what is a good senior project

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60 Senior Project Ideas for High School Students – 2024

May 13, 2024

Many high school students look forward to the exciting moment of choosing a senior project. This makes sense since senior projects provide opportunities for students to direct what they’ve learned into something they care about, and to take their academic interests beyond the classroom. At the same time, deciding what to pursue can be nerve-wracking. After all the anticipation, when it finally comes time to decide on a project, students might ask themselves, now what ? If you find yourself in this dilemma, or if you could just use some further inspiration, continue reading for a list of 60 senior project ideas for high school students. Once you find a senior project idea that catches your eye, you can always put your own spin on it, or use it to inspire projects on topics outside this list.

What is a senior project?

Put simply, a senior project is a semester-long project you take on in your final year of high school. So, what counts as a senior project? This can vary widely. While different schools have different requirements (for example, some high schools expect students to focus specifically on internship experiences), the assignments tend to be pretty flexible. In the senior project ideas listed below, you will find suggestions ranging from assisting a science researcher, to interning at a local museum, to organizing an academic tutoring program, to helping with community voter registration. The final outputs for senior projects may also vary in form, from guidebooks, to plays, to research papers, and apps.

Considerations when choosing a senior project

Because a senior project is often seen as the culmination of your high school experience, you should choose a topic that reflects your passions and interests. At the same time, it’s an opportunity to develop new skills and challenge yourself as you prepare for your next steps after graduation. Whether you have plans to begin a 4-year university program, enroll in a 2-year degree program , take a gap year , or start a new job, a senior project can prepare you with experience that you wouldn’t receive in your high school classes in an ordinary semester.

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself when thinking of a senior project idea:

• What field or career do you wish to pursue? If you’re not sure, what are 2-3 fields that you could possibly see yourself pursuing at this point in your life?
• What world issues do you care most about? Climate change? LGBTQIA+ rights? Accessible healthcare? If thinking about a particular issue sparks a passion, this could be a great place to start.
• Based on your high school coursework experience, could you see yourself spending extra time on an artistic project? A science-based one? A research paper with a political theme?
• What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Volunteering with kids? Hiking and camping? Dancing? Cooking? Perhaps you can orient your senior project to something that you already know brings you joy.

60 senior project ideas

Below you can find 60 high school senior project ideas, divided into some general categories that might help you focus your search. As you read through, feel free to stick to these exact ideas or use them to inspire other ones.

Business – Senior Project Idea

• Write a printed or virtual guidebook to small local businesses in your area, including descriptions, photographs phone numbers and social media accounts.
• Help a local business with an advertising campaign, through local news outlets and social media.
• Develop a mentorship program to help those who are searching for jobs with resumes, interviews, and cover letters.
• Intern at a start-up based in your area.
• Write a research paper about models for sustainable businesses.
• Organize an after-school program that helps students learn financial literacy.

Community service

• Organize a ride service to bring elderly community members to and from doctor’s appointments, or to provide them with groceries and other needs.
• Volunteer at a local soup kitchen.
• Organize a food drive at your school.
• Create a social media campaign for a local animal shelter to raise awareness.
• Collaborate with a local charity or non-profit with a mission you believe in to organize a fundraiser.
• Collect school supplies and art supplies for families in need.

Creative writing – Senior Project Ideas

• Write and illustrate a children’s book.
• Create a handmade poetry book.
• Intern at a small local publisher or magazine.
• Work to translate a short story or poem to another language.
• Write a screenplay for a short film.
• Start a school literary magazine that accepts student submissions of poems, essays, and short stories. Organize a team so that the magazine can continue after you graduate.
• Organize a peer tutoring program at your school for students who need extra help with writing, languages, or math.
• Construct a free library box in your neighborhood so that more people have access to books.
• Volunteer at a local elementary school to help children with their homework after school.
• Work with a local senior center to teach a foreign language to residents.
• Develop a website or app for students to match with language partners for practicing conversation skills.
• Start a visual or performing arts class for children in your community.

Environmentalism- Senior Project Ideas

• Design and build a sustainable garden.
• Organize a community clean-up day, or a series of community clean-up days, at a local park or waterfront.
• Organize an Earth Day festival at your school. This could involve live music and performance, environmental art displays, local vegetarian food, and sustainable clothing swaps.
• Write a research paper on one thing that contributes to climate change, as well as potential solutions.
• Write a guidebook to local parks and hiking trails so that locals and visitors alike can appreciate these outdoor spots.
• Create a fashion line with all reused materials.
• Research historic sites in your neighborhood or town, and write a printed or online guidebook to these points of local history.
• Record a podcast on the history of one of your hobbies (fashion? sports?) Contact an expert on this history to ask if you can interview them on the podcast.
• Write a research paper on the history of a particular protest movement.
• Write and direct a short play with a contemporary take on a historical event that interests you.
• Create a documentary film on the history of your community (school, town, etc.), and organize a community screening.
• Intern at a local history museum.

Performing Arts – Senior Project Ideas

• Write and record an original song.
• Write, direct, and show a one-act play.
• Organize a community dance performance with student choreographers and performers, featuring a range of different styles.
• Volunteer to help with accessibility needs (theater access, live captioning, etc.) at a local theater.
• Organize a school comedy night or talent show that benefits a charity of your choice.
• Research the history of a film genre, and direct a short film that reflects this genre.
• Intern for a local political newspaper or magazine.
• Volunteer on the campaign of a local candidate.
• Create an online blog to write on a political issue you care about, or write a series of op-eds for a local newspaper.
• Write a research paper on a local problem (housing prices, green space, voting access) that discusses possible solutions to this problem.
• Create a Model UN or Mock Trial team at your school if one doesn’t already exist.
• Help teens and other community members register to vote.

Science and medicine – Senior Project Ideas

• Build a Rube Goldberg machine .
• Work in the lab of a STEM professor at a nearby university who works on a topic you’re interested in.
• Research a community health problem (drug safety, air/water quality, nutritional food access) and develop solutions with the help of local politicians and/or medical experts. Create a research paper, blog, or documentary film on your findings.
• Assist at a doctor’s office or hospital by helping to translate for patients who are non-native English speakers.
• Design an architectural structure (for example, a house or bridge) and build a 3D model.
• Organize a technology support group at your school to make technology more accessible and help with easy tech repairs.

Visual arts

• Design a mural for your school to highlight an aspect of the school culture or commemorate an important moment in its history.
• Intern at a local art museum and learn how to give a tour of its current exhibits.
• Organize the collaborative building of a sculpture at your school made of all reused or found objects.
• Offer to take wedding or senior photographs for those who might not be able to afford a professional photographer.
• Study a famous painter, and then create a series of paintings (or art of another medium) based on, or in response to, their works.
• Create a school-wide photography exhibition, with a theme of your choosing.

Senior Project Ideas – Final thoughts

We hope that this list has sparked inspiration for your high school senior project. Remember that while senior projects are important (and hopefully fun) opportunities to culminate your high school experience, you don’t need to do it all in one project! If you’re inspired by more than one of these project ideas, hold onto them for years to come or pursue them as summer internships .

If you’re interested in more project ideas for high school students, we recommend the following articles:

• 100 Examples of Community Service Projects
• 98 Passion Project Ideas
• 100 Best Clubs to Start in High School
• Persuasive Speech Topics
• High School Success

Sarah Mininsohn

With a BA from Wesleyan University and an MFA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sarah is a writer, educator, and artist. She served as a graduate instructor at the University of Illinois, a tutor at St Peter’s School in Philadelphia, and an academic writing tutor and thesis mentor at Wesleyan’s Writing Workshop.

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50 Senior Project Ideas That Will Inspire You

Senior project is a long-awaited experience for many high schoolers. The anticipation can lead to a lot of uncertainty on what exactly to do, however. After years of looking forward to this opportunity, many students get so caught up in looking for the perfect idea that they can’t make a decision.

If you’re looking for original and inspiring senior project ideas, this is just the place for you. Read on for suggestions related to a wide variety of interests, from medicine to marketing to environmentalism.

What is a Senior Project?

A senior project allows high school students to explore whatever interests them through experiential learning. Students normally design and implement their own projects from start to finish. These projects often occur in the second semester of senior year, and can involve time off from regular classes.

Senior project ideas include everything from future careers to special talents to community service projects, and can range from research to hands-on activities. One of the great benefits of senior projects is that students can apply their acquired skills and knowledge to a project they’re passionate about, while also gaining greater insight into their particular interest. 

High schoolers can also build essential life skills by participating in a senior project, such as long-term planning and time management.

50 Inspiring Senior Project Ideas  

While many schools will have a list of suggested senior project ideas, they don’t always have one that lines up with a student’s interests, and the best senior projects generally involve a subject or area the student is enthusiastic about. If you’re looking for an engaging and exciting senior project idea, look no further—below are 50 senior project ideas spread across 11 areas of interest to inspire you. 

• Volunteer on the campaign of a local political candidate, or work in the office of a local representative.
• Write op-eds and articles for your local newspaper on issues you truly care about.
• Start a mock senate to give your fellow students a simulated experience with the business of the U.S. Senate and a better understanding of how a bill becomes a law. 
• Define a local problem, the political situation around it, what interest groups and lobbyists have a stake in it and what their positions are. Then, discuss potential solutions, or what it would take for there to be progress on the issue.

Virtual Arts

• Organize the creation of a mural at your school or local community to highlight a memorable moment in local history.
• Take portraits of meaningful life milestones (engagement, wedding, senior photos) for low-income families who might otherwise not be able to afford it.
• Start a painting class for kids from low-income homes who may not have easy access to art supplies. 
• Make a documentary about a lesser-known part of local history. 
• Put on a production of a play you wrote yourself to call attention to issues such as racial discrimination and body image. 
• Create a curriculum for teaching seniors how to use a computer/internet and circulate it to local nursing homes and retirement communities. 
• Organize volunteers to mentor adults without high school diplomas and help them graduate.
• Work with local business people to create a series of workshops teaching vital job skills to people out of work.  
• Construct a “ Little Free Library Box ” in a neighborhood where access to libraries and books is limited.
• Go through the process of changing a school policy that many students disagree with.
• Work with your local senior center or retirement home to teach a foreign language to their members/residents—you’re never too old to learn! 
• Volunteer to assist in an ESL (English as a second language) class, or mentor non-native speakers one-on-one. 
• Develop a website or app where people can find language partners to practice with.
• Act as a translator at school or in a local business, or translate documents/media that are read by a significant immigrant population
• If your school serves a large percentage of non-English or non-native English speakers, petition your school to become more inclusive by also providing documents in the predominant language spoken. 
• Help translate for patients at a doctor’s office with a significant immigrant population.
• Define a community health problem and develop solutions, working with local officials and medical professionals (for example, obesity, diabetes, drug use, etc.).
• Coordinate a free health screening event with medical professionals for at-risk and underserved community members.
• Investigate the accessibility of healthcare in your community by interviewing a diverse selection of residents, and writing a paper on your findings, or creating a documentary.
• Work with a local nonprofit or business to better understand what it takes to thrive in today’s economy.
• Start a business—conduct market research, develop a product or service, and sell it. 
• Identify a local economic issue and develop solutions, working with local representatives and organizations who can make a difference (for example, homelessness, hunger, inaccessible healthcare, low minimum wage, etc.)
• Help a local business with their accounting or record keeping. Tech-savvy students might even upgrade an old business, transferring them from pen-and-paper bookkeeping to a program like Quickbooks.

Marketing/Media

• Create a social marketing campaign for your local animal shelter to raise awareness and find homes for pets.  
• Start your own blog on a topic that you’re passionate about and write SEO-optimized content, or start a blog for a local business or non-profit.
• Intern for a local magazine or newspaper.
• Research the impact of the media on your community during a local or national election.
• Work with your high school Amnesty International Club to create materials like pamphlets and posters to raise awareness of human rights issues. 

Environmentalism

• Work with the local government to create a space for a community garden. 
• Create a documentary to teach people about environmental issues in your community.
• Work with your school cafeteria to implement changes that reduce food waste, like introducing compost or switching to biodegradable trays. 
• Organize an event to clean up a local park or woodland (you can take it a step further and even make it a hike or a run to pick up trash; there’s actually a trend called “plogging” when you jog and pick up trash)
• Work in the lab of a local professor to research a topic that you’re passionate about.
• Develop an app for simplifying school communication. 
• Act as a teaching assistant for your STEM teacher at school, helping students during labs, developing supplemental materials, or holding review sessions.
• Build a website that changes an industry—Facebook, WordPress, and Dell were all founded by undergraduates, and Google began as a Ph.D. research program.
• Develop a plan for building mountain bike trails, organize volunteers, and demonstrate the economic impact they’ll have on the community. 
• Organize a new club for an unrepresented sport at your school, like rock climbing or fencing. 
• Offer a service that pairs high-energy dogs whose owners can’t give them enough exercise with runners looking for a canine training partner. 
• Volunteer to coach a Special Olympics team. 
• Found a group that exposes athletic opportunities to people who might otherwise not experience them—for example, taking inner-city kids backpacking.  
• Take your love of shopping and do good by organizing a squad of shoppers that picks up groceries and medicine for the elderly. 
• Gather a group to make and distribute holiday gifts for kids in the hospital. 
• Set up a ride service that takes the elderly to and from doctors’ appointments. 
• Serve meals at the local homeless shelter, or work with a local restaurant to help feed the homeless. 
• Plan and put on a low-key party for children on the autism spectrum who can find some festivities overwhelming. 

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188 Unique Senior Project Ideas For High School And College Students

Every high school student will write a senior project. It’s a project that helps you evaluate your career or professional interests through experiential learning, a form of learning by doing. It’s usually what you’ll write in the second semester of your senior year, and it could be based on several ideas.

These ideas could include creative projects like essays, articles, research papers, or scripts. It could be service-action-orientated, about volunteering for community projects, working at a nursing home, or working as a camp counselor, if not a tutor for kids. Your interest could be in art and photography or a professional career. These careers would be in vocational work, digital skills, the legal profession, bartender, or any other.

You need many senior project topic lists to choose from, and it’s okay not to know what to write about. It’s why we have compiled 188 good senior topic ideas for you. You’ll also learn from senior project examples to shape the project of your choice and its execution.

