21 STEM Project Ideas for High School Students

If you are an ambitious STEM major, then the thought of developing your own project would have certainly occurred to you. But it is much easier said than done. There are endless possibilities, unlimited directions to go in, but which one to choose. Worry not because we’ve compiled 21 creative and thought-provoking project ideas that span various disciplines. 

21 STEM Project Ideas to Inspire Your Journey

1. Build a Solar-Powered Car

Design and construct a model car powered by solar panels. This project helps you explore renewable energy conversion, energy efficiency, and the mechanics of solar technology. Experiment with different materials and panel placements to optimize your car’s performance.

2. Investigate the Effects of Climate Change

Analyze data on a specific ecosystem and create predictive models to assess the potential impacts of climate change. Propose innovative solutions, such as reforestation strategies or carbon capture methods, to mitigate these effects. Tools like Python or Excel can help you enhance your analysis.  Research in this area has even shaped powerful student journeys.

3. Design a Water Filtration System

Use common household materials like sand, charcoal, and gravel, creating an effective water filtration system. Test its efficiency by filtering contaminated water, and learn about the global challenges of providing access to clean water.

4. Explore 3D Printing Technology

Dive into the mechanics of 3D printing by designing and creating prototypes. Applications can include medical models, engineering parts, or sustainable product designs. In addition to technical prowess, this project will let you express your creative side. 

5. Study the Genetics of Inherited Traits

Examine family traits and create genetic models to understand heredity (maybe even your own!). You can use Punnett squares to predict probabilities for specific traits, and consider investigating how genetic mutations or environmental factors influence inheritance patterns.

6. Create a Smartphone App

Learn app development by creating a mobile app that solves a real-world problem. Whether it’s a study tracker, mental health resource, or local event guide, designing user-friendly interfaces and practical applications can hone your programming and problem-solving skills. 

7. Build a Rube Goldberg Machine

Combine engineering and creativity by designing a machine that performs a simple task through an elaborate series of chain reactions. This project develops your understanding of energy transfer, mechanical engineering, and physics while challenging your ingenuity.

8. Investigate the Science of Food Preservation

Experiment with preservation techniques like canning, drying, or freezing. Analyze how factors such as temperature, moisture, and pH levels influence food freshness, and explore the chemistry behind these preservation methods.

9. Study the Physics of Roller Coasters

Build miniature roller coasters using materials like foam pipe insulation and marbles. Explore principles like kinetic and potential energy, acceleration, and gravity. Test how loop size and ramp height affect motion and thrill.

10. Explore Renewable Energy Sources

Research renewable energy options like wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal power. Use real-world data to build models that demonstrate their mechanisms, evaluate their efficiency, and discuss their environmental impact.

11. Investigate the Math Behind Cryptography

Learn the basics of encryption by studying mathematical algorithms used in secure communications. Design your own coded messages using ciphers like Caesar or Vigenère and explore their applications in cybersecurity.

12. Build a Robot

Using platforms like Arduino or Raspberry Pi, design and program robots to perform specific tasks, such as sorting objects or navigating a maze. This project introduces concepts in robotics, electronics, and automation. Students interested in expanding these ideas can explore more innovative robotics and drone projects that push creativity and technical skills further.

13. Study the Microbiome

Explore microbial ecosystems in soil, water, or the human body. Collect samples and analyze their diversity using basic lab techniques, then discuss their ecological significance or impact on human health.

14. Design a Sustainable Architecture Model

Create a scale model of an energy-efficient building. Incorporate features like solar panels, green roofs, and sustainable materials to demonstrate how architecture can reduce environmental impact while enhancing functionality.

15. Investigate the Science of Forensics

Conduct experiments simulating forensic investigations, such as fingerprinting, DNA analysis, or ballistics. Consult historical records and resolve  a fictional crime scene by applying your knowledge of chemistry, biology, and physics.

16. Explore the Chemistry of Food

Explore the science behind cooking by experimenting with chemical reactions in food. Projects could include testing how different leavening agents affect baking or how temperature impacts caramelization and flavor.

17. Study Pollution’s Effects on Aquatic Ecosystems

Analyze how pollutants like oil, pesticides, or plastics affect water quality and biodiversity. Conduct experiments using small aquatic ecosystems and propose workable solutions

18. Design a Sustainable Urban Garden

Implement vertical gardening, composting systems, or rainwater harvesting in an urban garden model. Showcase how these techniques can promote biodiversity and sustainability in small spaces.

19. Investigate the Physics of Light and Optics

Experiment with prisms, lenses, and mirrors to understand light’s properties, such as refraction, reflection, and dispersion. Projects could include creating periscopes, holograms, or simple telescopes.

20. Build a Wind Turbine

Design and construct a model wind turbine using household materials. Experiment with blade designs and angles to optimize energy production and learn about the potential of wind energy for sustainable power.

21. Study the Effects of Exercise on the Human Body

Design experiments to investigate how exercise precisely impacts physiological factors like heart rate, lung capacity, or metabolism. Fitness trackers and heart monitors can be used to collect information. 

Transform Your Passion for STEM into Impactful Projects

Embarking on a STEM project is more than just an academic exercise—it could] take your college applications to the next level. At Nova Scholar, we help ambitious students make their projects into reality through prestigious research programs under the mentorship of alumni from top universities. Learn more about our program here.