What is Research?

Should I do research? 

Research is simply one way to demonstrate and explore your passion—it is not a requirement for university or for having meaningful extracurriculars. If you are genuinely curious about a topic, research can be an amazing way to learn more about it. But if you are only doing research because you feel pressured to, it may not be meaningful at all.

There are many ways to develop and demonstrate your interests. You do not need to force yourself into research just because other students are doing it. Do something because you genuinely want to learn, create, explore, or contribute—not because you feel like you have to.

Research is an opportunity, not a requirement.

What is research?

Research is the process of asking a question, investigating it, and using evidence to learn something new. For high school students, research is usually less about making a major contribution to the scientific field and more about learning how researchers think and work.

You might explore a question that interests you, learn how to find and evaluate scientific information, collect or analyze data, or work alongside researchers on an existing project. You are not expected to revolutionize a field in high school—and it is very unlikely that you will. The real value is developing your curiosity, skills, and understanding of how knowledge is created.

In other words, research is an opportunity to learn how to investigate questions, not to prove that you have already become a scientist.

Note for feeling lost

If you’re feeling lost, overwhelmed, or unsure about what you’re supposed to be doing, that’s okay. You do not need to have everything figured out right now.

Maybe your family, friends, teachers, or counsellors are telling you that you should be doing research, competitions, internships, or building a perfect résumé. It can be difficult to separate what you actually want from what you feel you are expected to want.

Please remember: your future is not a checklist. You are allowed to take your time, change your mind, explore something simply because you find it interesting, or decide that something isn't for you.

And if this website is adding to that pressure rather than helping you, you are always welcome to leave.

Different types of research

Research can look very different depending on your interests, resources, and goals. You do not need to work in a laboratory or publish a paper for your work to be meaningful.

Research with a Professor

Work with a university professor or research group as a volunteer, assistant, or student researcher. You may help with an existing project, collect data, conduct experiments, or learn research methods.

Independent Research

Choose a question that genuinely interests you and investigate it independently. This could involve analyzing existing data, conducting experiments, reviewing scientific literature, or developing your own research question.

Research Papers & Literature Reviews

Explore what scientists already know about a topic by reading and analyzing existing research. You can write a literature review or research paper that brings together findings from multiple sources and develops your own understanding of a question.

Research Internships

Gain experience in a laboratory, company, museum, research institute, or other workplace. Internships allow you to experience how research and scientific work are actually done in a professional environment.

Field Research

Research does not always happen at a desk or in a laboratory. Depending on your interests, you might collect observations or samples in the field, work with environmental data, visit geological sites, or participate in museum and archaeological projects.

Competitions & Research Programs

Participate in science fairs, research competitions, summer programs, or mentorship programs. These can provide structure, mentorship, and a community of other students interested in research.

What This Website Can Help With

This website is here to help you explore these possibilities, not tell you which one you have to choose. You can find resources, learn how other students approached research, explore opportunities, ask questions, and figure out what—if anything—makes sense for you.