Pro Tips: How to do a Good Project

Writing a project requires the consciousness of the educated person. The only way to impress your professors is by writing high quality, fun, and interesting essays or papers. Here are some of the ways experts write a good project essay or paper:

Choose the Project Topic/Idea of your Choice You need to understand every touch point your teacher’s assignment wants you to evaluate in the project once you get it. You’d also want to read the instructions and even brainstorm ideas for it. Brainstorming ideas for your project has been made easy with these senior project ideas. However, you may still need intentionality in connecting these ideas. What does this mean? You must narrow the multiple ideas in this blog post to what relates to you and reflect on them before choosing them. The Preparation Stage This is where you start researching the topic you’ve chosen. You’re familiar with your topic, but you need to research the internet to understand more about it. You also need to sketch an outline; you can only do this effectively after reading what’s available online. You can start your outline by including the introduction, central thesis, arguments, and supporting statements. It’s okay to jot down your ideas. After all, the goal is to comb through web results to find the best arguments and sources for your projects. You may also need the research to read examples of seniors who have worked on any project of your choice. Writing Writing entails bringing your ideas to life by expressing them on paper. This is one of the most critical phases of your project. It’s easy to write when you already have an outline, which is why it was suggested earlier. You must follow your outline to create a focused and intentional essay. Don’t forget; your university essay should be high quality as if experts wrote it. However, don’t focus on grammatical correctness yet; focus on writing every idea that comes to you during your brainstorming and research sessions. Cite Sources Citing relevant sources is a core part of your unique essay. Citing your sources means referring to the websites, newspapers, books, journals, or blogs that have helped while grooming ideas for the essay. You’d need to cite the names of the author, their publication title, the date, and where they are published. You can consult your professor for the referencing style recommended by your faculty. You can also read the best-referencing practices from the Purdue Online Writing Lab to get the best grades. Editing and Proofreading This is the last phase to review your ideas, rewrite passive sentences, and strengthen them by backing them up with proofs (which you’ll cite). You can also cut sentences you feel are unnecessary while editing your article. For better results, edit after two hours or more of writing, as you’ll be able to read your essay with a refreshed memory. You may do editing alongside proofreading, but you may still need to verify your sources, arguments, and points after editing. Therefore, spare some time to proofread your essay. After this, show it to your colleague or tutor to ensure that someone else reads what you’ve written and offers editorial advice.

Senior Project Topic List

Preparing for your project may be challenging without any ideas to brainstorm on. We have compiled topics for senior projects across basic high school career profiles. Here are creative senior project topics to write in your native language:

• Demonstrate any law of motion of your choice
• Explain how robots are built from scratch
• Discuss how to build a solar panel
• How to build batteries for solar panels
• The distribution processes of Amazon products
• What does a typical logistic process look like, and how can you fit in?
• What is object-oriented programming software, and how do they work
• Explain how cybersecurity threatens the world
• Explain the Blockchain and how it functions with cryptocurrencies
• What does computational game theory mean, and how do they help humans?
• The process of building a digital library
• How do human-computer interfaces work
• Why are Apple and Samsung struggling with dominance with their latest products?
• Why do we need reality shows in society?
• How do experts separate oil from water and sand
• How can you build a laptop?
• What does an intruder detection system?
• Explain the various form of intruder detection systems
• How can the government help with erosion regulations?
• Would you develop an app or a website for a business?
• Gambling Technology: explain how to design a website
• A step-by-step guide to accessing your laptop remotely
• Explain how they clone animal cells
• Discuss how plants are grown
• Explain essential programming languages
• How do you avoid bugs on your mobile app?
• Why is the subject of abortion so serious?
• How to develop a secured bank system door
• Design a warehouse
• Explain the internal process the body goes through when stressed.

Good Senior Projects Ideas

You need a senior project topics list to figure out which practical activity you want to engage in. Preparing for your senior projects means you need reliable yet unique ways to serve the community or work for yourself. Here are some ideas for you:

• Volunteer for a politician you have faith in
• Write articles in a newspaper you care about
• Be a local representative for a union
• Write to Congress on how to solve the problem students face
• Explain why people should solve local problems locally
• Lobby for the creation of a library in a community of your choice
• Be part of those drawing community mural
• Design a template for a library
• Write a book of drama
• Write a documentary on something you love
• Review a Netflix movie of your choice
• Write prose on the MeToo Movement
• Write a poem about the Black Lives Matter movement
• Create a scheme of work on how to teach seniors about computer usage
• Mentor girls falling prey to boys’ lies
• Write a book about computer literacy for adults
• Compile a note on school policies that must change
• Volunteer to be an ENL (English as a native language) teacher at a school
• Volunteer to be a designer for an NGO
• Volunteer to help with a community construction
• Sign up mentally ill people for gym sessions
• Buy food for the community once in a while
• Create a business plan for a neighbour
• Create a workshop to teach people how to start a small business
• Teach people about the importance of technology
• Be a translator
• Write about immigration and why the US should be receptive
• Write on the challenges of animals in polluted waters
• Create a documentary on climate change
• Create a documentary on the pretences of politicians

Senior Project Topics

You need custom articles to express any idea you’d like to develop in a senior-based project. This will help you become a better adult and a reputed individual in society. Here are some senior project idea lists for you:

• Write about how photosynthesis work
• Write on the role of technology in reducing plant diseases
• An Evaluation of the history of evolution
• How holograms are created
• How piano is built
• How an electric skateboard is designed
• How to be one of the sharks in the Shark Tank
• How immune systems fight diseases
• Why solar simulation systems are designed, and how
• What is an energy meter, and why is it needed
• How to design a micro converter
• How to manage anchor light
• How to maintain high security in the home
• How to manage a traumatic event
• How to teach people about language
• Write on how to identify methane in a field
• How to spot gas leakages
• What to do when someone swallows acids
• How to calm and take care of a drunk person
• Essential first aid for the home
• How to develop an app for a service-based business
• How to understand the philosophy
• Why are user interfaces necessary in web design?
• The reasons why graphic and web designers should work together
• Why do students need to brainstorm their essay ideas?
• The applications that help to reduce fatigue
• Effective teaching processes
• Why do people need health facilities?
• How is a calculator built?
• How battery-based cars are better than fuel-based ones.

High School Senior Project Ideas

You’ll need ideas to execute when you become old. Your teacher may even tell you to start when you’re still young. Here are some senior project examples that you can either do or pass to your parents:

• Explain what patient data is
• Describe how to solve the challenge of obesity
• Portray how to create a sickness-free community
• Facilitate a free medical checkup
• Evaluate why you need to create a documentary
• Sell three valuable items for as long as you can
• Start a business of your choice
• Tell kids how to make it in a country like this
• Create a shelter for homeless people
• Start a technology-fueled business
• Be a local representative for the government
• Train people how to keep account
• Teach people how to build Android applications
• Train adults on how to oversee their kids
• Explain how to build an airplane
• Discuss how an ATM works
• Explain why everyone needs a smart meter
• Write how to build a robot
• Explain how to create smoke detectors
• Discuss the dangers of forest fires
• Explain why people need a home automation system
• Explain the big deal about the Internet of Things (IoT)
• How does the solar panel generate solar power?
• How does electronic alert system work?
• How can you make a machine work faster?
• The essence of unionism in the workplace
• How can you control traffic with an app
• Discuss renewable energy sources to save daily costs
• Discuss the features of wireless chargers
• Why do people need to regulate the home?

Easy Senior Project Ideas

There are some projects you don’t need to spend a dime on. It could be sensitizing adults on how to spend their money or teaching youths about mental health. Here are some projects you can execute as a teenager or an adult:

• Advise kids how they can start saving up
• Brief adults on how to manage their salaries
• Educate retirees on how to save costs
• Explain why downsizing is good after retirement
• Elucidate the advantages of capitalism to people
• Discuss how the market price is determined
• Explain the factors that lead to inflation
• Explain why the Chinese real estate crashed in 2021/2022
• How does money gets into circulation, and is it fair
• Why everybody cannot be rich and why
• What are the rules of American football?
• Account for the career and life of Serena Williams
• What makes phenomenal people remain so?
• Account for the lives of Oprah Winfrey
• Write on why people like Nina Simone
• Tell a short story about Queen Elizabeth II
• How is the e-commerce market structured in America?
• Why do people love doing business in Germany?
• The difference between the cultures in the US and Japan
• Explain why China doesn’t like the US
• Conduct a study on why Russia is invading Ukraine
• Describe the essence of family in ending depression
• Explain what gentrification means and the economic factors in its development
• Why do women want to close the gender pay gap?
• Evaluate cowism and its role in economics
• How coronavirus affected global transport systems
• The history and evolution of SpaceX
• Write a note on Elon Musk
• Write a paper on Bill Gates
• Analyze why Bill and Melinda Gates divorced.

Computer Science Senior Project Ideas

Given your interest in tech, you may want to create something in computer science. There are many careers in technology today, and here are some senior project ideas to explore. If you’re wondering “who can do my project for me ,” we are here to help.

• Why do we need face detection technology?
• How hackers bypass face detection systems
• Do security cameras help reduce the crime rate?
• Why is e-authentication a big deal?
• Explain the importance of YouTube in education
• Google has made it easy to learn anything: Discuss
• TikTok has revolutionized the visual industry: discuss
• Why do you need a patent on your developments?
• How did IBM penetrate the market?
• Write on the factors to consider when designing an app
• Explain three skills for coders
• Why is coding a core part of programming?
• Explain any five important programming languages
• What’s good about the recent CCTV cameras?
• Explain how biometric data work in hospitals
• Discuss how the token works for banks
• Explain how computers reduce traffic in busy cities
• Importance of car ride companies to get economy
• Common compliance problems app developers have
• How computer innovations can endanger the world.

Senior Project Examples

You can engage in social work-related senior projects for this course. It’s an aspect that concerns everybody, and it doesn’t matter if you work with NGOs or the government in any capacity. If you’re thinking about what you can do or write, consider these:

• Analyze the frequency and infrequency of weather in your city
• Survey the political tensions in your community
• Donate your blood to a hospital; persuade others to do the same
• Start savings account for those who shelter
• Explain how a technology that can be of help works
• Raise a campaign about the importance of vacations
• Campaign for women’s rights
• Campaign for the minority people
• Start a campaign on Hepatitis B
• Explain how to protect endangered animals
• Understand why teenagers have dating problems
• How do earthquakes work?
• Lessons learned from Pakistan Flood
• Lessons learned from the fall of the Sri Lankan government?
• Lessons learned from the use of cloning
• Talk about what people do when they’re bored
• How does music help people?
• How do colors change the mood of people?

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100+ Senior Project Ideas That Will Inspire You

Senior projects are usually required when students are almost done with their education. Typically, each student in high school is expected to conduct a senior project before proceeding to a college or undergraduate education. This article covers a comprehensive view of science, technology, engineering, and agriculture to provide topics that inspire students to conduct their research. 

These projects are a critical challenge to each student to help them think outside the box in their specific study fields. The ideas presented create a transformative finale, which creates an insight into the trajectory of academic legacy. 

Although it’s an academic requirement for every student to conduct a final research, writing the senior project can be terrifying for every student. 

What is a Senior project?

Senior projects are long-term projects that allow high school students to explore their lifetime passion. It will enable students to demonstrate their academic knowledge artistically. It is conducted in the final year of high school. These projects are usually presented in research papers to help students develop their skills in research. 

When doing a senior year project, a student is usually obligated to come up with a senior project proposal before starting the project's research process. This research project proposal should be according to the student's interests to ensure that they remain deeply involved with and motivated by the topic of study.

The student is more likely to stay enthusiastic throughout the research process and develop a stronger connection and commitment to the project if they choose a topic that speaks to them personally.

This customized approach makes the study project more authentic and appealing while also increasing student engagement.

matching the proposal to the interests of the students fosters a feeling of pride in them and gives them the confidence to explore the field they have selected with passion and commitment, which enhances the research experience in the end.

How to Generate Exemplary Senior Project Ideas

Do you have a pending project to do yet you are feeling blank and haven't come up with any idea? The secret is to pick a topic that fascinates you and aligns with your goals and interests in addition to one that is academically significant.

For their research paper, high school students should think back to research articles and examples of senior projects that have piqued their interest in their academic journey. 

A senior project requires a student to look for inspiration and a few ideas in their extracurricular activities, schoolwork, or even personal experiences. Learn about project management and how to write a strong senior project proposal with the tips below:

Brainstorm Strategically Depending on your Passions: Choose a topic for your high school senior project that will not only highlight your academic abilities but also fit in with your experiences from your senior year and future business ideas.

Look at the top senior projects and project ideas that mesh well with your objectives and areas of interest. Consider the value of community involvement, experiential learning, and mental health in your senior project.

Read and Research Widely: Try reading widely and surfing through the internet for good senior project ideas. Investigate excellent ideas for senior projects that encourage critical thinking. These could take the form of a blog post, research project, or computer literacy investigation.

As students work on their senior projects, they get a rare chance to hone their research abilities, work with web designers, interact with local officials, and tackle important topics like computational game theory, local history, and climate change.

Check For Current Trends and Real-World Examples: A few concepts that solve real-world problems, as well as advance academic knowledge, must be carefully considered for the senior project. Check out your local newspaper, news,  social media, and the internet, or even talk to people to gain insights for good senior project ideas.

The best senior projects are those that have opportunity, are meaningful, and solve real-world world problems such as creating an electronic alert system, researching solar panel applications, or planning a community event.

While you explore the exciting world of senior project exploration, look for inspiration from places like your dream school, possible job options, and local media.

Look For Previously Done Projects in Your Discipline: It is essential to check out what other students have done previously in their projects to gain insights, techniques, information, and possible gaps to explore.

By investigating the strategies employed previously by the students, you are equipped with a solid base on which to build your research paper, facilitating creativity and guaranteeing that your project tackles issues that are relevant globally

Talk to your Instructors and Professors: To ace your final project, you can utilize your professors and instructors who are a treasure trove of information. Not only are these academic geniuses a wealth of knowledge, but they are also priceless mentors who are ready to help you succeed.

Talking with them opens doors and provides different points of view, ideas, new skills, and professional guidance specific to the project you're working on.

Your teachers are the compass pointing you in the direction of excellence for your final project, which is more than simply an assignment. It's a collaborative journey, so, take advantage of the opportunity to add to your project the knowledge of others who have walked the same academic path before you.

Why Senior Project is Important?

Senior projects enhance real-world applications of acquired knowledge. .

The projects enhance the application and transform theoretical knowledge into practical. This helps to solve real-world problems, bridging the gap between academia and industry. Students can transform theoretical knowledge into applicable solutions. As a result, senior projects are a vital link to real-world problem-solving.

Senior Projects are Ideal for Skill Development.

Students develop diverse skills, including research, critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and project management that will help them in their potential career paths. The skills are ideal for solving any professional challenge that learners might encounter.

They Enable Students to Demonstrate their Competence. 

Senior projects showcase a student's competence and proficiency in their chosen field. They provide a tangible evidence of their academic achievements. This evidence of competency confirms their learning experience and is a convincing testimony to their preparation for future academic or professional aspirations. Senior projects visually reflect a student's talents and accomplishments in their field.

Senior Projects are Significant for Preparation for Future Endeavors.

Completing a senior project gives students valuable experience and confidence. This is evident in preparing them for future academic pursuits, career opportunities, and lifelong learning. It provides firsthand exposure that equips them with practical skills and instills a sense of self-assurance to undertake future projects. 

Senior Projects are Also Relevant for Portfolio Enhancement.

The project substantially adds to a student's portfolio, demonstrating their ability to initiate, execute, and complete a complex and self-directed project. A good portfolio helps students locate opportunities easily. Every organization is willing to absorb a person with a prominent resume, which senior projects can play a significant role in providing. 

Snior Projects are Tools for Problem-Solving and Innovation.

