Audit resources
Use the student's grade, available equipment, materials, and time to eliminate directions that cannot be executed responsibly.
ANONYMIZED OUTCOME RECORD 02
Turning a Trendy Topic into an Evaluatable Project
A combined, anonymized record of three ISEF Semifinalists. The central work was aligning the question, method, evidence, and student understanding—not adding technical language.
HOW DR. LI GUIDES
Build the student's ability—do not do the work for them.
This record shows what Dr. Li examines at critical milestones. Topic, experimental conditions, and timing vary by student; past outcomes are not future guarantees.
Run a pilot
Use a small dataset to determine whether the signal exists, the range is appropriate, and the method is stable.
Plan replication
Define repeat count, treatment of outliers, and figure logic before expanding the experiment.
Review likely questions
Practice responses to the assumptions, error sources, and limitations most likely to be challenged.
WHAT FAMILIES AND COUNSELORS CAN VERIFY
Judge project quality through process evidence.
- Original data and failed trials are preserved
- Variables, controls, and replication are designed before experimentation
- The student can explain every figure and limitation
- Claims remain proportional to the evidence
BEGIN WITH AN HONEST ASSESSMENT