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
Examining Social Stressors Among Students
Social stressors among students, such as a lack of friends, being in different classes, interpersonal conflicts, and peer pressure, can adversely affect their mental health. Exploring the impact of these stressors and potential factors that amplify or mitigate their effects could form the basis of a research paper, slide deck, or podcast. Quantitative or qualitative data analysis could be utilized depending on the student's interest area. In addition to examining the impact of social stressors among students, there are other avenues of research that can be explored. For example, a student could delve into the coping mechanisms employed by students to deal with social stressors, and how these strategies affect their overall well-being. Another research direction could involve examining the role of social support networks in mitigating the negative effects of social stressors on students' mental health. Furthermore, exploring the long-term consequences of experiencing social stressors during the student years and its potential implications for adulthood could be another intriguing research area to explore.
Literature, Creative Writing, Business, Finance
Music evolution through the decades: Analyzing the history of your favorite music genre
Students could pick their favorite genre of music, for example Hip-Hop, Jazz, Rap, RnB, etc., and learn about the history of this genre, including key artists who influenced the genre, cities where the genre was developed, and different styles and phases the genre went through. Students could analyze different societal factors, like political climate, racial tension and community structures, that impacted music production during each time period. The student would have the opportunity to pick the genre, decide what elements of the genre to focus on analyzing, and put their research together in a unique artistic representation (website, blog, social media account, collage).
Psychology, Arts, History, Literature, Social Science, Organizational Leadership
Practicing Boundaries at x school
Developing the ability to set and respect boundaries is a vital social skill that often is neglected within formal education spaces. In this study, we are going to survey students at X high school about their knowledge and use of different types of boundaries (emotional, physical, material, etc.). We will then introduce students to a curriculum focused on supporting individuals in identifying, setting, sharing, and respecting boundaries. After two weeks, participants will receive a second survey about their knowledge and use of different types of boundaries (emotional, physical, material, etc.). At this time, participants will be invited to participate in an interview to discuss these topics further. We will use this information to measure the success of our intervention and to finalize a shareable curriculum that will include quotations and findings from our study.
Psychology, Literature, Business
Start Your Business!
Have an idea? Looking to grow this into an actual business? As an entrepreneur and Harvard teaching fellow in management, I'll help you (1) create a business plan using relevant frameworks, (2) find a market willing to pay for your product or service, (3) respond to customer feedback to grow a strong, successful company.
Literature, Healthcare, Business
Learning to Write a Policy Memo
For this project, I will teach students how to write a policy memo arguing for or against a specific policy implementation. We will learn how to properly address and format a professional document that will be sent to lawmakers. In addition, we will do research on various Supreme Court cases to understand our nation's history. Students will learn how to properly write a professional memo.
Psychology, History, Literature, Environmental Science
Liability in Autonomous Technology
With the rise of autonomous technology in telecommunications, vehicles, and even weapon systems, how is liability to be issued in cases of AI-related harm? This project looks at the the main legal concepts of liability and applies these concepts to the actions of artificial intelligence.
Psychology, History, Literature
Intertextuality: When Books Read Each Other
Some novels inspire other novels. Others make reference to older books and critique them outright. When this happens, there are many kinds of reading going on. The student will select a set of literary works in conversation with each other and “listen in.” How does one book read another, and what happens when we read both? The aim of the project is to immerse ourselves in a literary tradition, perhaps across continents and languages, and emerge having spoken.
Arts, History, Literature, Languages
Association between Demographics and Prevalence of Various Mental Disorders in Local Community
This study examines the association between different demographics (e.g., gender, race, age, socioeconomic status) and the occurrence of different, highly prevalent mental disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety, eating disorders) in the local community. We can reference larger statistics on national prevalence rates of mental disorders to compare whether the prevalence rates found in the local community are higher, lower, or average.
Psychology, Literature, Creative Writing
Conlanging
Want to create your own language? Want to write poetry in your own language? Together we will learn what it takes to create an original language. You will come out of the project not only with something to brag about to your friends but also with a highly sophisticated understanding of the structures of language, from its sounds to its grammars.
History, Literature, Creative Writing
God's Body?
Most modern people of faith (with some exceptions) think that God has no body. In contrast with this view, many ancient texts describe God's body. We would pick one of these texts and investigate how the author understood God's body and then write a graphic novel style essay explaining it.
Philosophy, Literature
How to Read Theory
Is there a theoretical work that you've always wanted to read but have never had the opportunity to? This project will give you that chance! Together, we will work through a text of your choosing and discuss how to talk about and how to read theory.