Senior projects often involve tackling real-world problems and encouraging students to think innovatively. Students can solve real-life problems and improve their innovation abilities. Problem-solving skills and innovations are ideal for developing an entrepreneurial mind. 

Senior Project Topic Ideas in Every Subject.

Students are expected to be creative in creating senior project topics. The ideas can be generated from diverse fields, including law, technology, agriculture, art, education, business, etc.

Embarking on a senior project is pivotal, encapsulating the essence of academic achievement. It also promotes personal growth. The United States Department of Education provides a structured approach to guide the requirements of a senior project. 

This process begins by selecting a captivating topic that resonates with individual aspirations. Learners should then conduct diligent research. Professional assistance is relevant for comprehensive and polished documentation. Students prepare the senior projects to document ideas gained during their research journey.

Computer Science and Information Technology

Senior projects in Computer science and information technology involve creating software, developing algorithms, and exploring new technologies. These projects revolve around data analysis, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cybersecurity. They often aim to solve real-world challenges and academic research. Below is a list of computer-related senior project topics. 

• Create a smartphone app for body fitness for patients with diabetes. 
• Design a website for a local company and a community group.
• Build an artificial intelligence language learning program.
• Create a customer care chatbot for information retrieval and customer help.
• Create a fun word puzzle game.
• Create a machine learning model for image identification and natural language processing.
• Create cybersecurity software for tracking viruses in a company's system.
• Create a data analysis tool for social media analytics.
• Develop a web-based e-commerce system for a local shop.
• Design a movie, book, and music recommendation system.
• Create a tool for code review for developers.

Electrical Engineering Senior Topics

Electrical engineering focuses on the application of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It involves designing, developing, testing, and maintaining electrical appliances for domestic and industrial applications. The following are electrical engineering topics that can inspire anyone. 

• Build a smart home automation system.
• Design and construct a small-scale renewable energy system.
• Develop a device for the Internet of Things (IoT).
• Create a gesture-controlled interface using sensors.
• Design a wearable health monitoring device.
• Build a drone with a specific application (e.g., agriculture, surveillance).
• Develop a home security system.
• Design and build a small robot for a particular task.
• Create a weather station with data logging and analysis.
• Build an electronic musical instrument.

Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering Senior Topics

Both bioengineering and biomedical engineering contribute significantly to healthcare advancement. They involve inventing technologies that improve diagnosis, treatment, and overall patient care. Professionals work alongside medical practitioners, academics, and other engineers to solve complicated problems at the interface of biology and engineering. Here is a list of inspiring topics related to bioengineering and biomedical engineering.

• Design a medical diagnostic device for cancer individuals.
• Develop a wearable health monitoring system for the elderly.
• Create a drug delivery system for patients in critical condition and walking challenges.
• Design a virtual reality therapy for a specific medical condition.
• Develop a telemedicine platform for individuals in remote areas.
• Create a 3D-printed organ model for surgical training.
• Design a prosthetic or assistive device.
• Develop a smart pill dispenser with reminders.
• Create a personalized medicine platform.
• Design a biofeedback system for stress management.

Senior Topics for Civil Engineering

Civil engineering involves the design, building, and maintenance of infrastructure projects and systems. It entails applying scientific and mathematical ideas to provide answers to diverse societal challenges. Below is a list of senior topics in civil engineering.

• Design a sustainable building or infrastructure project.
• Create a water management system for a community.
• Develop a traffic management system for a city.
• Design a bridge or other structural element.
• Create a disaster-resistant building design.
• Develop a waste management system.
• Design a sustainable transportation system.
• Create a low-cost housing solution.
• Develop a soil erosion control system.
• Design a park or recreational area.

Senior Topic for Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering senior projects offer students the chance to apply their knowledge to real-world problems and explore innovative solutions. Here are some inspiring senior project ideas for Mechanical Engineering.

• Design and build a 3D printer.
• Create a solar-powered vehicle.
• Build a remote-controlled car with advanced features.
• Develop a prosthetic limb or assistive device.
• Design and build a wind turbine.
• Create a water purification system.
• Build a miniaturized satellite or CubeSat.
• Develop a robotic arm for specific applications.
• Design a bicycle with advanced features (e.g., GPS, smart lighting).
• Create a smart agriculture tool or device.

Environmental Science Senior Topics

Environmental Science senior topics cover a wide range of issues related to the Earth's environment, ecosystems, and sustainability. Here are some inspiring senior project ideas in Environmental Science.

• Conduct a biodiversity study in a local ecosystem.
• Create a pollution monitoring system.
• Design a sustainable gardening or farming system.
• Develop a waste recycling process.
• Create a sustainable packaging solution.
• Design a green roof or living wall.
• Conduct a study on the impact of urbanization on local wildlife.
• Develop a water purification system for a specific environment.
• Create a community awareness campaign on environmental issues.
• Design a sustainable urban planning project.

Business and Marketing Senior Topics

Business and Marketing senior topics offer students the opportunity to explore various aspects of the business world, from strategic management to consumer behavior. Here are some inspiring senior project ideas in Business and Marketing.

• Develop a business plan for a startup.
• Create a marketing campaign for a local business.
• Conduct a market analysis for a specific industry.
• Design and implement a customer relationship management (CRM) system.
• Develop a financial management tool for individuals or businesses.
• Create a social media strategy for a non-profit organization.
• Design a loyalty program for a retail business.
• Conduct a feasibility study for a new product or service.
• Develop a mobile app for financial management or budgeting.
• Create a branding strategy for a new product.

Psychology and Sociology Senior Topics

Psychology and Sociology senior topics offer students the opportunity to explore various aspects of human behavior, social structures, and the intersection between individuals and society. Here are some inspiring senior project ideas in Psychology and Sociology.

• Conduct a research study on a specific psychological or sociological phenomenon.
• Create a mental health awareness campaign.
• Develop an intervention program for a specific psychological issue.
• Design and implement a stress management program.
• Survey a social issue and analyze the results.
• Create a support group or community for a specific demographic.
• Develop a mindfulness or meditation app.
• Design and implement a diversity and inclusion training program.
• Conduct a study on the impact of social media on mental health.
• Create a program to address homelessness's social problem.
• Conduct research on drug addiction among the youths.

Inspiring Senior Topics in Chemistry

Here are some inspiring senior topics in Chemistry that offer opportunities for research, experimentation, and exploration.

• Develop a new method for water purification.
• Create a green chemistry project.
• Design and synthesize a new material with specific properties.
• Conduct a study on the environmental impact of a specific chemical.
• Develop a new method for drug synthesis.
• Create a forensic chemistry project.
• Conduct a study on the efficiency of different catalysts.
• Design and implement a safety protocol for a specific chemical process.
• Develop a new method for waste disposal in the chemical industry.
• Conduct a study on the chemical composition of local plants or soil.

Physics and Astronomy Senior Topics

Physics and Astronomy senior topics provide an opportunity for students to delve into advanced concepts, conduct research, and contribute to the understanding of the universe. Here are some senior project ideas in Physics and Astronomy.

• Conduct a study in quantum physics.
• Design and build a small-scale particle accelerator.
• Develop a new method for energy storage.
• Conduct a study on the properties of materials under extreme conditions.
• Design and build a small-scale telescope or observatory.
• Create a physics simulation or modeling project.
• Conduct a study on the effects of microgravity on biological systems.
• Design and build a renewable energy experiment.
• Develop a project related to quantum computing.
• Conduct a study on the properties of materials at different temperatures.

Senior Topics in Geography

Senior topics in Geography offer students the opportunity to explore a wide range of issues related to the Earth's physical and human landscapes. Here are some senior project ideas in Geography.

• Develop a simulation that explores urban planning strategies and their impact on communities.
• Analyze the local impact of climate change on a specific region and propose adaptive strategies.
• Use Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping to identify areas for community development and improvement.
• Investigate and document the cultural landscapes of a specific region, exploring their historical and social significance.
• Study and visualize migration patterns, exploring the reasons behind migration and its effects on communities.
• Develop a comprehensive plan for natural disaster preparedness, considering the geographical vulnerabilities of a specific area.
• Evaluate water resources in a region, proposing sustainable management solutions to address scarcity or pollution.
• Investigate the impact of tourism on local cultures, economies, and environments, offering recommendations for sustainable tourism practices.
• Examine the geopolitical factors contributing to a specific conflict, mapping out its historical context and potential resolutions.
• Design and implement a project focused on environmental conservation, such as reforestation efforts or wildlife habitat restoration.

Bottom Line 

The goal of this review of more than 100 senior project ideas is to spark creativity and point students in the direction of worthwhile and significant pursuits. Let this collection work as a spark for your imagination and aspirations, motivating you to take on obstacles, make an impact, and demonstrate your abilities.

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Best Senior Project Ideas for High School Students + 42 Real Student Examples

A senior project is one of the best ways you can make your application stand out to top schools like Harvard and Stanford. It can tell your story beyond academics. It can demonstrate leadership, ambition, initiative and impact. And it can make an impact on the world.  

Choosing the right senior project can be tough. As a Former Johns Hopkins Admissions Officer and a Senior Strategist at Crimson, I’ve helped hundreds of students do it. In this post, I’ll show you my process for choosing a topic for your senior project. I’ll also show you real examples of senior projects that helped students get accepted to the Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, Duke, and more.

What is a Senior Project?

A senior project is also known as a “capstone project.” It’s a long-term project in which you can explore a topic that interests you outside the classroom. It can take many different forms, including:

• A detailed research paper
• An art exhibition
• A tech invention
• A business or startup
• A community service project
• A social media channel or podcast 

It's all about picking something that resonates with you and showcases your abilities.

The impact of a well-done senior project extends beyond the classroom. It can enhance your college applications by showing your commitment and skills. It can set you apart in an application pool with thousands of academically qualified students. 

Finally, the experience and skills you gain from your senior project can be valuable in future careers.

What are the Benefits of a Senior Project?

Most students applying to Top 20 universities have strong grades and test scores. Academics are important, but they only get your foot in the door. To make your application stand out, you need impactful extracurriculars. This is where a senior project comes in. 

If you’re like most students applying, you won't already have a clear area of excellence in your application, like a national or international accolade. You’ll have to show your excellence in terms of the time and commitment you’ve given to their community. Senior projects are a great way to do this.

With a successful senior project, you can:

• Showcase personal qualities. Since a senior project is entirely yours, it showcases your ability to own and execute a unique project from start to finish. This shows leadership, initiative, and intellectual curiosity — qualities that admissions officers are looking for. A senior project can also show that you’re service-oriented, a creative thinker, looking for a challenge, and can overcome barriers.
• Demonstrate passion and dedication. A senior project shows that you’re passionate about a specific field and can commit to a long-term vision.
• Develop transferable skills. You’ll inevitably learn skills like time management, research, collaboration, or technical skills.
• Become an expert in the subject matter. By going deep into a topic, you’ll develop expertise that you might not get through passive learning.

Remember: Your senior project speaks volumes about who you are and why you deserve a place on campus!

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Best Senior Project Ideas

The best senior project ideas are long-term, unique to you, and measurably impactful. I’ll show you some specific examples of senior projects by students who were admitted to top schools. But first, here are some general ideas to get you thinking.

• Design and implement a community garden, teaching sustainable agriculture practices and providing fresh produce to local food banks.
• Start a state-wide traveling library that reaches underserved communities.
• Develop a series of workshops for senior citizens or underprivileged youth to teach them basic computer skills, internet safety, and how to use essential software.
• Create a campaign to promote environmental awareness and conservation efforts in your community, focusing on recycling, reducing plastic use, or conserving local wildlife habitats.
• Establish a mentorship program pairing high school students with elementary or middle school students to provide academic support, life advice, and positive role models.
• Organize a cultural awareness event that celebrates diversity through music, dance, food, and educational workshops, fostering a more inclusive community.
• Launch a mental health awareness campaign that includes workshops, guest speakers, and resources to destigmatize mental health issues among teenagers.
• Research and implement a small-scale renewable energy project, such as installing solar panels for a community center or designing a wind turbine model for school use.
• Conduct and record interviews with community elders or veterans to preserve local history, culminating in a public presentation or digital archive.
• Develop an art therapy program for children in hospitals or shelters, providing an outlet for expression and emotional healing through creative activities.
• Create a series of workshops for your community focusing on fitness, nutrition, and healthy lifestyle choices, including sessions on exercise and cooking.
• Design and lead a financial literacy course for high school students, covering budgeting, saving, investing, and understanding credit.
• Research and write a book or guide on the history of your town or a specific aspect of it, such as architectural landmarks, founding families, or significant events.
• Start a coding club for elementary or middle school students, teaching them the basics of programming through fun and interactive projects.
• Organize public speaking workshops for students, helping them build confidence and communication skills through practice and feedback.
• Coordinate a STEM fair to encourage girls in elementary and middle school to explore science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on activities and demonstrations.
• Produce a documentary film that explores a social issue relevant to your community, such as homelessness, addiction, or education inequality.
• Lead a project to refurbish a local playground. Fundraise, design, and collaborate with city officials to provide a safe and enjoyable space for children.
• Set up an ESL (English as a Second Language) tutoring program for immigrants and refugees in your community to help them improve their English skills and better integrate into society.
• Design and implement an anti-bullying campaign for your school or community, including awareness activities, support resources, and strategies for prevention.
• Organize a sustainable fashion show that promotes eco-friendly fashion choices, upcycling, and local designers, raising awareness about the environmental impact of the fashion industry.
• Start a podcast, blog, Youtube channel, or social media channel about a topic that interests you. Aim to reach a national or international audience.
• Start a club at your school and build its impact beyond your own school ecosystem.
• Start a campaign around an issue you care about and create change at your school, like “Meatless Mondays.”
• Create a competition for innovative startups
• Develop a product or service and sell it online. Create a business plan, marketing materials, and a way to track your progress.
• Fundraise for an existing charity or nonprofit.
• Found a new charity or nonprofit.
• Create or raise money for a scholarship fund.

Successful Real Senior Project Examples

To help you get a clear picture of what your senior project could look like, I’m going to share some actual senior projects that Crimson students have done. Below are 13 real examples of senior projects by students who were accepted to top universities like MIT, Stanford the Ivy League, Johns Hopkins, and UC Berkeley.

Business & Finance 

Student accepted to mit.

Impact: Local

This student trained 24 unique groups (120+ people) to create innovative startups for 3 competitions. They also created a 15-lesson curriculum and online team-matching algorithm for the competitions.

Student accepted to Stanford

Impact: International

This student founded an organization to educate K–8 students on social entrepreneurship. It grew to 32 chapters with 12,453 members in 4 continents. It was endorsed by the UN, LinkedIn, and InnovateX.

Student accepted to UC Berkeley and USC

Inspired by a college business case competition, this student focused his senior project on creating a business competition for high school students. He invited students from 8 local high schools and had 500 participants. He also arranged judges from a widely-known bank and a university. To leave a lasting impact, he created an executive board within his high school so this event will continue after he graduates.

Social & Political Sciences

Student accepted to harvard.

