Action Plan Title: One Giant Leap: "SCIREN" Science Fair

Yiran Z.

Hometown/Country: Shanghai, China

Program/Year: BELL Rhode Island (2024)

Describe your project in detail, including what steps you've taken to advance your project.

SCIREN marked the first-ever science fair hosted by my school and community, designed to promote scientific inquiry and collaboration among students. The event featured two rounds: an online preliminary stage and an in-person final exhibition.

During the preliminary round, students from grades 6 to 11 formed teams of 2–5 members to submit a digital poster and a five-minute video presentation of their projects. Submissions were evaluated by a panel of judges, with 60% of teams advancing to the final round. Concurrently, an online public voting process was conducted to engage the wider community.

The final exhibition, held on May 23rd in the school gymnasium, showcased the selected projects through interactive stalls composed of standing posters and display tables. Students presented their work to judges, teachers, and peers, while attendees participated in a live voting process to select their favorite projects. The winners were announced by the principal during a school-wide flag-raising ceremony.

How have others been involved in your project? What are their respective roles? If you did work with other people, what are the challenges and benefits of working with others? If you've done this project almost entirely on your own, how can you get others involved? 

Collaboration with peers and faculty was essential to the successful execution of my action plan. I assembled a core leadership team of four students and a volunteer group of ten, allowing us to leverage diverse skills across key areas of SCIREN’s development. 

One of the most significant challenges I faced was ensuring timely communication across the team, particularly during high-pressure moments when quick coordination was critical. Despite this, the collaborative effort proved highly effective. The complementary strengths of our team members not only enabled us to bring SCIREN to life but also demonstrated the power of student initiative when supported by dedicated peers and faculty.

What impact do you think your project has had? What impact has your project had on you and what impact has it had on others/the issue?

With over 60 participants, more than 1,000 visitors at the in-person exhibition, and 11,000+ online viewers, SCIREN has sparked a deeper interest in science among students of all ages. Several younger students reached out to me, expressing their excitement and motivation to begin their own research journeys after attending the event.

What tips and advice would you give to new students as they think about developing and working on their own Action Plans?

Prepare for the worst, and hope for the best! One of the hardest parts of developing my Action Plan was simply taking the first step—gathering the courage to present what felt like an amateur idea to my school principal. Our school had never hosted a science fair before, and I couldn’t imagine our headmaster saying yes. But he did.

On the day of our final exhibition, heavy rain poured, posters swayed in the wind, and I wondered why anyone would choose to walk to the gym instead of staying warm and dry in their classrooms. But when I stepped inside, I found the space packed with students—curious, engaged, and excited. That moment reminded me that every success, no matter how small, was earned through thoughtful planning, consistent effort, and belief in the vision.

My advice to new BELL students: take the leap, even if you’re uncertain. Share your idea, even if it’s not perfect. Plan carefully, work hard, and trust that your dedication will carry you through unexpected challenges.