CATEGORIES OF RESEARCH

The following are categories for a science investigatory project (SIP) based on ISEF and National
Science and Technology Fair (NSTF):

Life Science (ISEF/NSTF)

Life sciences comprise all sciences that deal with living organisms, including human beings,
animals and plants. It is a broad field that encompasses biology, biotechnology, genomics, proteomics,
bioinformatics, pharmaceutical and biomedical research, and techniques (WHO).
Category selection: animal science, behavioral and social sciences, biochemistry, biomedical and genetic
engineering, genomics, functional genomics and proteomics, bioinformatics

Physical Science (ISEF/NSTF)

Physical sciences are those academic disciplines that aim to uncover the underlying laws of nature
- often written in the language of mathematics (Nature, 2021). It is a collective term for areas of study
including astronomy, chemistry, materials science, and physics.

Examples topics:nanotechnology, biofunction, physics and astronomy, energy, systems software, robotics

Robotics and Intelligent Machines (RIM) - (NSTF)

“Robotics is a branch of engineering that involves the conception, design, manufacture and operation of
robots” (Hanna, 2023). The goal of the field of robotics is to develop smart machines that can help
people in a variety of ways. A robotic machine should have the following key components: sensors,
controller, and actuators (ISU, 2023).

Subcategories for this category according to ISEF (2023) are biomechanics, cognitive systems,
control theory, machine learning, robot kinematics

Example topics: robot perception and robot learning, autonomous navigation and manipulation, human-
robot collaboration, robot and machine vision, smart sensing and signal processing

Mathematics and Computational Sciences (MCS) - (NSTF)

Computer science, mathematics, applied mathematics, statistics, and information technology are among
the computational sciences and mathematical fields of study (University of Arizona, 2023). In this
category, students uncover new information that can be applied to problems in math, science,
engineering, and technology.

Constructing simulations, statistically analyzing data, and recognizing, expressing, and applying
quantitative relationships (Montana.edu, 2023) are among of the tasks scoped by MCS.

Example topics: mathematical models, computer science, mathematical biology, machine learning,
mathematical optimization, computational mathematics, numerical analysis, discrete mathematics,
artificial intelligence, computational biology, computational geometry, topology, data science,
combinatorics, analysis of algorithms, differential geometry, computational complexity theory

Applied Science (ISEF)

It is a study related to accumulation of information and application of various scientific forms and
knowledge of different aspects are transferred and applied in the physical environment. It is done to
increase the knowledge and to make more practical applications like inventions and technology
(iMedPub LTd,2021).

Example topics: agronomy, animal husbandry, agriculture, Mariculture, food science, food technology,
medicine, bioengineering, Nanoscience, biotechnology, electrical technology, computer science and
systems biology, genetic algorithm