This student created a 501(c)(3) nonprofit for equitable public speaking resources. They also held a public speaking-themed summer camp for 70+ students and raised $2,000 for a local speech center.

Student accepted to Yale

Impact: Statewide

This student coalesced over 15 assault prevention organizations to develop two bills for the 2023 Oregon legislative session. Their effort instituted a $20 million education grant program and youth network.

Medicine & Healthcare

Student accepted to brown.

Impact: National

This student produced and edited 140+ mental health articles to uplift youth. The articles got over 12,000 reads. The student also hosted a podcast interviewing women leaders with over 40 episodes.

Student accepted to Carnegie Mellon

Impact: Local and National

This student built a COVID outbreak detection platform with ML. It got over 10,000 views. They also prototyped a compact translation tool with Michigan hospitals for non-native English speakers.

This student designed a chemotherapy symptom-tracking app to improve treatment. They then pitched it to industry experts and won Best Elevator Pitch of over 70 teams.

Student accepted to Cornell and Johns Hopkins

This student knew she wanted to major in biomedical engineering. She created a children’s medical book series called “My Little Doctor” to teach young kids how to address emergencies, wounds, and household medications. The books included personal illustrations, which also showcased her artistic talent. The books were sold by 150 doctor’s offices throughout NYC.

Math & Computer Science

Student accepted to columbia.

This student programmed AI to patrol an endangered turtle nesting site using drones. They partnered with a resort, launched an open source platform, and expanded the project internationally.

Student accepted to Dartmouth

This student worked on the solidity development of crypto currencies, NFTs, DAOs, DApps. They were responsible for project, client, and social media management. They also supervised 3 employees.

This student created a virtual musical theater camp for kids ages 6-12 during the COVID-19 pandemic. They managed the camp’s Instagram, website, and Facebook. They taught 25 kids and produced 5 shows.

Student accepted to Harvard and Brown

This student founded an organization to make music education accessible. It included a lead team of 35 members. It grew to 9 branches in 7 countries, impacted 15,000 students online, taught 1.6k lessons, and saved parents $40K. It raises $10k annually. This student was a TD Scholarship Finalist, YODA, and SHAD Fellow.

What are the criteria for a successful senior project?

If you only take away one thing from this article, let it be this: The best senior projects are personal to you and have a measurable impact. When you are contemplating a senior project idea, ask yourself:

• “Am I interested in this topic?” As in, interested enough to spend the next year thinking a LOT about it.
• “Can I show a measurable impact with this project, preferably at the local, national, or international level?”

Let’s use tutoring as an example. Tons of students include tutoring on their applications as one of their extracurriculars. Does tutoring pass the test if we ask our two questions?

• Am I interested in the topic? If you’re tutoring in a subject you love, the answer could be a yes.
• “Can I show a measurable impact with this project?” This one is tricky. Of course, tutoring one or even a few students makes an impact on the lives of those students. But is the impact local, national, or international? Not exactly.

So instead of tutoring a few students on your own, maybe you can create a tutoring club with 30 tutors supporting 100 students at your school. If you want to expand your impact, you can bring your tutoring services into an elementary school or into other schools in your community. You can even create a charter and get your tutoring club into high schools throughout the country, world, or online.

By thinking bigger, you can turn most conventional extracurricular ideas into an impactful, standout senior project idea.

How to Choose a Topic for Your Senior Project

I’ve helped hundreds of students develop successful senior projects. This is the process we use:

• Make a list of your major interests. These could be academics, hobbies, anything! 
• Now write down problems or areas of exploration that relate to those interests.
• Narrow down your choices to one or two that are academically relevant, relevant to your interests and goals,  interesting enough for you to explore, and have enough published data.
• Identify a problem that you can address in this area with a solution that you identify. This will be the subject of your senior project!

Let’s walk through these steps using a hypothetical student as an example.

Senior Project Topic Brainstorm Example

• List interests.  

Maya is a junior with dreams of attending an Ivy League school. She's always been fascinated by environmental science, particularly renewable energy sources. She also enjoys coding and app development. Outside of academics, Maya volunteers at a local animal shelter and is an avid runner.

• List problems or areas of exploration related to those interests.  

For environmental science, Maya is concerned about the inefficiency of current solar panels in low-light conditions. 

In coding, she notes the lack of user-friendly apps that promote environmental awareness among teens. 

Her volunteering experiences make her wonder how technology can assist animal shelters in improving animal adoption rates.

• Narrow down the choices.

After considering her list, Maya decides to focus on environmental science and coding, as these are her academic interests and she sees herself pursuing them in the future. She finds the intersection of these fields particularly interesting and ripe for exploration. Plus, she discovers ample published data on renewable energy technologies and app development, confirming the feasibility of her project idea.

4. Identify a Problem and Solution

Maya identifies a specific problem: the gap in environmental awareness among her peers and the lack of engaging tools to educate and encourage sustainable practices. She decides to address this by developing a mobile app that gamifies environmental education and sustainability practices, targeting high school students.

Senior Project: EcoChallenge App Development

Maya's senior project, the "EcoChallenge" app, aims to make learning about environmental science fun and actionable. The app includes quizzes on environmental topics, challenges to reduce carbon footprints, and a feature to track and share progress on social media, encouraging collective action among users.

Project Execution

Over the course of her junior year, Maya dedicates herself to researching environmental science principles, studying app development, and designing an engaging user interface. She reaches out to her environmental science teacher and a local app developer for mentorship, receiving valuable feedback to refine her project.

Outcome and Impact

Maya presents her completed app at her school's science fair, receiving accolades for its innovation, educational value, and potential to make a real-world impact. She submits the EcoChallenge app as a central piece of her college applications, including a detailed report on her research, development process, and user feedback.

The Bottom Line

Your senior project can be one of the most important pieces of your college application. It can also make a difference in the world. 

As you shape your senior project, see how many of these elements you can apply to it:

• Makes measurable impact. What does success look like, and how will you measure it?
• Presents an innovative solution to an existing issue. Is this solving a problem?
• Is oriented to the community. Is this making my community/country/the world a better place?
• Is interdisciplinary. Can I blend more than one of my interests? Can I get professionals from other fields to collaborate on this project?
• Is related to your field of study. Will this make my academic interests clear?

Basically, think about something you care about. Take it beyond something standard and ask, “What can I do that would allow me to help my community and leave a greater impact?”

Even after reading all these examples, I know that choosing an idea for your own senior project can be tough. If you need help choosing and executing a standout senior project, book a free consultation with one of our academic advisers. Crimson’s extracurricular mentors can help you combine your interests into an impactful senior project that makes you stand out to top college admissions officers.

Building The Perfect Application

Passion projects and extracurriculars are just one piece of the puzzle. It could be difficult to navigate the ins and outs of the college admission process, but you don’t have to go through it alone.

Working with an expert strategist is a surefire way to perfect your application. Students working with our strategists are 7x more likely to gain admission into their dream university.

What Makes Crimson Different

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Let your passion project be your ticket to a top university!

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Best Senior Project Ideas

Gelyna Price

Head of programs and lead admissions expert, table of contents, what is a senior project, exactly, the benefits of completing senior projects, types of senior projects, the best senior project ideas, how to choose your senior project, senior projects can be important.

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The senior project has almost become a rite of passage many students have anticipated for several years. The long-awaited experience can make many seniors nervous because they may suddenly realize that they aren’t sure what to do for their project!

It’s easy to get so caught up in finding the best senior project ideas that time flies, and seniors get into a time crunch. However, many incredible ideas for the best senior projects are just waiting to be chosen.

Senior projects are meant to be long-term projects that allow high school students to step outside of what their high school classes teach. They can express themselves by exploring something that ignites their passion. These projects can help students develop several types of skills, including:

• Research 
• Writing 
• Presentation and speaking 
• Problem-solving 
• Time management 

While these projects can take endless versions and forms, they generally involve some combination of research and presentations.

Hundreds of different types of projects can qualify as senior projects. They can include months of research, the students’ special talents, passionate service to their home communities, or hands-on activities. 

They could be hefty science projects or light-hearted illustration collections. They can be novels written by the senior over a long period of time or in-depth presentations after months of research on something near and dear to the senior.

The best senior projects are culminating experiences for students. They are opportunities for seniors to take the knowledge and skills they have honed throughout their academic careers and apply them to real-world issues, interests, problems, or passions. Completing senior projects offers several benefits.

They can help students explore their interests as they prepare to enter college or begin their careers after high school. 

How Are Senior Projects Good for College Application Resumes?

Are senior projects good for college application resumes? Yes! When you work on your senior project, you can use the project to practice skills you’ll use in college or your career. 

Some of those skills are meeting deadlines, managing your time, working independently, and practicing diligence and self-discipline. Your senior project can also be an excellent way to pad your college applications .

You Can Learn New Skills

In addition to allowing you to hone your current skills, your senior project can encourage you to learn new skills. Senior projects are awesome opportunities for learning skills that will be valuable in college and beyond, especially with researching, writing, presenting your project, or learning to use new software.

You Can Explore Interests

You may have known for years what your senior project will entail, or maybe it’s now down to the wire, and you still have no clue where to begin narrowing down your options. 

Either way, now is the time to explore your interests and learn more about what you’re curious about, what’s relative to your future career, or what you have never heard of before!

It’s a Chance to Learn from Experts

Whether you research at the library or conduct interviews with historical figures (or anything in between), you’ll have the opportunity to learn from experts in your project’s subject.  

Give Back and Get Involved

The best senior projects are often excellent vehicles for students to engage with their communities. Many seniors choose projects that address an issue that is important to them and that are local, directly impacting their hometowns. For that reason, a senior project can allow you to make a difference in your community.

There are four basic types of senior projects, including:

• Presentation projects
• Creative writing projects
• Professional career projects
• Service-related projects

While each category has some unique features, they all offer the same general benefits to seniors.

Presentation Projects

These projects are very popular with seniors because the category is quite broad. Presentation projects include creating something visual to teach the audience the subject of the project. This can include science project results on a poster board, a musical performance, showcasing artwork, singing, or acting in a play. 

Creative Writing Projects

Creative writing senior projects involve material and information communicated through the written word. They can incorporate play scripts, essays, short tales, poems, or something similar. 

Students can study, research, and write either fiction or non-fiction pieces, making creative writing senior projects almost limitless in scope. You might consider a creative writing project if you are passionate about language.

Professional Career Projects

Some students choose to do a senior project that incorporates job shadowing or working as an assistant in a field they enjoy as part of experiential learning. Whether they choose a medical career, law enforcement, or anything else, they craft a report or presentation on what they learned.

Service-Related Projects

Students who are involved or want to get involved in their communities might choose service-related senior projects. These involve planning or participating in anything from setting up a clothing drive for the homeless or a toy drive at Christmas to volunteering at the local rehabilitation center or nursing home. 

Some of the best senior projects are unique, personal, and in-depth. Yours should be worked on over several weeks or months. 

Consider the list below if you’re looking for a unique senior project idea that hasn’t been done every year for the last 30 years. Some excellent unique senior project ideas include:

• Developing a new software application
• Working with a reporter or photographer to learn about journalism
• Writing a paper on a technological topic
• Tutoring students
• Volunteering at a veterinarian’s office or animal shelter
• Organizing a fundraising event for a cause you’re passionate about
• Starting a social enterprise or business
• Writing a biography or autobiography
• Designing and building a machine or robot
• Creating a painting, piece of music, or other work of art
• Creating a blog or website about a passion of yours
• Leading a workshop
• Teaching a class
• Participating in an internship
• Conducting market research on a service or project
• Organizing a community cleanup
• Researching a historical event or person
• Organizing a debate
• Organizing a party for autistic children who find other parties too overwhelming
• Working with a paramedic and learning about lifesaving procedures
• Volunteering for a social service organization
• Organizing a STEM event, such as a science fair
• Volunteering at a local museum
• Writing op-eds for your local newspaper
• Starting a painting class for kids 
• Making a documentary about local history
• Putting on a play you wrote
• Building a go-kart
• Working with a real estate agent
• Doing a mock courtroom project
• Simulating the experience of the U.S. House or Senate
• Teaching a foreign language to residents in a senior home
• Developing a solution for a community-wide health problem
• Teaching English as a second language
• Building a little free library box in your neighborhood
• Working to change a school policy that needs changing
• Organizing volunteers to tutor students
• Helping a local business with their record-keeping or accounting
• Creating a community garden
• Working in a professor’s lab
• Working as a chef and improving your culinary skills
• Working with the cafeteria to reduce food waste and make other changes
• Devising a plan to build community bike trails
• Working to create a space as a dog park
• Volunteering to coach a kid’s athletic team
• Organizing a group to pick up groceries and medications for those who can’t
• Setting up a community ride service 
• Volunteering at a homeless shelter, soup kitchen, or non-profit organization
• Volunteering to take an older adult to church
• Gathering a group to make or collect toys for children at Christmas time

Any of the above ideas should be documented and then shaped into a presentation. While the first part of a senior project is doing the activity, the second part is sharing your experience with others via a presentation.

Your senior project should take considerable time and effort to complete, so above all else, you want to ensure that it relates to something you’re passionate about. This will make the entire experience more enjoyable and meaningful.

Remember to ask how are senior projects good for college application resumes and choose a project that will enhance your application.

Choose a feasible topic; it should be something you can complete with the skills, time, and resources available. The topic should be challenging but attainable. The goal is to push you out of the “same old same old,” but you don’t want something so complex that you can’t finish it.

Get started early in the year by brainstorming senior project ideas , researching, and planning. Ensure you understand what you’re required to do as part of your project, and don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you need it. 

It can be helpful to break your project into smaller sections and tasks throughout the year, and setting deadlines for yourself can help you stay on track and avoid having too much to do later in the year. 

Deciding on a senior project should be an exciting task! It’s a time to hone your skills, learn new ones, and explore your interests. By following the above tips and considering your interests and passions, you will surely find a rewarding senior project.

Here are a few ideas for your high school senior project.

