Research Projects for High School
Many high school students are interested in pursing their own research projects. Research projects can provide students with so many critical skills for college and career preparedness. In this blog post, we are sharing different research topic ideas across disciplines — science, business, computer science, literature and languages, and law) — as well as suggestions on where high schoolers can look to find mentors to help them get started.
Why Research is Important for High Schoolers
Research is crucial for high schoolers for several compelling reasons.
Research cultivates critical thinking skills, empowering students to evaluate information, discern credible sources, and develop well-informed opinions. Research also nurtures a sense of curiosity, encouraging students to explore diverse subjects and discover their passions.
Moreover, research fosters independence and self-reliance, as students must take the initiative to gather information and draw conclusions. Research projects also hone essential skills like effective communication, organization, and time management, preparing high schoolers for the academic challenges they will face in college and beyond.
Lastly, research provides an opportunity for students to contribute to the collective knowledge of society, fostering a sense of purpose and engagement with the world around them. In essence, research equips high schoolers with the skills and mindset needed for lifelong learning and success.
How to Find a Research Mentor as a High Schooler
To get started with research as a high schooler, it is very helpful to find a project mentor who has real-world research experience. By working with an experienced project mentor, you’ll be able to create an authentic, and even publishable, research project. Below we are sharing how to find a research mentor as a high schooler:
Inspirit AI’s AI + X program: High school students can participate in Inspirit AI’s 1:1 AI + X mentorship program. This 1:1 program offers students a unique opportunity to collaborate with an experienced research mentor to conduct real-world research projects. In collaboration with experienced AI research mentors, students will begin by extracting insights from large datasets, architect key questions, and then engineer machine learning models to answer them. In the process, students will iterate on their project and gain insight into the scientific research process. Upon completion of the course, students will have completed an independent AI project, research proposal, and final research paper/article. Interested students will receive guidance on how they may take their projects further to science fair or journal submission.
High School Research Programs: Some high schools offer independent study and mentorship programs. If your high school offers a similar program, you may be able to find a research mentor there.
University Research Programs: Many universities offer summer programs for high school students to conduct research. Some of these programs even allow students to live on campus for the summer. On university summer program websites, you can find specific offerings for high school students. These programs often allow high schoolers the opportunity to work closely with university researchers and mentors.
Example Research Topic Ideas
High school students can pursue research across disciplines — from science to business to computer science to the humanities to law and more! Below, we are sharing some example research topic ideas for high schoolers who are interested in these subject areas.
SCIENCE
Molecular biological research on rare genetic disorder
Nanotechnology in medicine
Astrophysical and cosmological phenomenon
Nuclear application in physics
Chemical applications to human health
BUSINESS
Social media’s effects on business growth
Social entrepreneurship
Current trends in consumer behavior based on an industry
Women leadership and impact in business
Technological effect in management systems
COMPUTER SCIENCE
Quantum computing with Python
Wearable devices that can monitor Covid 19
Computer science portfolio
Machine learning and music (ex: finding an accompaniment for a musician)
Machine learning and prediction of early heart disease
LITERATURE AND LANGUAGES
Influence of technology in English vocabulary
Global culture led to less native languages being spoken
The similarities and differences between French and Spanish
Book review of top 10 books in a genre
Linguistic styles in ancient writing versus now
LAW AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Capital punishment ethics
Gender and racial bias in legal investigation
Juvenile justice system
Cyber criminology correction methods
False confession analysis
About Inspirit AI
AI Scholars Live Online is a 10 session (25-hour) program that exposes high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project. Taught by our team of graduate students from Stanford, MIT, and more, students receive a personalized learning experience in small groups with a student-teacher ratio of 5:1.
