One mark of a truly educated individual is his willingness to discuss
his problems with others and profit by their advice and help. One of the
most important things that you can learn while doing a project is how
and where to obtain information and assistance.
Your _science teacher_ may be an excellent source. If he cannot provide
specialized help himself probably he can direct you to those who can.
Your _school librarian_ can point out specialized references such as
scientific encyclopedias and “reserved” reference books. Scientific
magazines and journals have good “survey articles” on recent
developments. Don’t overlook the public, college, and special technical
libraries near you. Also, academies of science, technical societies, and
science laboratories may have libraries or publications you can use.
It is to be hoped that your topic is one on which some expert local
counseling will be available—from your science teacher or one of your
parents, your family physician or the local pharmacist, your
agricultural extension agent, or scientific and engineering personnel of
a nearby manufacturing plant, defense installation, research laboratory,
or college.
Select a _project adviser_ and try to enlist his cooperation. Explain
your choice of topic to him and how you plan to develop it. (If you have
already done background reading you may find him more receptive and more
helpful.) You may need to consult him on several different occasions.
You will probably want him to check you project plan to make sure that
you have not left out an important step, or included some potential
pitfall. Also, you may want him to review the final written report in
which you summarize your work and findings.
However, your project must rest upon work done by you. It is permissible
to obtain assistance from others, but never to the extent that you are
standing on the sidelines watching someone else do your work. Keep your
interviews brief and approach each conference with a clear idea of what
you are seeking and why, and always only after you have already done as
much as possible—whether by way of reading or project work—to find the
answer on your own. By doing this you will gain valuable habits of
self-reliance, and added stature in your adviser’s eyes.
_Special equipment and materials_ may be obtained or borrowed through
laboratories. College laboratories assist sometimes. Some industrial
organizations may have surplus equipment and materials that they are
willing to lend or donate.