• Research a Global Issue: Select a global issue that you are passionate about, such as climate change, poverty, or gender equality, and conduct in-depth research on the topic. Create a comprehensive report or multimedia presentation that highlights the causes, impacts, and potential solutions to the issue. Consider organizing a community event or awareness campaign to engage others in the cause.
• Entrepreneurship Project: Put your entrepreneurial spirit to the test by starting your own small business or social enterprise. Identify a product or service that fills a gap in the market or addresses a specific need in your community. Develop a business plan, create marketing materials, and track your progress throughout the project. This hands-on experience will allow you to develop valuable skills in entrepreneurship and problem-solving.
• Artistic Showcase: If you have a talent in the arts, consider creating an artistic showcase as your senior project. This can involve curating an art exhibition, organizing a concert, or directing a theater production. Use your creative skills to bring together a collection of works or performances that reflect your artistic vision and captivate your audience.
• Community Service Initiative: Devote your senior project to making a positive impact in your community. Identify a social issue or specific group in need and design a community service initiative to address it. This could involve organizing a fundraising event, leading a volunteer project, or starting a mentorship program. Document your progress and impact to demonstrate the meaningful contribution you have made.
• STEM Research Project: If you have an interest in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM), undertake a research project in a field of your choice. Formulate a hypothesis, design experiments, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions. Present your findings through a research paper or an engaging presentation. This project will not only deepen your understanding of STEM concepts but also strengthen your research and analytical skills.
• Documentary or Film Production: Use your creativity and storytelling skills to produce a documentary or film on a topic of interest. Conduct interviews, capture compelling footage, and edit the material to create a thought-provoking and impactful production. This project allows you to explore your passion for visual storytelling and can be a powerful medium to raise awareness about important issues.
• Health and Wellness Campaign: Promote health and wellness in your school or community through a campaign focused on physical fitness, mental well-being, or nutrition. Develop a series of workshops, create informational materials, and organize events that encourage healthy lifestyle choices. Collaborate with local health organizations or experts to ensure the credibility and impact of your campaign.
• Cultural Exploration Project: Celebrate diversity and explore different cultures through a project that highlights the traditions, history, or art of a specific country or region. Create an interactive exhibition, organize cultural performances, or design a website that educates and immerses your audience in the richness of the culture you choose to explore.
• Personal Development Project: Focus on personal growth and self-reflection by undertaking a project that challenges you to step out of your comfort zone and acquire new skills. This could involve learning a new instrument, mastering a new sport, or acquiring proficiency in a foreign language. Document your progress, setbacks, and lessons learned to showcase your dedication and growth throughout the project.
• Demonstrates Mastery of Skills: A good senior project provides an opportunity to showcase the skills and knowledge you have acquired throughout your high school years. It allows you to demonstrate mastery in a particular subject or area of interest. Whether it’s conducting scientific research, organizing community events, or creating a piece of artwork, your project serves as evidence of your capabilities and expertise.
• College and Career Readiness: A well-executed senior project prepares you for the academic and professional challenges that lie ahead. It helps you develop critical skills such as research, problem-solving, project management, and communication. These skills are highly valued in college and the workforce, giving you a competitive edge and increasing your chances of success.
• Personal Growth and Self-Discovery: Engaging in a senior project offers an opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery. It allows you to explore your passions, interests, and strengths. By pursuing a project that aligns with your values and goals, you can gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your potential career paths. This self-awareness is invaluable when making decisions about your future.
• Builds Confidence and Independence: Successfully completing a senior project requires dedication, self-discipline, and the ability to work independently. It challenges you to take ownership of your work, make decisions, and overcome obstacles. As you navigate the project, you build confidence in your abilities and develop a sense of independence that will serve you well in college and beyond.
• Engages with the Community: A good senior project often involves engaging with the community and making a positive impact. It allows you to contribute to the betterment of society, whether through service projects, awareness campaigns, or creative initiatives. By connecting with others and addressing community needs, you develop empathy, leadership skills, and a sense of civic responsibility.
• Creates Networking Opportunities: Senior projects often require collaboration and interaction with professionals in your field of interest. This presents networking opportunities that can be valuable for future internships, job prospects, or college recommendations. Building connections with experts in your chosen field can open doors to exciting opportunities and mentorship.
• Adds Depth to College Applications: A well-executed senior project can make your college applications stand out. Admissions officers value students who have gone above and beyond their regular coursework to pursue a meaningful project. It demonstrates your commitment to learning, your initiative, and your ability to excel outside the classroom. A strong senior project can strengthen your college applications and increase your chances of acceptance.
• Leaves a Lasting Legacy: Your senior project has the potential to leave a lasting impact on your school and community. Whether it’s through implementing sustainable initiatives, creating educational resources, or organizing memorable events, your project can have a positive influence on those around you. Leaving a legacy that benefits future students and the community is a rewarding experience that you can be proud of.

A good senior project is important for several reasons. It showcases your skills, prepares you for college and career success, promotes personal growth and self-discovery, builds confidence and independence, engages with the community, creates networking opportunities, enhances college applications, and leaves a lasting legacy. Embrace the opportunity to undertake a meaningful senior project and make the most of this transformative experience.

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15 Awesome Senior Project Ideas that Admissions Officers Love

As the college admissions landscape becomes increasingly competitive, students are constantly seeking ways to stand out among their peers. One avenue that has gained significant traction in recent years is the senior project—an opportunity for high school students to showcase their skills, passions, and commitment.

Not only do these projects demonstrate academic prowess, but they also exhibit creativity, problem-solving abilities, and a drive to make a meaningful impact. Admissions officers across the board view senior projects favorably, recognizing them as a testament to a student's dedication and potential contributions to the academic community.

In this blog, we cover 15 awesome senior project ideas that admissions officers love.

Why Senior Projects Matter:

According to a survey conducted by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), 67% of colleges and universities consider a student's participation in a senior project as a positive factor in the admissions process. This sentiment is echoed by admissions officers who often laud these initiatives for their ability to reflect a student's initiative, intellectual curiosity, and real-world application of knowledge.

Now, let's dive into 15 compelling senior project ideas that are not only impressive but also highly regarded by admissions officers:

1. Environmental Sustainability Initiatives

Initiating an environmental sustainability project showcases a student's commitment to addressing global challenges.  For instance, creating a recycling program within the local community involves research, planning, and execution. It not only demonstrates an understanding of environmental issues but also highlights leadership and organizational skills. Students can quantify the impact by measuring the amount of waste diverted from landfills. Such initiatives exhibit a proactive approach to tackling pressing concerns, resonating with admissions officers who value a sense of social responsibility and proactive problem-solving abilities.

2. Technology Innovation 

Developing a technological solution, such as an app or software, requires a blend of technical prowess and creativity. A successful project in this realm can range from simplifying everyday tasks to addressing specific societal needs. For instance, designing an app that aids in mental health management or streamlines educational resources for underprivileged communities reflects an understanding of societal challenges and a proactive approach to solving them. It showcases not only technical skills but also empathy and a vision for leveraging technology for social good, traits that admissions officers highly regard in prospective students.

3. Community Outreach Programs 

Engaging in community outreach demonstrates a student's commitment to social impact. Initiatives like starting a mentorship program for disadvantaged youth or organizing fundraising events for local charities highlight leadership, empathy, and organizational skills. These projects not only benefit the community but also showcase a student's ability to mobilize resources and create positive change. Admissions officers value candidates who display a genuine commitment to making a difference and contributing meaningfully to society.

4. Artistic Endeavors

Creating a portfolio or project in the arts requires dedication, creativity, and self-expression. Whether it's a collection of visual arts, a musical composition, a dance performance, or a theatrical production, these projects showcase talent and dedication. They speak volumes about a student's passion and commitment to their craft, demonstrating the discipline and creativity necessary to excel in artistic pursuits. Admissions officers appreciate the unique perspective and creativity that students bring to the table through these endeavors.

5. Medical Research 

Engaging in medical research or volunteering in a healthcare setting displays a student's interest in the sciences and the medical field. Conducting a study on prevalent health issues, interning at a hospital, or participating in research projects under faculty mentorship demonstrates both theoretical knowledge and practical application . Admissions officers recognize the rigor and dedication required in these endeavors, especially for students aspiring to pursue careers in medicine or related fields.

6. Civic Engagement Projects

Initiatives focusing on civic engagement, such as organizing voter registration drives or advocating for social justice causes, showcase a student's commitment to societal issues. These projects demonstrate leadership, activism, and a sense of responsibility toward shaping a better society. Admissions officers value applicants who are civically engaged and proactive in addressing societal challenges.

7. Cultural Exchange Initiatives

Organizing events that celebrate diversity or starting programs that promote cross-cultural understanding exhibit a student's appreciation for different cultures.  Whether it's organizing a multicultural festival or initiating a language exchange program, these projects foster inclusivity and understanding among diverse communities. Admissions officers appreciate candidates who demonstrate an appreciation for cultural diversity and a commitment to fostering global harmony.

8. Entrepreneurial Ventures

Launching a small business, developing a product, or spearheading a social enterprise demonstrates entrepreneurial skills and innovation. Students involved in such ventures showcase their business acumen, creativity, and risk-taking ability.  These projects highlight not just the ability to generate ideas but also the determination to turn those ideas into tangible outcomes.  Admissions officers value candidates who show initiative and an entrepreneurial mindset, qualities that often translate into success in various fields.

9. STEM Research Projects

Engaging in scientific experiments, participating in science fairs, or collaborating with professors on research demonstrates a strong interest and aptitude in STEM fields . These projects showcase analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a passion for scientific inquiry. Admissions officers recognize the significance of hands-on experience in STEM and value candidates who demonstrate a genuine interest and proficiency in these disciplines.

10. Educational Workshops

Conducting educational workshops on topics like financial literacy, coding basics, or creative writing exhibits a student's teaching abilities and commitment to knowledge-sharing. These projects require effective communication skills, expertise in the chosen subject matter, and the ability to engage and educate others. Admissions officers appreciate candidates who take the initiative to impart knowledge and contribute to the learning experiences of others.

11. Documentary or Film Production

Creating a documentary or film that addresses societal issues or tells compelling stories showcases storytelling abilities and a passion for filmmaking. These projects require creativity, research, and storytelling skills to effectively convey a message or capture an audience's attention. Admissions officers value candidates who can effectively communicate ideas through visual mediums and demonstrate a deep understanding of societal issues.

12. Robotics or Engineering Projects

Building robots, designing new technologies, or participating in engineering competitions exhibit technical skills and problem-solving capabilities. These projects often involve collaboration, innovation, and a practical application of engineering principles. Admissions officers recognize the importance of hands-on experience in STEM-related fields and appreciate candidates who demonstrate proficiency and enthusiasm in these areas.

13. Global Health Initiatives 

Involvement in global health projects, such as volunteering abroad or working with NGOs on health-related endeavors, demonstrates a commitment to global issues.  These projects showcase cultural awareness, empathy, and a desire to make a difference on a global scale. Admissions officers value candidates who exhibit a global perspective and a dedication to addressing healthcare challenges worldwide.

14. Writing and Publishing Endeavors 

Writing a novel, compiling essays, or starting a blog on a specific niche topic demonstrates strong writing skills and a dedication to literary pursuits. These projects showcase creativity, storytelling abilities, and a commitment to written expression. Admissions officers appreciate candidates who exhibit a passion for writing and storytelling, skills that are valuable across various academic disciplines and professions.

15. Data Analysis and Statistics Projects

Analyzing real-world data sets, conducting surveys, or creating statistical models demonstrates proficiency in data analysis and critical thinking.  These projects require strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to derive meaningful insights from data. Admissions officers recognize the growing importance of data-driven decision-making and value candidates who exhibit competence in this area.

These diverse senior project ideas offer students a platform to demonstrate their skills, passions, and commitment to making a difference. Regardless of the specific project undertaken, what truly matters is the dedication, impact, and personal growth that students showcase through their initiatives.

One other option – Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you’d like to recommend a rigorous research program open to high schoolers, you may want to consider the   Lumiere Research Scholar Program , a selective online high school program for students founded by researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the   application form  here. You can also reach out to us at [email protected]  to know more, or to have a chat about possible collaborations!

Also check out the   Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation , a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.

Image Source: Lumiere Education logo

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166+ inspiring senior project ideas to check out.

Writing the senior project is a much anticipated and yet dreaded time in the life of every student. It is a significant milestone that every student must achieve before receiving a diploma. Every student wearing a graduation gown and flinging their caps in the sky has completed a student project at one time or the other.

When students begin to approach their final year, preparation for the senior project will begin. Sometimes, the project supervisor will instruct that the student goes to find a project topic.

The search for a topic for the senior project can be pretty hectic. You begin to approach those who have graduated before you to ask for project topics they worked on. Everyone wants the perfect project topic, and so you start to sieve through a million and one ideas that you come across.

If you are looking for a unique project topic for your senior project, this article provides an endless list of senior projects examples that you can choose from.

What is a Senior Project?

A senior project is a project high school students are required to carry out before their graduation. This project is a medium to showcase their academic knowledge creatively. It is mandatory, and all students must begin and complete their senior projects before they can qualify to write an exit exam.

Exit exams are usually confused with senior projects because they are both designed to test the knowledge that a student has amassed throughout high school. The difference between them is that an exit exam is a written test that examines a student’s understanding of math, science, reading, and writing. However, a senior project is an experimental examination of a student’s ability.

The exit exam is prepared for a lot of students. However, senior projects are usually chosen by students from a list of senior project ideas that they have come up with. When students have to find ideas for projects for school, they seize the opportunity to dive into topics that interest them. Computer science, Engineering, Economics, Literature, Accounting, Government, and so on, there are many single and group project ideas you can choose from as a senior student.

A senior project requires a lot of research which will take time. Sometimes, students have to skip classes to work on their projects. A high quality project will require so much effort, which is why students are encouraged to choose a topic that they are passionate about. The project will also expose the student to more insights about their passion, and sometimes, students go on to choose a career in the topic they chose for their senior project.

What Subjects Can a Senior Project be About, and How Can You Create One?

Students are expected to be creative when coming up with a senior projects topics list. The ideas can be generated from:

The ideas can focus on their desired career, community service, research papers, and so on. All of these projects follow a set of steps already prepared by the United States Department of Education.

To create a senior project, first, you have to come up with great and interesting ideas. Then you will have a compelling topic that you want to go with. When you choose the topic, you will research the topic and write your research paper . Some students usually seek writing help for this aspect. If you need help, you can find a professional writer in school and online who gets paid to write research papers.

During the research and writing the research paper, the student will have been exposed to a lot of information about the topics and will be expected to have a journal where these pieces of information will be documented. After the research has been completed, there is a final stage where the student has to present all their findings to a panel. This panel will decide how well the student has done in the research.

Easy Science Topics to Choose From

The following topics tap into areas like natural and environmental sciences; the analysis and exploration of controversial issues. It involves carrying out surveys and performing experiments on these topics. If you want mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, or computer science senior project ideas, check some of these good senior projects ideas that you can choose from.

• Proof of Newton’s laws of motion.
• How to build a robot from scratch.
• How to show the electrolysis of water.
• How to design a makeshift parachute
• How to develop a solar panel
• The impact of object-oriented programming on software systems.
• How to use Spyware to deal with software security threats.
• How we can make software interactive systems more effective.
• Computational Game Theory: its strength and weaknesses.
• Digital library technologies should be adopted in every college and university.
• How effective are modern human-computer interfaces?
• What role can computing methods play in the improvement of education?
• Guide to creating a barcode generation software.
• Easy steps to accessing a PC remotely
• Best intruder detection systems that can be used in warehouses and safes.
• How to design a game
• How to develop an application
• How the body responds to stressors
• The role of reality shows in society today.
• How to regulate the effects of erosion
• The connection between temperature invasion and wind direction
• How to disintegrate crude oil in rivers, seas, and other water bodies.
• How cloning can help to grow plant and animal cells.
• Website developers use control systems to maintain high security.
• What is a high-level programming language, and how can you design one?
• The psychology of relationships.
• Creating a mobile application that has no bug.
• Abortion Law: The perspective of the government and the society.
• The science of human cloning: How it all started and its development.
• How oxytocin can help to treat psychopathic patients.
• Hormones and how they affect human behavior and mental health.
• The immune system: How it protects human health and the consequences of a poor immune system.
• Societal opinion on the concept of COVID-19 vaccination.
• How does photosynthesis work, and why is it so crucial to plants?
• How has the improvement in technology helped to curb the spread of diseases in plants?
• Do plants have an immune system? How do they fight off diseases?
• A study of ecology and evolution.
• How to create a hologram: A visual explanation of the diffusion of light.
• How to easily detect methane in an open field
• All you need to know about the black hole.
• A brief study of the concept of time
• An analysis of gas and all its constituents
• The distinction between the waste products of humans and animals
• Energy drinks: What they contain and their effects on the human body.
• Complex study on the effects of hard drugs in society.

