Sabio Research Courses are designed for 5th grade to 11th grade high school students.
Sabio Research teaches future scientists the knowledge and skills needed for professional level scientific research. We use the same tools (Mathematica) that the leading researchers use, and analyze the same data that the professionals analyze. We use data from official repositories of government institutions such as NASA or NIH in our curriculum.
Because we teach with real research using data and real tools, the knowledge gained from Sabio Research will not only give our students a head start, but also will allow them to stay in the lead throughout their career.
Sabio Research teaches the student in the following unique ways
1: Real Research on Real Data
We use the same tool and data that professional researchers use. Even during practice, our students work on real problems using real data from a government research agency or from a research lab. To our students, there is only one difference between training and actual research: the ownership of the hypothesis. That is, for real research, they will be working on the question they raised.
2: No Experiments, only Processing and Analysis
Our students do not conduct any experiments or gather any data themselves. They only learn to process and analyze the data obtained by others, usually government research agencies such as NASA or NIH, or by a hospital or university research lab.
The reason is as follows. Running an experiment and collecting data could take decades (cow milk yield improvement through selective breeding) or could be very expensive (mapping of the ocean floor). Or it could be dangerous (nuclear physics). In addition, most equipment that can measure data for modern scientific research are expensive and not easily accessible. Even if student obtained permission to use a machine in a research lab, his/her turn will come rarely and erratically. It would be impossible to fit the erratic machine availability into the student’s busy schedule. (The machine could become finally available on the night of student’s orchestra performance, for example.) Because of this added obstacles to overcome, those who perform the experiment and measure the data themselves will have to work many times harder and longer to produce a comparable research paper than those who used pre-existing data.
Besides, not measuring/obtaining the data oneself does not diminish the research at all. Those who study Martian soil would have to rely on the data collected and transmitted by a robot or a satellite. The most famous scientist of them all, Einstein never ran any experiments or measured anything. Kepler used Tycho Brahe’s data to prove Copernicus’ heliocentric view, i.e., used someone else’s data to prove someone else’s hypothesis using his own processing.
We believe that students can wait to learn to use the measurement machines and perform their own experiments after they enter the field. That is, we feel that it would be best for the students to purchase these expensive pieces of equipment using someone else’s money, (research funding) and go through the endless trial error of learning process while getting paid regardless.
Important Note: Of course it would be impressive for the student researcher to design the experiment and measure the data himself/herself. In fact, Sabio Research’s own student entered Intel STS competition this year with the result of her own experiment in which she measured all the data herself. It was a research on the effect of sleep deprivation on facial complexion. She used her digital camera to take pictures of her subjects at different stages of sleep deprivation and analyzed the facial complexion color change. This type of creative and ingenious research where everything stays inside the student researcher’s control is the best.
(Please note the hardware and software requirements. Students will not be able to take any of our research cources without meeting these requirements first)
3: Mentoring
Sabio Academy offers individual mentoring. This is offered for those who have completed the basic courses needed for their research topic. The mentoring will include everything needed for the students to enter the science competition. This includes revising the research paper, going over the experiment results, and other details that only a scientist can spot and advise. Please fill out this form if you are interested in receiving mentoring. It will allow us to find an area of common interest and capability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does everyone have a chance to get involved in the Intel or Siemens Science Competition?
Yes and No.
First, why “yes”: Because Intel STS and Siemens competitions do not require a preliminary qualification round to enter the competitions. This means anyone can submit any level of research without any preparation. Thus the answer is yes: Anyone can enter Intel and Siemens competition.
So why “no”? Because not everyone will be able to become a semi-finalist or finalist even if the student did his or her best. Research results submitted to these competitions are at Master’s degree level. It will take talent, dedication, and mentored guidance for a high-school student to rise this high in his or her intellectual achievement.
Q: Does this online course cover the competition preparation process completely?
This Sabio Research course is broken into three levels:
Level 1: 100 Level Courses
Level 2: 200 Level Courses
Level 3: Competition Mentoring
In Level 1, students will learn how to analyze scientific data, draw conclusions, and visualize the results.
In Level 2, students will learn their topics of interest in depth to be able to analyze the data better with deeper insight.
In Level 3, students will work with Dr. Choi to prepare their research paper for submission at various competitions.
Q: As long as students continue taking these courses, can the students have an opportunity to work with Dr. Choi to prepare for the competition, even if the student cannot visit Sabio Academy?
As long as the students have the drive to learn and the discipline to do all the homework, they will be able to perform Master’s degree level research that will give them a chance to win in a prestigious science competition. This, however, does not guarantee that the student will win. Winning depends on many other factors including luck, the level of other students’ research, etc.
Ideally, the student should come up with his or her own research idea and plan along the way. If such an idea is not forthcoming, Dr. Choi can suggest a topic based on his familiarity with the topic and the availability of the data.
Q: Can everyone participate in ISEF by taking this course?
Yes, but the ISEF requires the students to pass through the local science-fair competition first. The students enter the local competition through their high school, but not all high schools participate in this event. If your school is not participating, you cannot enter the local competition, and you therefore have no way of competing in the ISEF.