2024 Thermo Fisher JIC Entrant Survey

Congratulations on submitting your Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (JIC) application this year! Please complete this survey to provide valuable feedback about your experience completing a science fair project and the application. For each question below, please answer to the best of your ability. All survey responses are anonymous.

Please note, your survey responses will have no impact on your selection as a Top 300 Junior Innovator or a finalist in the 2024 competition.

How familiar were you with the Thermo Fisher JIC (formerly known as Broadcom MASTERS) prior to receiving your nomination this year?*

Not at all - I had never heard of Thermo Fisher JIC prior to receiving my nominationSomewhat - I had heard of it but did not know what it wasVery familiar - I knew that Thermo Fisher JIC was a STEM research competition and received a nomination before!

Did you apply to the competition in a previous year?*

YesNo, this was my very first time completing the application

How did you find out you were nominated for the Thermo Fisher JIC this year? (select all that apply)

Announced at Awards CeremonyMy fair told me via emailMy teacher told meMy parent/guardian received an email from Society for ScienceOther (please specify)

Did you receive the following materials from your fair?

After finding out you received a nomination, when did you
open an application?

Who or what motivated you to submit your application? Please rate the following choices on a scale from 1 to 5, 1= did not motivate me at all, 5 = greatly motivated me

	1 (did not motivate me at all)	2	3	4	5 (greatly motivated me)
Teacher
Fair Director
Parent/Guardian
Other mentor
Myself
A friend or teammate
Receiving the entrant t-shirt and bumper sticker
The opportunity to win one of the lottery prizes
The chance to be named a Top 300 Junior Innovator or finalist
Joining the Society for Science alumni network
The opportunity to share my science fair project at the next level
The opportunity to practice completing an application and scientific writing
The chance to meet like-minded peers at the finalist level of competition
Other (please specify)

If you selected other, please specify*:

How helpful was each of the following resources in completing the application? 1= not at all helpful, 5 = extremely helpful

	1 (not at all helpful)	2	3	4	5 (extremely helpful)
Live webinars
Application walk-through videos
FAQ in application
Emails from Society for Science with encouragement and tips

Did any of the following factors impact your ability to submit the application?

	Yes	No
Lack of resources needed to complete the application (for example, access to a computer or internet, quiet space to work)
Access to a computer and/or internet
Lack of information about the competition
Lack of time between knowing you were nominated and the application deadline
Language barrier
No one encouraged me to apply

Do you plan to compete in your science fair next year?*

YesNo

Do you plan to enter the Thermo Fisher JIC next year if you earn a nomination again?*

YesNoI will be in high school next year, so will not be eligible to enter

The following questions are about your experience conducting a research project and entering science fair this year.

Think back to conducting your research project, before you entered science fair. How strongly did each of the factors below impact your decision to complete a research project this year? Please rate each factor on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 = did not impact my decision at all, 5 = highly impacted my decision.

	1 (did not impact my decision at all)	2	3	4	5 (highly impacted my decision)
Completing a research project was required by my science teacher/for my science class
I was interested in a topic and wanted to investigate it
I completed a project last year and wanted to continue my research
My teacher encouraged me to complete a project (but it was not required)
My parent(s)/guardian(s) encouraged me to complete a project
A friend wanted to do a team project and I decided to join

Were there any other reasons or factors that motivated you to complete a research project this year? (optional)

Please select "true" or "false" on the statements below, related to your research experience this year:

	True	False
I conducted research at home or on my own time, apart from school
I conducted research as part of my science class
I am currently enrolled in a research club offered by my school after school or on weekends
A relative, friend, or acquaintance made or helped me make an initial connection that led to my acceptance into a research setting (not at school)
My teacher or school provided contacts or connections to scientists/engineers
I identified and contacted a scientist/engineer independent of any support

How significantly, if at all, did the following factors affect your ability to complete a research project this year? Please rate the following factors on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 = did not impact me at all, 5 = significantly impacted me.

	1 (did not impact me at all)	2	3	4	5 (significantly impacted me)
Lack of time to complete my project
Lack of adult support (teacher, parent/guardian)
Lack of access to all the supplies I needed to complete my project
Lack of access to the proper setting or space to conduct my research project (for example, access to a lab)
Another factor made it difficult to complete my project

Please explain what other factor made it difficult to complete your project (optional)

Competing at your local science fair

How strongly did each of the factors below impact your decision to enter your local science fair this year? Please rate the following factors on a scale of 1 to 5, 1= did not impact my decision at all, 5 = highly impacted my decision.

	1 (did not impact my decision at all)	2	3	4	5 (highly impacted my decision)
Self-interest/motivation
It was required by my science teacher/for my science class
My teacher strongly encouraged me to enter (but it was not required)
My parent(s)/guardian(s) strongly encouraged me to enter
A friend was entering so I did too

Were there any other reasons or factors that motivated you to enter your local science fair this year? (optional)

Did any of the following factors impact your ability to compete at your local science fair?

	Yes	No
Difficulty finding transportation for an in-person fair
Lack of access to a computer or internet for a virtual fair
Difficulty getting the materials needed to create my poster
I did not know how to create a science fair poster board
I did not have enough support from adults (teachers, parents/guardians)
I did not know the rules to competing at my local fair

Demographic Information

Please provide your demographic information.

What is your current grade (2023/2024 academic year)*?

6th7th8th

What is your age (in years)?*

To which gender(s) do you most identify? Select all that apply.

GirlBoyNon-binarySomething else

Do you identify as Hispanic or Latino/a/x?

Hispanic or Latino/a/xNot Hispanic or Latino/a/x

How would you describe yourself? Select all that apply.

What is your home zip code?*

Contact Information

	Yes	No
Digital nominee packet
Fair Password
Certificate (physical)
Certificate (digital)