It’s science fair season. You have a great idea and you know this year’s going to be stellar. You gather your supplies, build your amazing-idea-that-will-change-the-world and everything is going great until BAM! You hit a roadblock. It could be that your method isn’t working out the way you expected. Or maybe you’re just not sure what those results really mean. Or it’s even more complicated! You’re working on a technical project and what you need is someone who really gets it.
 
Well, this year we have a solution. For the first time, you can reach out to the Science Fair Foundation BC at any time between December 1 and April 15 for a little extra support. Have one question? Great! We’re here for you. Need someone to help at different stages of your project? Totally okay too! You can reach out to Science Fair Foundation BC mentors when you need it most to ask a question, seek advice or connect with an expert in your field of study.
 
Who is eligible?
Any Grade 4 to 12 student completing a science fair project or Youth Innovation Showcase pitch for 2022.
 
How do I reach a mentor?
Our Mentorship Program will open on December 1, 2021. A Question Form will become available at that time. Make sure you fill out every field. You will be asked for:

• Your name and contact information
• Information about your project (including a detailed description and any related files)
• Information about how you’ve tried to resolve your question independently
• Your question 

A coordinator will review your form to ensure we have all the information your mentor needs, and then will send it to the mentor who is best qualified to answer your question.
 
What can a mentor help me with?
Our mentors are all experts in science fairs and/or a scientific field. They can help you tweak the design of your project (e.g., to make sure it’s effective and the results will be accurate), help you understand what your results mean, and answer specific questions about your field of study.
 
It’s important to remember that our mentors are not here to help you think of an idea for your science fair project, or do your science fair project for you. They have expertise in science fairs or a specific area of science and can help you solve a problem that requires high-level knowledge or experience.

How can I get the most out of the Mentorship Program?

1. Take the lead on your project. At a minimum, you should have a well-developed project plan before you ask a mentor for help. Mentors are available to give you feedback and advice, but they’re not going to design or do you project for you.
2. Make a good effort to figure things out on your own first. Do as much research as you can to understand your project. This will help you ask more useful questions of mentors. The more specific your questions, the more likely it is that your mentors will be able to provide you with quality and constructive feedback.
3. Provide as much information about your project as you can. Our system allows you to send files to your mentors, so don’t be afraid to include pictures or a logbook of your project.
4. Ask your question earlier rather than later. Sometimes it will take more than one email to solve your problem and your mentor may not be able to answer you right away. Make sure to give your mentor (and yourself!) as much time as possible to respond so you have time to act on the advice before a deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When is the mentorship program available? 
A: For the 2022 science fair season, the Science Fair Foundation BC Mentorship Program is available from December 1st, 2021 until mid-April, 2022. If there is enough interest, these dates may be extended. 

Q: How long will it take to hear back from a mentor? 
A: Please give 1 to 2 business days to get an answer from a mentor. If you don’t hear anything back within 3 days of sending your question, contact our Mentorship Program coordinators at mentorship@sciencefairs.ca 
 
Q: Can a mentor help me get lab or equipment access? 
A: No. Our mentors are from all across BC, and sometimes from across Canada. They can help you better understand your subject or provide feedback if you’re stuck, but they may not be from your area and won’t be able to get you access to a lab or equipment. 
 
Q: How many questions am I allowed to ask a mentor? 
A: There’s no limit to how many questions you can ask our mentors, but you should make a good effort to figure things out on your own first. Our mentors are here to help you when you’re stuck or you need some advice from an expert in your field of study. Don’t be afraid to ask a question, but make sure you can demonstrate that you’ve put in some hard work already. Your question(s) should be focused and organized, and you should provide enough information about your project that your mentor has a good understanding of what you need. 
 
Q: I don’t have a science fair project or Youth Innovation Showcase pitch. Can I still ask a question? 
A: Our mentors are only able to help students who are already developing a science fair project or Youth Innovation Showcase pitch. At the very least, you should have your hypothesis and your project design before reaching out to a mentor. Your mentor will NOT give you an idea for a project, and will NOT develop your science fair project for you. They are here to help you if you run into problems. 
 
Q: My question is about my regional science fair, not my project. Can I still ask a question? 
A: Questions should only relate to your science fair project or Youth Innovation Showcase pitch. Your mentor probably won’t know the details of your specific science fair. For questions specific to your science fair, reach out to your regional science fair committee. Click here to see a list of regional science fair committees and their email addresses. 
 
Q: I have a question about the Mentorship Program that isn’t answered here. What do I do? 
A:  All questions relating to our Mentorship Program can be sent by email to mentorship@sciencefairs.ca.