Excellent Technical High School Project Ideas

If you are passionate about mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and other technical topics requiring theory and practical knowledge to become a professional, there are many awesome senior project ideas for high school students that you can show to your teacher. It’s okay if you do not have any idea. Here are some reliable high school project ideas for you.

• Construction of a popcorn machine
• Automated cleaning machine
• The machine that finds and cleans oil spills
• Study of the working principle of an internal combustion engine
• Design of a smart energy meter
• Design of a home automation system
• Design of a solar system
• Design of a helicopter
• Design of a robot
• Design of an Arduino
• Design of a circuit using different methods
• How to monitor and control a substation from your mobile phone
• Design of smoke and fire detectors that can be used to detect forest fires.
• How to design an electronic alert system
• How to use mobile applications to control your home appliances
• How to optimize power from solar panels by making them bend to the direction of the sun.
• Design of a traffic control system
• Improving the speed of a machine.
• New ways to reduce energy consumption at home and reduce the cost of energy consumption
• Design of a wireless charger
• Design of a smart lighting system
• Automation of a bottle filling system
• How to use automation to regulate the temperature in an environment.
• Design of an electric skateboard
• Design of a solar simulation system
• Design of an affordable music synthesizer
• Design of a movable ventilator
• Design of a solar-powered grinding machine
• Design of a smart fuse for industrial use
• Design of a DC motor driver without brush
• Design of an energy meter
• Design of an anchor light controlled by light
• Design of a micro-inverter
• Design of a circuit that detects LPG leakage
• Design of an inverter
• Design of a high-security circuit breaker
• Design of a dynamometer
• Design of a dust collection system
• Automation of ball valves
• Design of lighting system for bicycles
• Building face recognition software

Research Ideas for High School Management Students

Management courses cover topics like business and economics that hand students knowledge of consumer behavior and market forces. Below, you will find some high school economics projects and other cool project ideas that you can include in your senior projects topics list.

• A better way to budget one’s income
• How Cowism can help to understand economics better
• How to create your investment portfolio
• In-depth research into the world’s economies
• How the English Premier League is maintaining balance despite competition
• The role the UEFA’s Fair Play regulations play in a club’s finances.
• How the market price is determined in an e-commerce market
• The structure of an e-commerce market
• A complex analysis of the real estate industry in America
• An analysis of the gender wage gap in different sports
• A study into how financial liberty can increase corruption
• A report on how and why the Bitcoin price is inviting more investors
• How the massive cost of education affects the economy
• Factors that contribute to a human’s behavior
• How family, society, and environment can affect the possibility of obesity in a child.
• How the workplace can affect a person’s health
• Gentrification: Social and Economic Causes
• The effects of public transportation in the spread of the coronavirus
• Factors that boosts economic growth in developing and under-developed countries
• SpaceX: A study of unbelievable innovation
• The role of effective management in small, medium, and large-scale businesses.
• How management leaders are causing major innovations across different industries.
• How customer service is helping companies to gain and retain more customers
• The importance of project management in any business.
• Who is a project manager, and what role does a project manager play in political campaigns?
• Why are there fewer women in leadership than men?
• What is risk management?
• How does capital influence a corporate strategy?
• Are corporate strategies productive? How?
• Role of technology in the evolution of management.
• The concept of tax evasion and its relation to accounting
• How software programs can change the accounting world
• The process of coming up with a new accounting theory
• How important is accounting to an auditing firm
• How has the recession affected personal finances
• The effect of the COVID-19 on companies’ budget
• How to create a working payroll system
• Tax debts: what are they, and how can they be reduced?
• Decision-making in Accounting
• Countries that have been affected mainly by the recession
• Blockchain and impact on the economy of climate change.

Ideas for Senior Projects in Art and Education

If you need excellent group project ideas in topics like politics, art, literature, education, etc., these project topics will come in handy for you. Pick from any of them and get started with your senior project.

• The use of public art to create awareness for paper use
• How drawings and paintings can address societal issues. The role of smiles in identity and social exchanges.
• How art can be used to educate people on the history
• A study on how art can be used to tell ancient stories and revive a forgotten culture.
• How to turn ideas into projects
• How art can be used as a source of passive income for students and families
• Possible changes in schools’ policies that could improve the education system.
• How to provide easy access to books and libraries for students.
• Effects of workshops in improving vocational skills.
• The role of mentors in providing better education for students.
• Why computer literacy should be taught and encouraged in schools.
• Why students should be encouraged to take up a second language
• How to help students who are learning English as a Second Language (ESL)
• How translators can help to provide better education for immigrants
• The advantages and disadvantages of virtual learning
• How the COVID-19 has affected the education system
• Research into the best methods to educate children with learning disabilities
• School uniforms: are they essential?
• Best practices to help students assimilate in class
• How to effectively study for an exam
• The effects of peer pressure on a child’s education
• Education policies that ought to be abolished
• Cyberbullying: causes, effects and how to tackle it.
• How teachers can keep students on their best behavior in class
• Impact of social media on high school students
• Effect of global warming on education
• The pandemic vs. education: what have we learned?
• How students adapt to digital art
• Pros and cons of digital art to high school students
• What we know about the 21st century art and education
• Religion as a tool of artistic brilliance
• Gender equality in education: obstacles and way forward
• Should schools move totally online?
• Impact of virtual education on high school students
• Should schools charge less for virtual learning?
• Machine learning: an art or science? Discuss
• Role of fiction in shaping the new world
• The significance of literature to general history.
• Why students need new sets of teachers for the modern world
• NFTs: meaning, challenges, and impacts.
• Electronic literature and why students should care.

Get Help With Your Senior Project!

These topics will help to begin your research in any area of interest. If you are not an English speaker or an English Language Learner, you might need an English as a New Language (ENL) teacher or a native speaker of the English Language to help you write your research paper. Here is where we come in. Check our online services and choose from our many professional “do my project” freelancing teachers to help with your senior project.

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The value of senior capstone projects

by: Hank Pellissier | Updated: May 5, 2024

Print article

Richard W. Riley, a former U.S. Secretary of Education, once called senior year of high school a “wasteland.” So bored, tired, and burned out are these soon-to-be-graduates that their apathy is often reframed as a disease: Senioritis. A dreaded affliction, Senioritis is the culprit for everything from skipping class to forgetting homework — and evokes protestations like, “Why? It’s pointless!”

Though parents and teachers may be inclined to blame teens, experts point to the way we’ve designed high schools. Just as 17- and 18-year-olds can see their whole lives changing — whether they’re headed to college or embarking on a career path — little about their daily life has changed. Their high school schedule isn’t focused on their fast-approaching futures. They know where they’re headed next year. Their grades no longer matter so much. Traditional high school is built around these external measures, and now that they no longer carry as much weight, the whole endeavor does, indeed, seem rather pointless.

What can be done about this plague called Senioritis?

Some high schools have set about making learning relevant by clearing time from seniors’ regular academic schedule so they can work on a capstone project. Senior capstones are ambitious, long-term, in-depth projects during senior year of high school that culminate in written and oral presentations. Not only do they prepare students for college-level work, they help keep the focus on learning in a year plagued by distractions and flagging motivation. And because they are based on the student’s choice, they also allow students to explore a topic or field they might want to pursue as a college major or career.

Depending on the student’s passions, this could range from an aspiring artist researching a local community’s history and painting a public mural, a fashionista designing a new line of clothing and writing an analysis of its inspiration, a future scientist studying soil samples in the nearby elementary school garden and presenting to the local school board on the soil’s safety issues. Many capstone projects combine what is traditionally thought of as “academic” work (writing, research, science) with something more hands-on or creative, such as art, invention, public presentations, marketing, activism, or public service.

Students research their topic over time, take notes, synthesize and analyze what they learn, and then demonstrate their conclusions in a paper, short film, or other product. They also give an oral presentation to a panel of evaluating teachers, peers, and/or experts. Senior capstones are often interdisciplinary, connected to the local community, and include interviews, scientific observations, and sometimes fieldwork, volunteering, or even internships.

Why are senior capstone projects important?

An August 2013 research report examining multiple high schools found that senior capstones both helped students stay engaged with school and were linked to positive outcomes. Teens completing capstones in North Carolina “received job offers, internships, and scholarships”; students in Louisiana reported that the capstone experience “influenced their future goals or plans;” and seniors in Massachusetts reported that their capstone projects helped them in college interviews and built their confidence and self-motivation.

When implemented well, senior capstone projects can…

• Boost self-confidence by giving students a chance to excel in an area of in-depth learning.
• Prepare kids for college-level work, which often requires more rigorous standards and deeper knowledge that typical high school coursework.
• Keep students engaged in the last year of high school by allowing them to pursue something they’re passionate about.
• Give students an opportunity to build and display crucial skills, including critical thinking, research, public speaking, media literacy, strategic thinking, self-sufficiency, and goal-setting.
• Help students explore their interests, sometimes helping students decide which college major and/or career path to pursue (or not).
• Help students find a sense of purpose in terms of how they want to contribute to the world.

How senior capstone projects work

Senior capstone projects can take on different forms and schedules at different schools but typically the student 1) chooses a topic, social problem, or profession that intrigues them, 2) spends several months deeply investigating the subject via research, interviews, and internships, and finally, 3) delivers the product in a paper, presentation, or performance that fully demonstrates the academic skills and knowledge they’ve acquired.

Some schools, like Denver School of Science and Technology: Montview High School , reduce students’ academic schedules during the spring semester to give them more time for their projects.

Capstones are frequently undertaken at the end of high school as a culminating experience, but they’re also tackled earlier, so students can showcase the accomplishment on their college applications. For example, the Jefferson County Open School (JCOS) in Lakewood, CO has one of the oldest capstone programs in the U.S. The school’s “Passages” program requires every student to do six capstone projects to graduate. Each of the six “passages” has a different focus — career exploration, adventure, creative expression, global awareness, logical inquiry, and practical skills — and each involves kids “doing something, an action element,” explains Principal Scott Bain. “They’re not just an academic task.”

“Capstones are a window into a kid’s skill set. They’re also windows into understanding who you are and what you value — personally, socially, intellectually — and what you want to do with your life,” Bain says.

When capstones don’t work

Critics suggest that senior capstone projects are far from a miracle cure, especially in schools where a majority of the students do not have strong academic skills. Deep rigorous learning requires more academic skills, not fewer. Although elite, private schools have successfully used capstones for centuries, EdTrust writer Carlton Jordan points out that the students are accustomed to extensive, in-depth writing. Jordan argues that capstones in predominantly Black and Latino urban schools often fall far short because the students are not sufficiently prepared for the task.

Senior capstone programs can also reinforce existing inequities. In a more haphazard program, students may be expected to use their parents’ connections to reach out to mentors or community members, instead of school staff making sure every student has a feasible plan for carrying out their project.

Key factors to consider:

• Time constraints: Students from low-income families who need to work, take care of family members, or do extensive household chores, may not be able to dedicate as much time to a capstone project as their more affluent classmates.
• Access issues: Students who want to explore their interest in an elite career via a capstone may have an advantage if they have family or friends of family in that occupation — and be at a disadvantage if they do not.
• Implementation issues: Senior capstones are sometimes used as graduation requirement alternatives for students who are expected to fail graduation exams. This enables schools to offer diplomas to students without basic literacy and math skills.
• Additional implementation issues: Conversely, senior capstones are sometimes designed for a few high-performing students, leaving out most of the senior class.

Key takeaways

• Ask if the school has senior capstone projects. If they do, ask to see the guidelines and some successful sample projects.
• No capstone projects at your child’s high school? Ask the principal and 12th grade teachers if researching and producing an in-depth project is an academic option for all students.

For educators:

• If your school doesn’t have capstones, build mini capstones into your class by helping students create multi-faceted, multi-month projects of their own choosing. Help your students create timelines with reasonable interim goals, so they’re not overwhelmed with last-minute tasks.
• Connect students, especially those from underserved communities, to experts, local groups, and resource materials to help them in their research.
• Push students gently out of their comfort zone, to think and work harder than they’ve done in the past.

For administrators:

• If your high schools do not yet have capstone programs, read this research report on different ways schools have implemented them.
• Start a pilot project with one innovative teacher or school site. Attend capstone presentations and urge other administrators, faculty members, and community members to attend and present feedback.

This article is part of our Transforming High School series , a collection of stories, videos, and podcasts exploring the practices that prepare students for success in college and beyond.

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What is a Senior Project? (Tips, High School, Ideas, FAQs)

• January 17, 2024

A senior project is a one-of-a-kind chance to show off the skills, knowledge, and interests you’ve grown over the years.

Your senior project is your chance to shine, whether you’re writing an in-depth study paper, putting on an amazing theater show, coming up with a new tech solution, or running a sports clinic.

This article explains what a senior project is all about, the ideas, and the associated FAQs.

Table of Contents

What is a Senior Project?

A senior project is a big project or assignment that students usually do in their final year of high school or college.

It gives them a chance to learn more about something they’re interested in.

You can do an experiment, write a paper, give a talk, or even build something for this project.

They have to show off their skills and knowledge before they finish by putting what they’ve learned to use in a big test.

It counts toward their final grade and helps them get ready for college or their future job.

Are Senior Projects Required?

Senior projects are often an important part of a high school or college student’s last year, but some schools require them.

They are like capstone events where students can learn a lot about a subject they are interested in.

Students can show how well they can use what they’ve learned, study, and present their results by doing these projects.

In schools that require them, you have to finish a final project to graduate.

This is a big project that helps students get ready for future school or work by teaching them important skills like how to handle projects, solve problems, and learn on their own.

Senior projects are needed at a lot of high schools and colleges. It depends on how the school does things.

The point is to let students put what they’ve learned to use in a big project before they finish.

The practice helps them get ready for work or college. It’s different for everyone, though, because not all schools need this.

What is a Senior Project in High School?

A senior project in High School is an extensive undertaking that students do during their final year of high school.

A chance for them to delve deeply into something that interests them.

Research, producing, or practicing for performance could all fall under this category.

They are to demonstrate their abilities by applying what they have learned in class.

This is a significant component of graduating from high school and will set them up for success in college or their chosen career path.

