to places as far away as the Falkland Islands and as close as Central Park in New York City. These scientists observe, hypothesize, gather data, and document what they find. Their observations are recorded in field journals that they can refer to again and again, long after the expeditions are over. With each careful, detailed field study, scientists add to the existing body of knowledge. Many months, and sometimes years later, scientists are still analyzing the data they gathered on their expeditions and communicating their findings to other scientists and to the public.

You Are Invited!

You, too, can join with scientists in exploring the world around you. The Young Naturalist Awards program invites you to plan and conduct your own scientific investigation, one that will include questions, hypotheses, and expeditions to gather data. You are not expected to make a new scientific discovery. However, your investigation should provide you with a new understanding about your question. Tell us about your investigation in an essay that includes artwork and/or photographs that help to illustrate your findings. To learn more about the project you can do, see Selecting and Planning a project.

Essays must be mailed to the Museum between December 1, 2007, and March 1, 2008. A panel of judges will review each essay, and twelve winners, two from each grade, will be chosen. The winning essays will be published on the Museum’s Web site. Winners will receive cash awards. In May 2008, they will be invited, along with a parent or guardian, on an expense-paid trip to New York City to attend an award ceremony at the Museum and to take a behind-the-scenes tour. In addition their essays will be published on the Museum’s Web site. For more information regarding the awards and eligibility see Rules and Regulations.

Selecting and Planning a Project

Go on Your Own Expedition!

You can plan your own scientific expedition no matter where you live. . Your expedition can be to a local area, such as a park, lake, stream, beach, or woodlands. You can conduct your expedition in your own backyard, or travel through the lens of a telescope by looking at the planets and stars. Your expedition should be a journey into the natural world where you will investigate a question that your have or a question that you may uncover. You may also conduct experiments that will help you answer a question and support a hypothesis you have about the natural world. To get ideas, read the essays of past winners on this Web site and learn how they conducted their expeditions. Choose a topic in one of the following areas to investigate: biology, ecology, Earth science, or astronomy. Use the scientific method to help you plan and conduct your research.

How do I choose a question to investigate?

You may have a good idea of where you’d like to go for your investigation, but not a clear idea of what your topic or question will be. For example, suppose there is a marsh nearby. A march could be a good place for an expedition, but maybe you haven’t yet formulated a question you want to answer. In that case, visit the marsh and bring along a journal. Observe. Take notes and make drawings in your journal. Document what you see, hear, smell, and feel. Write down any questions you have. After your visit, look over your journal. Perhaps you noticed a large amount of trash or an oil slick on the water. You might want to investigate how the trash or oil slick affects the plants and animals of the marsh. Perhaps you wondered what factors determine the health of a marsh. You could identify these factors and create an experiment or conduct research to determine whether the area is healthy or not. Look at the plants and animals. Are they native to your area? Have they been introduced? How are introduced species affecting the biodiversity of the marsh? These are all good areas to investigate. You may not come up with a topic on the first visit. You may have to make several visits before you find a good question to investigate.

Remember, your investigation can be as close as your backyard. Take the time to look closely at your surroundings. You may see something that you think is obvious and unimportant. Take a closer look. For example: Imagine that it’s fall. You’re sitting outside. You see golden rod and Queen Anne’s lace (flowers). There are a lot of insects on them. You might think, “So what?” Ask yourself these questions: What are the insects? Why are they on the flowers? What roles do the flowers and insects play in these microhabitats?

Do I have to go outside to conduct my research?

We want our participants to explore the natural world around them. If you can relate an indoor experiment to an investigation in the natural world, then that is acceptable. If you have questions regarding this, contact the Young Naturalist Awards Administrator at yna@amnh.org.

How do I begin investigating my topic or question?

Once you have a topic or a good question, do research to learn more about it. Go to outside sources such as books, science magazines, and Web sites. (In gathering information do not rely solely on Web sites.) Find out all you can about your topic or question. Make copies of important information so you can refer back to them during your research. If possible, find an expert in the field who can give you information on your topic. The research you do will give you information you can use to guide your investigation.

What is a hypothesis?

A hypothesis is a testable statement in response to a question. A hypothesis should be based on your initial research and observations, and should predict what you think you will find. For example, suppose you are interested in how many different species of trees there are in your neighborhood. Through your initial research you find that five species of trees are typically found in your area. In response to your question: “How many species of trees will I find in my neighborhood?” you might state the following hypothesis: “Given where I live, I predict that I will find five species of trees in my neighborhood.” Once you have your hypothesis you can plan a way to test it.

Do I have to state a hypothesis before going on my expedition?

Sometimes you do not have enough information to state a hypothesis. In that case do research and make observations that will add to your body of knowledge about your topic. As you investigate and learn more you should be able to formulate a hypothesis at some point during your investigation.

Can my hypothesis change?

As you learn more you may want to reject your initial hypothesis. At that point you can formulate a new hypothesis based on your new information.

How do I test my hypothesis?

Start by making a plan. Once you have a testable hypothesis, plan how you will investigate it. Think about what you’ve already learned through research and observations. Decide what information you will need, how you will collect the information, and how you will record it. Can you record information in a chart? A table? A list? Can you document your information using photographs? Suppose you were looking for the number of species of trees in your neighborhood. You would need to decide the boundaries of the area you are investigating. You might make a map and identify where each tree was found. You could also make a chart to record how many of each tree you saw.

You may need tools or equipment to conduct your experiment. If you are testing water, for example, you will need a water-testing kit. You might also need a thermometer to test the temperature of the water and the air. If you are taking measurements, you will need a tape measure. Field guides will help you identify plants and animals. Binoculars are also useful. Prepare all necessary items before visiting your site.

How many times should I visit my site?