Arts, History, Literature, Social Science
Parental Psychoeducation: An Effective Preventative Measure for Youth Mental Health?
This study examines the association between parental psychoeducation and youth mental health outcomes. Is parents' knowledge about mental health struggles associated with better or worse outcomes for their children's mental health (e.g., rates of depression, anxiety, etc.)? How might stigma about mental health play a role in better outcomes for youth?
Psychology, Literature, Creative Writing
Magical Realism in Parallel Worlds
This project could involve looking at several short works by an individual author in the magical realist movement, such as Jorge Luis Borges, or a grouping of stories by different authors in the movement, perhaps from different cultures. The student could apply the techniques of literary analysis to the selections while learning about what characteristics different magical realism from other somewhat related genres (surrealism, for example). The student might define the genre, provide examples of some classic works of the genre, search for some contemporary examples of the genre, and analyze the works for common themes, symbols, and motifs.
Literature, Creative Writing
Environmental research / creative work
Are you an artist or writer who cares about environmental issues? Would you like to create work based on research into your own interests re: your local ecologies, environmental history and justice, climate crisis, the more-than-human world, etc? I am happy to support you in researching the topic of your choice and integrating it into your artistic practice and creative work--from sculpture to social practice to film to poetry. My own research focus tends to be on fungi, water, pollution and entanglement, but I can support any topic you feel drawn to.
Arts, Literature, Creative Writing
Documentary arts & film
Are you looking to make a short film? Do documentary research for an art project? Conduct oral history interviews? I can support mentees in documentary research and production for an artistic project in their media of choice (film, video, art, sound, installation, poetry, creative nonfiction, social practice, etc). Our process could support archival research, place-based observation, interviewing, technical and creative support (for recording audio, video or photo), pre- and post-production, and documentary ethics. If you're not sure what you want to make, we can think together on research topic, creative processes of inquiry, and artistic outcomes.
Arts, Literature, Creative Writing
Write, Design, and Edit Your Own Zine!
First appearing in science-fiction circles as early as the 1930s, zines are a creative outlet that has become synonymous with counter-culture and self-expression. From 1980s punk zines to photography and poetry zines, this versatile art and literary form is meant to be self-published and shared to create networks with like-minded people. In this project, I will guide you through the wonders of zine-making, to create your very own self-published zine! Whether you are looking to expand your creative writing skills, considering a more journalistic approach, or even want to connect to a fan community through your writing and art, this project will be the perfect opportunity to expand your writing and crafting abilities!
Philosophy, Literature, Languages
Explore your family's global history: Family ancestry & migration project
Students would have the opportunity to research their own family's history, using public historical databases, and create an artistic representation of their lineage (collage, Prezi, graphic design, etc.). Students could focus on learning more about each country and city where their family lived, including art, culture and traditions. They also could focus on interviewing family members and recording stories and tales that have been passed through their family for generations. This project is very flexible and would be adapted to each student, depending on their family's history and their level of connection to family knowledge.
Psychology, Arts, History, Literature, Social Science, Organizational Leadership
Finding Meaning In Game: How Video-Games Use Literature and Philosophy to Create Meaningful Experiences
In this project, a student focuses on a popular video-game and explores how the game's setting, story, characters, and maybe even mechanics are influenced by works in Literature and Philosophy. The student's research would focus on drawing parallels between the game a specific literary/philosophical works and also explores how the presentation of those ideas in the context of the game deviate or align with the original work. A particularly ambitious student might also work on developing a thesis addressing why these texts serve as inspirations for the game or even how the game's use of specific themes and ideas can help illuminate social, political, or economic problems in the present.
Philosophy, Psychology, Arts, Literature
Cooking to Find the American Dream: Food as a Mode of Historical Dialogue
Delve into your family's history through a series of interviews with near and extended relatives. These conversations will inform dishes that will capture the salient milestones and historical moments that define your family's journey to the present day. The project will culminate in a tasting menu for your family that will not only demonstrate the mentee's culinary growth but also galvanize conversation surrounding the interviews and family histories that resulted in the meal.
Biology, Literature, Business
Poetry Manuscript
Write a collection of poems written under my guidance and advisory. This project has the potential for mentorship in both formal verse and free verse, and guidance with both line edits and revision. Receive insight and guidance into the publishing world, and help with cover letters and manuscript submissions.
Literature, Languages, Creative Writing