Senior Project Ideas

Senior project ideas can be about a lot of different things, depending on what you’re interested in. Here are some ideas:

1. Community Service Project:

A community service project is any project in which an individual or organization works for the common good of their local community without receiving financial or additional compensation for their efforts.

Like organizing a food drive, starting a recycling program, or volunteering at a local shelter.

2. Art Project :

When you work on an art project, you make something artistic. You can draw, paint, carve, or even use a computer to make art.

It’s up to you to use your mind and make something unique and expressive.

You can use art to show how you feel, what you think, or what you want to say. You can do an art project for fun, school, or even an art show.

Making things and having fun are the most important things.

3. Research Paper:

Research papers are academic papers that analyze, interpret, and make a case based on original, in-depth research.

Readers need to understand the exact meanings and situations of the words you use, which is why you include definitions.

For example, writing a detailed paper on a topic like climate change, historical events, or a scientific phenomenon.

4. Science Experiment:

When you do a “Science Experiment” for your senior project, you choose a science problem or question and use tests to try to find the answer.

A hypothesis is a good guess about what could happen. Then you try it. You test your theory, gather information, and then check to see if you are right.

This project lets you do science and learn more about it than just reading about it.

You can learn more about a science subject you’re interested in and show what you’ve learned in school.

4. Technology Project :

A “Technology Project” as a senior project is where you create or build something using technology.

It could be designing a website, making a computer program, developing an app, or even building a robot.

The goal is to use your tech skills to make something cool and useful.

You plan the project, figure out how to make it work, and then actually build it.

This kind of project is great for students who like computers, coding, and tech stuff, and it lets them show off what they’ve learned in technology or computer science classes.

5. Literature Analysis :

A “Literature Analysis” as a senior project is when you pick a book, a bunch of poems, or maybe plays, and you study them closely.

You look at things like the story, the characters, and the way the author uses words.

The idea is to figure out deeper meanings, like what the author might be trying to say about life or people.

You also might look at how different books or poems are similar or different from each other.

Then you write down your thoughts and findings, often in a big report or essay. It’s a project that lets you dive deep into reading and thinking about literature.

6. Music or Theater Performance:

A “ Music or Theater Performance ” as a senior project is where you put on a show in music or theater.

If it’s music, you might sing, play an instrument, or even conduct a small orchestra.

In theater , you could act in a play, direct it, or help with things like costumes and sets.

The project involves planning the performance, practicing a lot, and then finally performing in front of an audience.

It’s a chance to show your talents in music or drama and all the skills you’ve learned, like being creative, working with others, and performing confidently.

It’s a fun and artistic way to finish your senior year.

7. Sports Clinic :

A “Sports Clinic” as a senior project is like creating a mini sports camp. You pick a sport you know a lot about, like soccer, basketball, or tennis.

Then, you plan lessons and activities to teach others, usually younger students, how to play and improve at that sport.

You might show them how to do certain moves, play games, and give tips on being a good team player. It’s not just about playing the sport; it’s also about teaching and helping others get better at it.

This project is great if you love sports and enjoy working with others, especially teaching and coaching.

FAQs On Senior Projects and Ideas

A senior project in high school is a big project or task that students do in their final year. It’s a chance to explore a topic they’re interested in, like science, art, or technology, and create something like a research paper, a piece of art, or a tech project. It shows what they’ve learned and gets them ready for the next step after high school.

Senior projects are important because they help students apply what they’ve learned in a real-world way. They teach valuable skills like research, planning, and presentation. Plus, these projects can be a great thing to talk about in college or job applications, showing off a student’s skills and interests.

It depends on your school’s rules. Some schools let students work in groups, while others might want students to do their projects alone. Group projects can be great for learning teamwork and collaboration.

Think about what you care about or are interested in. Anything from something you learned in school to something you’re interested in outside of school. You can get ideas from teachers or mentors. Pick a subject you’ll enjoy working on and learning more about. You can learn more about something you care about.

In high school and college, senior projects are often an important part of the last year, but some schools require them.

Senior projects help students use what they’ve learned in the real world, which is why they’re important.

They teach useful things like how to study, make plans, and give presentations.

Also, these projects are a great way for students to show off their skills and hobbies on college or job applications.

Awesome one; I hope this article answers your question.

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The High School Senior Project Ideas You Aren’t Thinking About

Scroll these high school senior project ideas, that you can put together on your own or with the help of your classmates. These project suggestions are sure to bag you extra marks when being graded...

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Scroll these high school senior project ideas, that you can put together on your own or with the help of your classmates. These project suggestions are sure to bag you extra marks when being graded…

Senior year in high school can be a pretty tedious time of projects and semester submissions. It’s added pressure to an already cramped schedule of tests and exams, while also keeping up with a heavy syllabus. Projects need to be well thought out – about how to go about it and which subject area would serve your purpose well. The stronger the topic foundation, the easier it is for you to do well. So when your professor/teacher asks you to prepare a project that is meaningful and requires a good plan of action, you’ll find here that these high school senior project ideas will suffice.

Project Ideas for High School Seniors

There are two ways to go about senior project topics, either written/presented or actively done over a period of time. Solo projects require a lot of research work done on your part, that is put together with systematic precision. In a group, a project is easier done, since everyone is assigned a particular task, making it easier to finish. So depending on what is asked of you, look out for topics relating to either of the two. Here you’ll find topics on subjects that you can either write an essay about after research, organize as a debate/discussion, make a presentation about or do a survey on.

• Drug Abuse • Homosexuality • Human Cloning • Creation vs. Evolution • Birth Control • Pornography • Legalizing Marijuana • Nuclear Weapons: Pros and Cons • Poverty Statistics • Child Abuse and Trafficking • Government Conspiracies • Life on Mars • Identity Theft • Psychological Effects of LSD • Apartheid • Sex Education • Gaming Era • Man vs. Machine • Is Abortion Moral? • Power of Prayer • Human Rights • Reincarnation Beliefs • Rape Statistics • Global Warming • History of US Presidents • US Constitution • Nuclear Fission • Teen Pregnancy • Underage Marriages • Drinking and Driving • Gambling Effects • Child Adoption • Non Profit Organizations • Yearbook Compilation • Albert Einstein Theories • Vampires: Myth or Reality? • Immigration and Emigration Situation • Long Term Effects of Narcotics Use • Nostradamus Predictions and Armageddon • Situational Analysis of Obesity in the US

Topics List for Projects

Here you’ll come across unique project ideas, for those doing group/solo projects that need time, and effort. It’s a fun activity, plus you get graded for all that hard work you and your teammates put into it. Find out ways and means on how to make your project a one-of-a-kind creation, that is both fun and serves as a good learning experience.After you have all you need to put these projects together, come up with a way to record all that you do by collecting forms/signatures or certified proof, to show that you’ve completed the task at hand. In this way you can up your chances in getting that A grade.

• Organizing school event to raise funds.
• Coaching the soccer team for kids
• Assisting the elderly in old age homes.
• Choreograph dance or organize school play.
• Come up with a picture book for kids.
• Short documentary or film presentation.
• Putting away trash in your town.
• Organize a musical instruments performance.
• Donations to the homeless and needy.
• Volunteer at an orphanage.
• Take care of injured animals at a homeless animal center.
• Take classes for toddlers in kindergarten.
• Intern at a place which you’d like to one day specialize in.
• Give a class on languages or on how to drive a car.
• Decorate cakes and sell them door to door.
• Video compilation of high school years.
• Build a dog kennel.
• Organize a charity event.
• Build something after taking carpentry lessons.
• Take cooking classes and prepare meals for the faculty.
• Fundraisers for the poor/sick/physical or mentally challenged.
• Offer door to door help in fixing any household damages.
• Easy sewing project for beginners , by joining knitting classes.
• Put together a magazine of tattoo artists in your neighborhood, town or city.
• Find out about pet adoptions for a week, and compile a list of how you/the group took care of them.

These senior project ideas can really be a bonding tool when it comes to interacting with others in your class. It gives the faculty an idea of how a student is when it comes to teamwork and leadership skills as well.

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What Are Good Topics for Senior Projects?

Rachel aubrey.

Before students make that long-anticipated walk across the stage to receive their diplomas, some must complete senior projects. Typically based on a culmination of skills and resources acquired over an academic career, senior projects give students the unique opportunity to demonstrate what they can do with what they know. Seniors should pick a topic of interest to them and one that allows them to show they have acquired the skills needed to manage life in the real world.

Explore this article

• Creative Written Projects
• Service Action Projects
• Dynamite Presentation Projects
• Professional Careers Project
• Recommendations for Senior Projects

1 Creative Written Projects

In written projects, the content is expressed verbally. Some ideas for written projects include short stories, poetry, newspaper articles or newsletters, essays, research papers or play scripts. The topics are endless, as students explore both nonfiction and fiction possibilities. Written senior projects are especially good for those who are creative with language. Projects in this category would benefit students considering a major in English, journalism or creative writing.

2 Service Action Projects

Service-oriented projects generally involve organizing or volunteering for a community event. Students take on the responsibility of managing all aspects of the project. Typical projects would include organizing a toy drive for homeless children, working at a nursing home with the elderly, volunteering as a camp counselor, running a day care or tutoring kids after school. Students who choose this type of senior project might consider social work or management as a college major.

3 Dynamite Presentation Projects

The imagination truly shines through with presentation projects. Whether the student chooses to act in a play, sing in a musical or display work in an art show, the topics are endless for presentation projects. A student's talent will dictate the topic she feels comfortable with, but someone with a performing talent might consider theater, music, dance, art or photography as future majors.

4 Professional Careers Project

A professional project is good ways to go behind the scenes of potential career fields. A student shadows a professional in a line of work that interests him, such as a nurse, police officer, lawyer or restaurant manager. Students then write a report about what they learn and why they might want to pursue this field of work. These students might prefer either vocational training or university curriculum, depending on the field of interest.

5 Recommendations for Senior Projects

A senior project should ultimately be something that a student will enjoy working on and walk away from with pride in the results. No matter what the project topic, it should be of use to the student in her future. Students should chose topics that they are curious about and that they have a passion for. If a student is concerned about in which direction to take a topic, she should ask a teacher or adviser for help.

• 1 K12: Senior Project Samples/Examples

About the Author

Rachel Aubrey has been a freelance journalist since 2006. Her work has appeared in "Pacific Edge Magazine," where she focused on features about business and the community. Aubrey also interviewed mixed-martial-arts fighters from Hawaii for "UpRoar." She graduated from Hawaii Pacific University with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism.

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The Best Inspirational And Motivating High School Senior Project Ideas

by Hal Turner | May 8, 2023 | Student Guide | 0 comments

High-school projects are part of practical evaluations for students. Such projects give an overall idea of how well students have studied and understood their high-school lessons. So, like every high-school senior, you must develop some exciting senior project ideas to impress your teachers. 

You must first recognize your niche to select a great topic among many senior project ideas for high-school students . In which you are confident enough to write a research paper or create an impressive design, or develop innovative things. 

The best way to select a good option is to look up several high school senior project ideas . Before sharing great project topics, we should focus on the fundamentals of senior or final projects and why they are essential.

Table of Contents

What’s a Senior Project?

A senior project is a chance for students to showcase their interests. It proves students’ grasp of their respective subjects and displays their imaginative skills. A student has to complete their project by themselves. However, in exceptional cases, they can take support from their fellow students or seniors.

Usually, a senior project is assigned to students during their final year in high school. It typically involves a deep dive into a specific topic, requiring extensive research, analysis, and critical thinking. And it is a semester-long project, so students have sufficient time to create or design a real-world project.

Why Are Senior Projects Important for High-School Students?

While a senior project can be daunting for high school students, as it generally tests their skills and overall idea of the topic, students must gather comprehensive knowledge of their niche related to their senior project topics ideas . Contrarily, it unfurls the opportunity to explore their passion and demonstrate their potential to a large group of people.

Also, doing a senior project helps develop major skills like project management, critical thinking, and problem-solving, which require high dedication, self-motivation, and time management. Students must show their ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and concisely in their senior projects, which will provide them with insightful exposure to their future careers.

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What are some senior project examples.

Many schools mention particular requirements and topics for project work. Some institutions give liberty to their students wherein they can choose several forms of senior projects based on their interests or abilities. Some popular forms of senior project ideas include

• Written projects related to specific topic ideas.
• Artistic performances or an exhibition of practical skills.
• Creating technologically innovative dioramas.
• Projects on community service.

The complexity and topic of senior projects usually depend on the student’s field of study. Although the assigned tasks explore students’ unique abilities and interests, they also contribute meaningfully to students’ field of study or community. Academic institutions often assign topics for senior project research papers.

Looking at the forms of projects educational institutes often assign, we find four prominent types of senior projects. These good senior project ideas will also help those who help with online class , as many distance-learning schools are now assigning such tasks to implement experiential learning.

Most Common Types of Written Senior Projects:

Teachers or institutions can assign a senior project based on a student’s specialty so they can demonstrate their knowledge and skills in that particular field. Alternatively, many institutes assign common senior projects for every student that may include case studies, presentations, scientific reports, or research projects.

We will provide brief ideas regarding these topics in the following sections.

Research projects:

These are the most common type of senior projects, where students must choose topic ideas based on their interests. Also, in many cases, instructors assign research topics to students. Students must prepare their research paper, maintaining all essential rules, starting with an introduction, then a review, the methodology, results based on observations and experiments, and a concluding discussion. It is written as a professional project, which college students use for job purposes. 

Scientific reports:

The name implies that such projects are for science students. Generally, the student chooses particular scientific topic ideas they will research. Scientific reports include an introduction, hypothesis, methodology, results, and discussion. Teachers evaluate how clearly and concisely students can present their topics.

Case studies:

A case study analyzes in-depth a particular situation or event. It’s an unbiased evaluation of a particular situation or event observed from various perspectives for better understanding. Students think analytically to represent a scenario and make further recommendations to improve the situation, finally providing an overall conclusion.

Creative presentations:

Students studying literature, journalism, or writing focus on creative presentations to impress their teachers. These types of presentations generally depend on the preference of the students and their instructors. So, creative presentations can be short stories, poetry, report writing, screenplays, or memoirs. They also help the students in experiential learning, which later benefits them professionally.

In addition, students have a wider focus on demonstration speech ideas . Get the complete details here.

Apart from creative presentations, students can create a business plan, explain their social activities, write technical reports, etc., in their senior projects based on their preferences. It’s crucial to select good “senior projects ideas” of interest to others so the high schoolers get the desired notice, boosting their senior project ideas.

The most crucial parts of a senior project are diligence, creativity, and attention to detail. Your instructors must see your discerning efforts envelop all the aforesaid traits in your project, and they will reward you for good ideation. You can use this same strategy while planning to write a commemorative speech for your retiring teacher or classmates leaving school for some serious reason.

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Practical Ideas for a Senior Project:

As mentioned, senior projects are essential in most academic programs. They give valuable scope for senior-year students to impress their teachers and prospective employers. This blog will now explore some senior grad project ideas across various disciplines.

