2,893 Inspirational Passion Project Ideas
Turn inspirations into your passion project.
This collection of project ideas, shared by Polygence mentors, is meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.
- AI/ML
- Animation
- Arts
- Biology
- Biotech
- Business
- Cancer
- Chemistry
- Cognitive
- Computer Science
- Creative Writing
- Dance
- Dentistry
- Economics
- Engineering
- Entomology
- Environmental Science
- Ethics
- Fashion
- Finance
- Game Design
- Healthcare
- History
- Illustration
- Languages
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Math
- Medicine
- Music
- Neuroscience
- Nutrition
- Organizational Leadership
- Philanthropy
- Philosophy
- Photography
- Physics
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Quantitative
- Social
- Social Science
- Sports Analytics
- Statistics
- Surgery
Is Justice a Virtue?
Plato and Aristotle argued that justice is not just something restored or distributed in social and political spheres: they thought that justice was also a quality of a person. What does it mean to be a just person, and how is the conception of justice as a virtue relevant to the world today? These questions could be asked and answered in essay, podcast, video, or magazine form. You will read classical sources and secondary sources to understand how Aristotle and Plato conceived of the just person, but you also will consider more immediate contemporary concerns--should prisons try to inculcate the virtue of justice? Should public schools? In this project, you will learn to read and interpret classical sources and extend what's true and lasting into answers for the challenges society faces today. You will learn to think broadly and deeply, to argue clearly, to analyze evidence for claims, and to consider practical challenges and paths forward for encouraging the virtue of justice today.
Ethics
What is knowledge and what is it good for?
What is knowledge? What is the value of knowing something? How should answers to these questions inform our practice of explaining people's actions and animal behaviors by referencing what they know? We will start by familiarizing ourselves with contemporary discussions about the composition and value of knowledge. From there, we can branch out in accord with your interests to investigate such topics as knowledge in non-human animals, knowledge as a social good, or the scientific method as a distinctive way to gain knowledge. Pre-requisites: A curiosity for the role of knowledge in our mental lives is all that's required. We will start with thoughtful columns, podcasts, or videos authored by science communicators and public philosophers and engage with recent research and classic literature where needed.
Linguistics, Cognitive
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency Predictive Testing Perspectives
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is a genetic condition caused by common variants in the SERPINA1 gene. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency can cause liver and lung disease, but there are targeted treatments available once people are symptomatic. Many people are identified after a family member is diagnosed, but this is also included on direct to consumer genetic testing. People who have been identified with alpha-1 antitrypsin depending by genetic testing without clinical symptoms will be interviewed to discover their perspective of their diagnostic process, feelings about treatment options, and interaction with the healthcare system. This project would require an IRB review, which can extend the project timeline by 1-3 months.
Ethics, Psychology, Public Health
ADORE: impAct of coviD On feRtility carE
The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences of women and their partner seeking reproductive endocrinology and infertility care during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Ethics, Social Science, Public Health, Statistics
Review of Gene Editing Technologies and Ethical Considerations
In this project, the student would learn the basic principles behind gene editing using CRISPR and what ethical concerns have been raised regarding genome editing. The benefits and limitations of the technology would be discussed, and an educated opinion would be formed on whether or not society should allow germ-line editing to occur. The project would culminate in either a research style report or a short series of podcasts describing the issue and how the student feels about the ethical concerns. The project could also encompass other ethical concerns more distantly related to gene editing, such as GMOs, stem cell research, or research on embryos.
Cancer, Ethics
Analyzing the Impact of Communicating Science to Non-Experts
In today's world, scientists are increasingly sharing their expertise with those outside of sciences with an aim of educating the broader public. This is done through books, podcasts, magazine articles and other print and electronic media. You will consider how scientists, in a field of your choosing (i.e., engineering, public health, environmental science, etc.), are communicating to non-expert audiences. You will learn who the scientists aim to reach through each medium, why they’re targeting these particular groups, and assess the success of these modes of communication. As your final product, you can publish a science paper reviewing the communication being done by scientists and make recommendations for the future.
Ethics, Environmental Science
Ethics of genome engineering
Since the discovery of CRISPR/Cas9 technology's utility for research applications in 2012, there has been a huge boom in genetics research that involves this tool's specific and efficient genome editing. This has been incredibly useful for research, but entered into the public sphere and gained widespread media attention in 2018 when a scientist in China used CRISPR/Cas9 to genome edit human embryos, implant them, and three babies were born with possible genome edits. How did scientists and non-scientists alike respond to this event? What do we think is the future of gene-targeted therapy and how can we keep it safe? How do ethicists and policymakers comment on genome editing and gene-targeted therapy? What types of oversight bodies can we put into place nationally and internationally within and beyond the scientific community and what can those look like? We could write a scientific review article, news article, blog, make a vlog, or write a short stories about this topic.