The number of times you visit the site or sites you select will depend on the type, nature and amount of the data you need to collect. You want enough data in order to analyze it properly and come to solid conclusions. Remember that the natural world is dynamic. Changes occur daily and throughout the seasons, so most often more than one visit will be needed. Each time you visit, bring along a journal and any other research tools you may need.

How can I record data?

Keeping a field journal is a helpful way to record your expedition activities, observations, and questions. You may also use your journal to make drawings or to record data in charts to help keep your information organized. Photographs of your site or of the specimens you find is another good way of collecting data.

When writing your essay, use drawings and photographs to further the reader’s understanding of your research topic and findings. When you do an illustration, make sure it is detailed, neat, and labeled. The drawing should reflect some aspect of your research. For example, you might notice that a squirrel flattens itself against a tree as a way of camouflaging itself. Draw a careful and detailed picture of the squirrel on the tree. Do not re-create illustrations you find in books or on the Internet.

Photographs are another good way of providing information to your reader. Do not take a series of random shots. Plan each photograph. Make sure the object you want to highlight is centered and in focus. Choose to include only those photos that illustrate the points you are trying to make. Write meaningful captions that connect the photo or illustration to your research. For more information, see How to Keep a Field Journal.

Do I need to do more outside research?

Sometimes the information you collect at your site will not provide you with all the information you need. You should expect to return to the library or go on the Internet to find more information about your topic as you analyze the information you collected during your expedition. This will help you put your observations in context. You can also conduct interviews with experts in the field to gain more knowledge about your topic. It is very important to document the outside sources you use. Write down the title, author, publisher, and publication date of every book you consult. Note the pages that you read. Write down the Web site addresses of the sites you visit. You will need to cite these sources in your bibliography. For more information, see How to Write a Reference List.

What do I do after I've collected all my data?

The next step is to analyze your findings. When your expedition is concluded, look at your data: your observations, measurements, sketches, photographs, notes, and the information you gathered from outside resources. Use all this information to decide whether or not it supports or rejects the hypothesis you formulated. For example, suppose that you hypothesized that a nearby factory was polluting a lake. If your data showed the factory as the polluter, your hypothesis is supported and you would then look for more data to strengthen your case. Suppose however that your data showed that the factory was not the polluter. In that case your data rejects your hypothesis and you would have to look for other sources of the pollutant. This shows that rejecting a hypothesis is just as valid as supporting one. When you reject a hypothesis your findings are conclusive and you can rule out that explanation. If you reject your hypothesis, you might review your procedures to see if they were flawed. Then, think about how you would refine your research methods. You should also think about any new questions that arose during your investigation.

How do I present my findings?

Present your findings in a narrative essay. In this scientific narrative essay, combine the story of your personal expedition with sound facts, detailed observations, and insightful questions. Take the reader along with you as you explore your topic. What was the question you wanted to answer? What procedures did you follow in trying to answer the question? How did your expedition unfold? What evidence did you find? What conclusions did you draw? Were any questions left unanswered? Did you reject or accept your hypothesis? What new questions do you have? What further research would you do to try to answer these questions?

Your essay may also include excerpts from your field journal. Now you are ready to share your data, experiences, and findings. As you write your essay, keep the following points in mind:

• Personal voice: Tell about your expedition in your own words, with your own unique style. While your essay is a scientific paper, we prefer that you do not write it according to a strict scientific style. We are looking for your thoughts and insights as you put into writing the experiences you encountered on your expedition and the knowledge you gained.
• Clarity: Your ideas should follow a logical progression. Your procedures, research, documentation of findings, and conclusions should be presented with a clear and consistent focus and progression.
• Grammar: Check that grammar and sentence structure are correct. Check spelling.
• Proper citing of sources: If you use materials from other sources you must credit them properly. If you quote a source you must use quotation marks and cite the source. For more information, see How to Avoid Plagiarism
• Presentation: All entries must be typed and submitted on 8.5" x 11" white paper. All artwork and photos must be submitted on 8.5" x 11" paper. All artwork and photos must be the student’s own work. (No artwork or photos downloaded from the Internet or other sources are permissible.) All charts and graphs should be clearly labeled and referenced in the text of your essay. (Some maps or charts from other sources may be permissible. Check with the YNA administrator.) Essays (along with visuals) may not exceed 20 pages. Neatness counts! For more information, see Rules and Regulations.
• Reference Lists: The reference list shows those judging your essay that you have researched your topic thoroughly by consulting a variety of sources. It shows that the findings you have presented in your essay are backed up by solid evidence. The background information that you built upon in your research was based on the ideas of others. These people and their works need to be cited in your reference list.

Using the Scientific Method The scientific method is an organized series of steps scientists follow when they investigate a question they have. Using the scientific method provides you with a sound procedure to investigate your question. 1. Forming a hypothesis: A hypothesis is a possible answer to a question. It is based on observations scientists make and on information they gain from other sources. Once they have a hypothesis, scientists can begin to think about how to prove or disprove it. 2. Testing a hypothesis: Evidence is needed to support or disprove the hypothesis. There are several strategies for collecting evidence. Scientists can gather their data by observing the natural world, performing an experiment in a laboratory, or by making a model. Scientists decide what strategy to use. Then they plan a procedure and gather their data. They make sure the procedure can be repeated, so that other scientists can evaluate their findings. 3. Analyzing the data: Scientists organize their data in tables, graphs, diagrams, and even photographs. If possible, they check the data by comparing it to data from other sources. Then they look for patterns that show connections between important variables in the hypothesis they are testing. 4. Drawing conclusions: Scientists must decide whether the data clearly support or do not support the hypothesis. If the results are not clear, they must rethink their procedure. If the results are clear, scientists write up their findings and results to share with others. The conclusions they draw usually present new questions for them to pursue.