Categories


Below is a list of the the different project types that are acceptable at the SSTFI.

Note:  Senior High Team projects compete within one of the categories listed below with Individual projects.

Senior High

Animal Sciences

Study of animals –

  • Development
  • Ecology
  • Animal Husbandry
  • Pathology
  • Physiology
  • Population Genetics
  • Systematics
  • Other

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Human behavior, social and community relationships – 

  • Clinical & Developmental Psychology
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Physiological Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Other

Biochemistry 

  • General Biochemistry
  • Metabolism
  • Structural Biochemistry
  • Other

Cellular & Molecular Biology 

  • Cellular Biology
  • Cellular & Molecular Genetics
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Other

Chemistry

Study of nature and composition of matter and laws governing it – 

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • General Chemistry
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Physical Chemistry
  • Other

Computer Science

  • Algorithms, Data Bases
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Networking and Communications
  • Computational Science, Computer Graphics
  • Software Engineering, Programming Languages
  • Computer System, Operating System
  • Other

Earth & Planetary Sciences 

  • Climatology, Weather
  • Geochemistry, Mineralogy
  • Paleontology
  • Geophysics
  • Planetary Science
  • Tectonics
  • Other

Engineering

Technology: projects that directly apply scientific principles to manufacturing and practical uses – bioengineering, civil, construction, chemical, industrial, processing, material science, electrical, computer, controls, mechanical, thermodynamics, solar, robotics, etc.

NOTE:  The SSTFI does not split out Engineering into two categories as ISEF does.

  • Bioengineering
  • Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Controls
  • Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering, Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Robotics
  • Thermodynamics, Solar
  • Other

Energy & Transportation

  • Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering, Aerodynamics
  • Alternative Fuels
  • Fossil Fuel Energy
  • Vehicle Development
  • Renewable Energies
  • Other

Environmental Sciences 

NOTE:  The SSTFI does not split out Environmental Sciences into two categories as ISEF does.

  • Air Pollution & Air Quality
  • Bioremediation
  • Ecosystems Management
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Land Resource Management, Forestry
  • Recycling, Waste Management
  • Soil Contamination and Soil Quality
  • Water Pollution and Water Quality
  • Other

Mathematical Sciences 

  • Algebra
  • Analysis
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Geometry
  • Probability and Statistics
  • Other

Medicine and Health

Study of diseases and health of humans – 

  • Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
  • Epidemiology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology of Diseases
  • Physiology and Pathophysiology
  • Other

Microbiology

Biology of microorganisms – 

  • Antibiotics, Antimicrobials
  • Bacteriology
  • Microbial Genetics
  • Virology
  • Other

Physics & Astronomy 

  • Atoms, Molecules, Solids
  • Astronomy
  • Biological Physics
  • Instrumentation and Electronics
  • Magnetics and Electromagnetics
  • Nuclear and Particle Physics
  • Optics, Lasers, Masers
  • Theoretical Physics, Theoretical or Computational Astronomy
  • Other

Plant Sciences

Study of plant life – 

  • Agronomy
  • Development
  • Ecology
  • Genetics
  • Photosynthesis
  • Plant Physiology (Molecular, Cellular, Organismal)
  • Plant Systematics, Evolution
  • Other

Junior High

Biological Sciences

Biology is the science of life (from the Greek words bios = life and logos = reasoned account). It is concerned with the characteristics and behaviors of organisms, how species and individuals come into existence, and the interactions they have with each other and with their environment. Biology encompasses a broad spectrum of academic fields that are often viewed as independent disciplines. Together, they study life over a wide range of scales.

Examples: Animal Biology, Bacteriology, Behavioral & Social Science, Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Ecology, Entomology, Environment, Evolution, Genetics, Immunology, Marine Biology, Medicine & Health, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Mycology, Neuroscience, Paleontology, Parasitology, Physiology, Plant Biology, Virology, Zoology

Physical Sciences

Physical Sciences are concerned with understanding of the material universe and its phenomena.

Examples: Astronomy, Chemistry, Computer Sciences, Earth & Space Sciences, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics and depending on the focus of the project Environmental Sciences.

Team Projects

Study conducted by two or three students in any discipline.

Iowa FFA Agriscience Fair

FFA Agriscience Fair students will need to select both their SSTFI Category as listed here AND an FFA Agriscience Fair Category as listed on the FFA Agriscience Fair page.