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
Simulation of Gravitational Lensing
Writing a simulation of a black hole gravitationally lensing a background galaxy.
Physics, Computer Science, Math
Green Energy Incentives and Policy Recommendations
For this project, you would first spend time familiarizing yourself with the different green energy incentives (or lack thereof) and other energy policies in existence for a city/town/state of your choice. There are several scales where these different policies or incentives could exist from the individual level where a homeowner might get tax credits for installing solar panels to an industry level where a company could receive subsidies for installing a new power plant. After learning about existing policies in your area of choice, you will then work to write a brief memo with your recommendation for an additional law or policy.
Physics, Engineering
Build a biophysical model of a neuron
Build a biophysical computational model of a neural activity with Python or MATLAB (or Octave).
Neuroscience, Physics
Opening a Garage Door: How Hard Can It Be?
Having a garage door open at the click of a button is very convenient. It makes parking in our home after a long day of work quick and easy. What if we could automate the process and have the door open for us at the exact moment needed to allow us to drive right into our garage seamlessly? Doppler radar is a cheap, reliable, and off the shelf solution that provides the data needed to recognize approaching vehicles and determine how fast they are moving towards or away from us. Using our radar, we could generate a function that would tell us exactly when we need to open our garage to prevent our vehicle from colliding with the door, no matter how fast or slow we are driving. No more clickers, no more waiting for the door to open!
Physics, Engineering, Math
Is spintronics the future of computing?
Traditional computing using voltage based-transistors has reached the limits of exponential growth. One proposed solution is to use the spin of electrons (spin-up or spin-down) to replace voltage-on and voltage-off as the 1's and 0's of traditional computing. This field is known as spintronics. Possible research questions include: What types of materials could be used in a potential spintronic device? How efficient are spintronic devices for computation? What would a spintronic-based computer chip look like, and how would it be different from traditional chips based on transistors? This project could take many forms, such as a research paper, podcast, or scientific blog. Image credit: EURAMET
Physics
Aerospace Attitude Control
To maintain stable flight, aerospace vehicles are equipped with an attitude control system that corrects disturbances interacting with the vehicle’s dynamics. Stability is achieved by applying the forces that are necessary to return to a nominal trajectory through the vehicle’s actuators. Aerospace actuators come in many different shapes and sizes, but the fundamental theory behind attitude control is universal to nearly all aerospace vehicles. In this project, we’ll design a rudimentary attitude control system by focusing on the vehicle’s roll dynamics only. Your task is to architect a feedback control system to maintain level ‘flight’ about a quadrotor’s roll axis. We’ll begin by reviewing the equations of motion for a simple quadrotor model. Next, we’ll investigate and implement an industry-standard control method known as PID control. While using MATLAB to simulate and control the vehicle, we’ll discuss real-world hardware such as inertial measurement units (IMUs) and brushless (BLDC) motor controllers. Time-permitting, students will have the opportunity to investigate a new and exciting application of data-driven control (sometimes referred to as machine-learning control) through their quadrotor model. To learn more about the project and the fundamentals of control theory, please visit https://natesosikowicz.wixsite.com/curriculumvitae/control-systems
Physics, Engineering, Math
Investing in technology startups
People often talk about the latest market opportunity, new groundbreaking technologies, and bringing a great team together. If you're an investor, how do you choose between multiple exciting opportunities? Together we'll explore the kinds of discussions that happen behind closed doors, and explore a few investment opportunities ourselves!
Physics, Engineering, Math, Business, Finance
Supernova Light Curve Simulator
Project Description: The aim of this project is to develop an interactive simulator where users can model and visualize the light curve of a supernova explosion. A supernova light curve represents the brightness of the explosion as a function of time. By utilizing coding, students can understand and visualize the physical processes and variables that affect the light curves of different types of supernovae. Research: Start with an introduction to supernovae: What are they? What causes them? What are the different types of supernovae? Deep dive into the concept of light curves: What are they, and why are they important in astrophysics? Coding: Use Python, particularly the libraries like Matplotlib for plotting, and Tkinter or PyQt for GUI development. Develop a basic GUI where users can: * Choose different types of supernovae. * Adjust key parameters like explosion energy, progenitor star mass, distance from Earth, etc. * Visualize the resulting light curve on a graph.
Physics, Computer Science, Math
Surveying impacts of long-term space travel on the human body
A one-way trip to Mars takes approximately 6 months. During this long journey, the astronauts on board must deal with the harsh environment of space such as radiation and microgravity as well as isolation, communication delays, etc. The student can write a review paper surveying the existing technologies and strategies as well as ongoing advancements to counteract the effects of these factors on astronaut physiology, psychology, sensorimotor functionality, and overall health.
Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, Math
What's the matter?
A literature review of the most motivated models of dark matter, along with current constraints on these models. What's a WIMP? An axion? A primordial black hole? Which of these seem most motivated by current observational data?
Physics, Computer Science
Designing Spacecraft Trajectories with Newton's Laws
Whether it is exploring other worlds or simply going on a trip around the Earth, one of the fundamental task is to design the trajectory our spacecraft has to take. In this project, we'll learn how gravity influences spacecraft movement and how to calculate the force needed to send a spacecraft from one place to another. Then, we'll put our newfound knowledge into action by creating a cool computer program to help us visualize and design spacecraft trajectories. Ready to take off on this cosmic journey? Let's explore the wonders of orbital mechanics together!