Biology, Ethics
What's the hottest in neuroscience?
There are many articles that boast about the newest, hottest developments in neuroscience. But are they "real"? Do they accurately convey the science? How does this affect the public's view of research and their opinions of science? In this project, we find some popular science articles and compare them to the academically published research. By examining the subtleties (and sometimes not so subtle) of science communication, this project aims to get us thinking about the relationship between science and the public. (Image thanks to iPhone emojis.)
Neuroscience, Ethics
Memory and music
Write a review on how music affects our memory. Read studies done by neuroscientists about music and memory, and then compile them into a review article to submit to a middle/high school journal.
Music, Neuroscience, Ethics
Do you decide with your brain, or does your brain decide for you?
In this project, you will write a philosophy essay on how our brains either determine, relate to, support, or aren't involved with our thinking. This paper will introduce you to some of the philosophical literature on the philosophy of neuroscience, action, and thought. More importantly, you'll learn how to construct, explicate, and defend an argument. This project will sharpen your thinking and writing skills so you can communicate your ideas clearly and persuasively.
Ethics
On the origins of algorithmic injustice
This project explores how it is that injustice can arise at the algorithmic level. Algorithmic injustice occurs when algorithmic decision-making procedures systematically harm certain individuals in virtue of their social identities. For example, a recidivism algorithm might predict that a Black individual is more likely to re-offend, a prediction which in turn affects their sentencing. This project explores human bias at the level of training data as one possible source of algorithmic injustice.
Music, Philosophy, Ethics
Pathway to a Career in Healthcare
This project will be focusing on exploring careers in the healthcare field. I will help the student explore their interest in healthcare and offer strategies to increase their opportunity and exposure in their field of interest. At the end of this project, the student will have a step-by-step plan to pursue their desired career in healthcare.
Ethics, Public Health
The sequencing world
In this project, we can learn about the history and future of sequencing technologies, and how they have revolutionized our understanding of the human genome. Students can explore publicly available datasets or write a review article.
Biology, Ethics, Creative Writing
What are Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and how do they work?
Hearing the term "stem cells" can spark ideas of human cloning and bring to the surface its complex ethical history. In this project we will investigate the history of stems cells and learn about the revolutionary "new" technology of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and how they are created. The end product will be a substantial knowledge base in stem cell biology and application encapsulated in a research paper or presentation.
Ethics
GM-wOah
A science communication endeavor (podcast, blog, etc) to educate the public about genetically modified organisms (plants!) (GMOs). Focal point on one crop/organism (like apples or potatoes) and then going into detail about the process of generation/regulation/public acceptance.
Ethics
Covid Communication: Vaccines
In this project, students will learn the principles of vaccines, including the similarities and differences between the three Covid-19 vaccines currently authorized by the FDA, and the principles of how vaccines impact the immune system. Students will create an output of your choice, either a short video, podcast or review paper outlining the key information regarding how these vaccines work and the pros/cons of each.
Cancer, Ethics
Research Project on Youth Vaping Epidemic
I researched data related to a Public Heath crisis of the youth vaping epidemic. This was a 25 page research project in which I received an A. I also had to make a ppt and present my findings to a group. I would love the opportunity to present my entire paper and project.
Philosophy, Ethics, Psychology, Public Health, Finance, Organizational Leadership
Are Your Houseplants Happy?
A review or research paper (or another presentation format) examining growing conditions that common houseplants require. Would include focal points such as grouping plants together to create humid conditions and details on common pathogen infections, like root-rot.
Ethics
Going FAR: Uterine Fibroids and Reproduction
The purpose of this study was to assess how women who have undergone treatment for UF view the experience, whether they prioritize experimental approaches to remedy any impacts on their fertility, and the psychosocial and socio-economic factors most important to them in considering the preservation or restoration of fertility.
Ethics, Social Science, Public Health, Statistics
Cancer Literature Review
In this project, you will perform a literature review to understand risk factors and differences in outcomes for a cancer of interest. There are many directions you could take this, depending on your interests, ranging from genetic factors to environmental exposures to inequities in healthcare access.
Cancer, Ethics