Physics, Engineering, Math, Creative Writing
Circuit bending and hacking
Do you have electronics around your house that you wished would be a little more useful? Do you want to combine two circuits to make something new? This project involves taking apart and fiddling with everyday toys and objects to figure out how they work. Once we've figured out how they work, we can use microprocessors and other components to hack into the exiting electronics and turn them into anything we want! I've worked on hacking into a remote control car so that I could control it with an ESP-32 board, but we could do different projects such as adding a clapper to lights on/off or any projects you would have in mind!
Physics
Simulating a Quantum Computer
It has been said that we are in the midst of a "second quantum revolution" - one in which we harness the principles of quantum mechanics to create computing devices that are (literally) exponentially better than the computers we have at home today. Some of the simplest, and most elegant, examples of the power of quantum computing are algorithms like that of Grover for searching and that of Shor for factoring large numbers. In this project, you will learn the basic principles of quantum computing, including the quantum mechanics that it relies on. You will then implement computer programs to simulate the action of a quantum computer running some simple quantum algorithms (such as Shor's algorithm mentioned before). Time permitting, we may review more sophisticated algorithms and techniques from quantum computing (such as error correction), and/or some cutting edge algorithms from the literature.
Physics, AI/ML
Detecting Light Pollution with Astrophotography
Light pollution is easy to observe if you have ever been both inside and outside of a city. It affects everything from animal migration to our ability to clearly see stars. But how do we quantify light pollution? Photography is a way to capture photons—units of light. With consistent observations and some calibration, we can determine how much light affects various regions.
Physics, Photography, Math
Mars Precise Entry Descent and Landing
In 7 minutes, spacecraft approaching Mars from Earth must decelerate from over Mach 40 (40 times the speed of sound) to zero, gently touching down on the surface of the Red Planet. These "7 minutes of terror" as is called is one of the greatest engineering challenges in the aerospace industry. Precise landing and guidance techniques are needed in order to land humans on Mars as they will need to touch down close to the pre-stagged habitat. Humans have never landed as large of a payload on any other planet. Therefore, there are many engineering questions that still need to be answered in order to ensure survival of the crew. Join me in tackling these challenges!
Physics, Engineering, Math
Compost Design
Research the different methods in composting food waste and create the fasted and easiest method that is appealing to homeowners and schools. Build a compost bin in a 3D modelling platform, then in your home/school, and finally test your ideas.
Physics, Engineering, Chemistry, Math, Organizational Leadership
Electric Propulsion vs Chemical Propulsion
Rockets are mainly made out of fuel. When the fuel burns it gets heated and expelled out, producing thrust. Fuel is heavy, and for long-range space missions, we need to carry around the fuel for the rest of the mission the whole way. It is important, then, that the fuel gives us the most bang for our buck (i.e. most acceleration per unit fuel). One project could be comparing the amount of fuel (weight) required to get to various celestial objects and back using current electric and chemical propulsion technologies. Then, also a cost analysis and comparing how long it would take.
Physics, Math
Green Building Retrofit Proposal
Advanced Research Paper What the Student Will Learn: - Principles of energy efficiency and sustainable building design. - Research and analysis skills for assessing the energy performance of existing buildings. - Project planning and budgeting for sustainable retrofits. - Presentation and communication skills for pitching sustainability proposals. Synopsis of the Process of Information Gathering: - Building Assessment: The student will select an existing building (e.g., a school, office, or community center) and conduct a thorough energy audit to assess its current energy performance. This includes evaluating insulation, lighting, HVAC systems, and other energy-consuming components. - Energy Data Collection: Gather historical energy consumption data for the selected building to understand its energy usage patterns and identify areas of improvement. - Sustainable Retrofit Options: Research and compile a list of sustainable retrofit options, such as upgrading lighting to LED, improving insulation, installing solar panels, or implementing smart building technologies. - Cost Analysis: Estimate the costs associated with each retrofit option, including materials, labor, and potential return on investment through energy savings. - Environmental Impact Assessment: Analyze the potential environmental benefits of the proposed retrofits, such as reduced carbon emissions and energy conservation. - Community Engagement: Engage with building occupants and relevant stakeholders to gather input and build support for the retrofit project. - Proposal Development: Create a comprehensive proposal for the green building retrofit, including a detailed plan, cost projections, and potential funding sources or incentives. Potential Student Outcomes: - A well-researched and documented green building retrofit proposal. - A persuasive presentation summarizing the proposal's key points. - Enhanced research and analytical skills in the context of energy efficiency and sustainability. - An understanding of the financial and environmental aspects of sustainable building retrofits. - Improved communication and presentation skills. This project allows students to explore energy efficiency and sustainable design principles in the context of existing buildings. They will learn how to assess energy performance, identify retrofit opportunities, and create a compelling proposal for making a building more environmentally friendly and energy-efficient. The outcome will be a detailed retrofit proposal that can serve as a blueprint for future sustainable building improvement projects.
Physics, Engineering, Quantitative, Business
Meta-Analysis
There are hundreds of papers that address common treatments to common diseases. How do we know which papers are right, and what do practice in the clinic? When doctors have clinical questions that they want answers to, how do they make sense of all of the studies that have been done? A meta-analysis is a statistical method that makes use of many different studies to come up with more tangible conclusions. I'll guide you through the techniques needed to perform such a study and help you write a publication-ready paper about a topic of your choice. What clinical questions do you have? This is the perfect way to find and answer and share it with the world!
Biology, Physics, Computer Science, Statistics, Medicine
Band Structure of Materials
A material's band structure tells us about its properties, for example whether it will be conducting or insulating. It is one of the most important pieces of information to a condensed matter physicist. In this project, you will develop a program to calculate the band structure of a material and derive information from it.
Physics