General Project Ideas:

Students who aren’t doing any major need to complete a senior project in their second semester of their final year; they can choose their topics from a range of options. We now mention some senior project ideas for such students.

• A recent sensitive issue and how the local representative handles it.
• How older people can learn a new or foreign language?
• What is the impact of a community event on influencing the audience politically?
• How environmental issues are affecting our climate?
• What is the importance of soft skills in our daily communication?
• What is the difference between fellowship vs. internship ?
• How online learning is different from traditional or regular classes?
• Discuss the general framework for improvements in your society during the last year.
• Why creating a stable government is crucial for social growth?
• How proper education benefits a community?  

Project Ideas on Literature:

Literature students usually come up with short stories, event-description or novel-analysis in their senior projects. We have a vast ocean of literary works in English and other languages, so finding a good idea will be manageable.

• Write a short story on how a toy drive retains childhood.
• Why creating literary works is essential for our cultural development?
• How modern languages evolved from their ancestors?
• How a student can teach people their innovative ideas?
• How English has evolved from the Shakespearean era to our modern times?
• Why studying literature is essential for every student?
• How can simple writing influence a whole community?
• Write a one-act play on recent social work in your community.
• Write a documentary on the history of your place.  

Project Ideas on Social Science:

Projects are valuable to a social science degree in subjects like history, geography, sociology, education, native culture, etc. Students must complete either vocational training or practical projects to complete their degrees. Here are some popular research topic ideas for social science students.

• An elaborate study on a person’s income and expenditure ratio.
• How computer literacy has improved job opportunities?
• Choose your favorite historical figure and explain their accomplishments.
• How to teach people social etiquette, and its significance?
• How political influence helps in social development?
• How does our voting system fulfill our civic responsibilities?
• What are the major resources of the United States of America?
• How have communication technologies accelerated our overall social development?
• Impact of cultural diversity in a workplace.
• Do religious beliefs influence social stability?

Project Ideas for Technology Students:

Students pursuing a technical course must do a project involving technical concepts. For example, engineering students work on projects that involve designing and creating complex systems. Some of such project ideas are as follows.

• What are the main functions of parallel and series circuits?
• How much solar power can be accumulated within a single solar panel?
• Will smoke detectors work in the case of forest fires?
• Give some practical examples of Newton’s laws in our daily lives.
• How efficiently do wireless chargers work without using old wired cables?
• Give some practical examples of thermal management studies.
• Write a project on magnetically aligned, reconfigurable tiny cube satellites.
• How a metal-chips disposal system works, and its uses?
• The importance of preserving fossil fuels for future generations.
• Create a city diorama and show how electrical connections work.
• Build and test a prototype of an induction motor.

Project Ideas on Computer Science:

Final-year projects for computer science students often involve developing software or hardware systems. Creating such systems requires extensive data encryption, programming, and cybersecurity know-how. Some examples of projects for computer science students are as follows.

• Develop a new type of encryption algorithm for secure communication.
• How to protect your website data from hackers?
• How an impressive web design can influence the audience of a new community?
• What is the importance of website translation in business expansion?
• How a restaurant manager can utilize a website to maintain the accounts
• What are the basic requirements for a website of a nursing home?
• Design and implement the algorithm for a general website and test it to ensure its reliability.
• How to increase students’ interest in online classes by creating attractive interfaces?
• What should be the primary focus while building an e-commerce website?
• How web designers design attractive web templates; describe with examples.

Project Ideas for Business Management:

Business management students usually analyze a real-world business problem and develop a solution. Areas can involve retail stock-market trading to foreign transactions. Some project ideas for business management students are as follows.

• Why analyzing the current market price is essential for a new business plan?
• How to grab people’s interest with exciting pricing and offers?
• How capital management improves the profitability of a production firm?
• How a local small business can develop a marketing strategy to capture a new market?
• How to improve employees’ productivity with clever leadership strategies?
• Is online presence mandatory for better business development?
• How consumer behavior changes with earnings?
• What is the prime focus for business expansion in countries?
• Write a detailed study on externship vs. internship for businesses.
• How to influence prospective buyers with engaging promotional writing?  

As mentioned, almost every sector provides students with projects to display their grasp on specific subjects. Such projects give students a priceless opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in solving real-world problems. Projects assigned by experienced instructors are often complicated topics and require high expertise in a specific field.

By completing a senior project, students gain valuable experience and knowledge to serve them well in their future careers. Practice with mock projects before working on your final project. 

Our senior project ideas will help you excel in your subject and secure an excellent grade.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. how do we generate senior design project ideas in college.

First, choose a suitable topic. Focus on the practical application of your chosen topic because it will attract users who could find using it helpful. Now gather the essential theory you require for your project and create a solution. 

2. What does a senior project comprise?

Executing a senior project needs

• comprehensive knowledge
• logical analysis of statistical data
• clear and concise representation

3. How do I choose a senior project?

Choose the topic in which you have good knowledge and research options. In most cases,  instructors assign projects to their students, but you may get to choose your topic.  So you can create a unique final project to impress your instructor.

4. What are 3 examples of projects?

A project can be a written representation of a chosen or given topic, a website development for software students, and an art show for artists and sculptors.

5. What are unique projects?

Unique projects introduce a new idea or concept related to a subject matter. 

6. What are the 6 stages of a project?

The six essential steps of a project include initiation, planning, research, execution, monitoring, and optimization.

7. What is the objective of a senior project?

A senior project assesses students’ analytical skills, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of the relevant subjects.

Related Blogs

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10 Student Council Ideas to Revolutionize Your College

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How to become a senior project manager

The road to becoming a senior project manager is paved with skill sharpening, certifications, best practices, and a deepened passion for effective process management — but where can you start?

Whether you’re looking to get promoted into a senior role in your current company or want to apply for a senior project manager role somewhere else, this blog will help you get there. We’ll explore the senior project manager job description in depth, and point out how work management software like monday.com is made to match the core responsibilities you’ll tackle.

What is a senior project manager?

A senior project manager is an experienced project manager who manages multiple projects and teams simultaneously. Their roles may be directly tied to the organization and its revenue.

Let’s look at what the requirements, experience, and salary of a senior project manager are.

Requirements of a senior project manager

When we crawled sites like LinkedIn and Glassdoor for senior project management job postings, we saw that there is no completely cut-and-dry description of what it means to be senior. However, most recruiters will be evaluating you based on these common requirements:

Educational background and certifications : Although most jobs don’t require a specific degree in project management, having a graduate-level degree in project management or business management is a huge plus. Certifications like PMP will also be an advantage — more on those later.

Experience : Most senior project manager job descriptions specify at least 5 years of experience in project management or related experience.

Technical skills : Expertise in project management methodologies such as Kanban , Scrum , and Agile methodologies, understanding of full project/product lifecycle, problem-solving, data analysis, and proficiency with project management tools (like monday.com).

Soft skills : Similar to any other senior role, skills such as leadership, team building, mentoring, and communication are major requirements.

In the next section, we’ll provide an example of a job description you might see for a senior project manager. This can be especially useful when crafting your own CV or resume for this role.

Senior project manager example job description

Here’s what you could see on a senior project manager job listing.

We are looking for a senior project manager to join our team.

Roles and responsibilities:

Full project life cycle ownership: Plan and develop project plans and lead it to completion

Manage a cross-functional team and provide feedback and advice

Report on project success with key performance indicators

Communicate and coordinate with different teams including vendors and suppliers

Mentoring, coaching, and supervising project team

Hiring, training, and performance reviews

Education & experience requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in project management, business management, or related area

4-7 years of experience as a project manager or similar position

Experience in managing project scope and profitability

Intermediate to advanced proficiency with project management software

How much does a senior project manager make?

According to Glassdoor, the average salary of a senior project manager in the US is $112,161 per year. It can go as high as $200K.

Source: Glassdoor

This is almost 30% higher than average junior project manager salaries. Compensation may vary based on industry, company size, and qualification — the number of years of relevant experience, certifications and specializations, and more.

4 tips for working towards a senior project management role

1. work on your skills.

From technical skills to soft skills and everything in between, there are lots of areas you need to upgrade in to get your foot in the door as a senior project manager.

Increase your knowledge : Learn about industry best practices and standards. Brush up on the basics like project management methodologies . This will bring you space to build new skills or improve existing ones.

Stay updated : Catch up with the latest industry news and understand how it may impact your niche. Read industry publications and follow industry leaders on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Keep up with the latest tech : Get familiar with project management tools and software that makes managing and collaborating easier. A good example of such a tool is monday.com, a project management software.

Take a certification : To get your up-skilling on paper, complete a training course or get certified. A well-known certification is PMP certification – The Project Management Professional (PMP)®. It validates project leadership experience and is only given to experienced project managers. Another one is getting certified for agile project management .

Improve your soft skills : To be noticed for a senior role, you’ll need to become a leader. You also need to exhibit good communication skills, people skills, and business acumen.

2. Take on more responsibility

In your existing role, taking on more responsibilities that are related to senior-level roles can prepare you for the next level. Prove that you have mastered all aspects of being a junior project manager and have the ability to handle more complex tasks. This will mark you as an expert in your field.

You can take on planning new projects, communicating with stakeholders, and helping plan reports, which are normally done by senior project managers.

Another way you can prove your expertise is by training interns or new employees in your team. This would also be a great addition to your resume.

3. Build your network

The best way to get noticed in any industry is to have a strong network. You can learn from them, gain mentors, and even get references for senior roles.

Get on a platform like LinkedIn or Twitter and post content around project management — your learnings and experiences. Build a network of project managers and professionals in other similar roles. This is a great way to showcase your expertise and accomplishments. Having a good presence on professional networks may also attract the attention of recruiters looking to hire senior project managers.

4. Upgrade your resume

Once you work on your skills and get the relevant experience, it’s time to edit your resume to fit the role of a senior project manager.

Get started by reading job descriptions of project managers, either from your current company or at other companies you’re interested in. Update your resume highlighting these skills (if you have them).

It’s good to have an executive summary in your resume — a few bullet points that highlight your value proposition as a senior project manager. Like most senior-level positions, the impact you bring is more important than the tasks you can perform. So, try to show quantitative results as your key highlights.

For example, instead of writing “coordinated high-priority projects”, you can write “coordinated client projects worth $100k”. This will give your resume more strength.

Pro tip: Make sure you customize your resume for each job you apply for based on their requirements.

How monday.com supports efficient project management

monday.com is a tool that helps you plan, manage, and collaborate projects efficiently in a single place. It gives you all the functionality you need — from pre-built templates to workflow automation, and integrations.

More than 152K project managers like you use monday.com to coordinate their projects and teams. Here’s what you can do with monday.com:

Centralize and collaborate : Easily manage multiple projects . Document project details and speed up framework adoption. Bridge communication gaps and update changes in real-time — bringing all teams together over one shared platform.

Actionable insights : Get the most out of your data with time tracking, and customizable statuses, among other features

Automate : Speed up your workflow by automating repetitive tasks.

Build awesome workflows with templates : Build your project workflow with pre-built templates and customize them to accommodate different project methodologies, incorporate different views, and more.

How many years does it take to become a senior project manager?

You will need at least five years of experience in project management or a similar role to become a senior project manager. Some important skills needed for this role are excellent communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills.

What is the next position after senior project manager?

A highly experienced senior project manager with lots of achievements under their portfolio can move on to a C-suite role like COO (Chief Operating Officer) or CCO (Chief Compliance Officer).

What does a senior project manager do?

The major role of senior project managers is planning, developing, and executing projects in an organization. They are also responsible for managing team members, compiling reports, cross-team coordination, and other executive-level tasks.

Take the first step to a senior project management role

Becoming a successful senior project manager requires the right combination of education, experience, technical skills, and personal traits. The rewards associated with such a position can be great though, so it’s definitely worth pursuing this career path!

If you’re looking for project management software that streamlines your work as a project manager, start with monday.com. With our advanced Work OS, you can optimize your project management process better as compared to traditional project management software. Once you get familiar with monday.com, it’s definitely worth adding to your resume!

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What makes a successful project coordinator? Trust, collaboration and communication

Two Finnish researchers studied what it takes to be a successful Horizon Europe project coordinator

Anna Tenhunen-Lunkka, senior scientist and project manager at VTT Technical Research Centre in Finland.

Assemble fourteen project partners, draft seven work packages, throw in a couple million euros, and produce science. Coordinating a big collaborative EU research project is no easy task. That’s why two researchers in Finland decided to find out what it takes to coordinate one.

Anna Tenhunen-Lunkka and Riitta Honkanen took it upon themselves to find out what matters most in EU research project management. They took a sample of 80 factors, surveyed a group of Horizon project managers and partners from research organisations, companies, public bodies and NGOs, and with the help of data analysis, distilled it to key three features: trust, collaboration and communication.

Tenhunen-Lunkka is a senior scientist and project manager at VTT Technical Research Centre in Finland, where she focuses on sustainable material processing and circular solutions . The centre has taken part in more than 800 EU research projects, and Anna herself has led a number of them in her eight years at VTT. She occupies a hybrid position in the centre, doing both managerial work and conducting research.

Together with Honkanen, she wanted to confirm a suspicion that better coordination results in better project results.

“The driver for me is that through the success of the projects, we're able to create better good for the society and European wellbeing,” says Tenhunen-Lunkka. “I found that if you have the right settings and the right environment, the project succeeds better.”

Every year, the EU pumps several billion euros into research and innovation projects. If better coordination practices could improve outcomes even by a fraction, it’d already be a big win for science and taxpayers alike. 

What makes a good coordinator?

Researchers don’t exactly train to be coordinators. Taking on coordinating responsibilities is a natural part of moving up seniority levels in academia. This entails coordinating the work between all the different partners and work packages as well as dealing with the projects’ numerous administrative requirements.

Researchers come to project management based on their scientific expertise. “Then they end up being in a more senior position, and then they need to take on more managerial responsibility,” says Tenhunen-Lunkka. “They are great with the science, but they might not be so educated in project management, or these softer skills, like communication, listening, different types of tools on how to collaborate.”

But the two researchers found these soft skills, such as creating trust and communicating effectively, were very important.

The three key ingredients they distilled – trust, collaboration and communication – help create an open environment where creativity and innovation can thrive, a prerequisite for projects that set out to create knowledge.

“In these types of projects, we attempt to do things that have not been done before. So, if you have very pessimistic or narrow-minded approach to the work, you might end up limiting the people around you,” says Tenhunen-Lunkka.

Creating this environment means ensuring open communication and being open to things going wrong. This in turn helps create trust in the consortium. Communication, collaboration and trust is a self-reinforcing triangle, says Tenhunen-Lunkka.

Another trait that was ranked high was motivation. Tenhunen says high motivation may reinforce a collaborative spirit in a project. Enthusiasm is contagious, after all.  

But the hard skills matter too, from being able to make decisions to knowing how to deal with European bureaucracy. “I think the management competence is something that is quite important, especially with the EU projects, because there are so many provisions in place from the Commission,” says Tenhunen-Lunkka.

What should we make of this?

For one, a little training on key soft skills and admin might help. At VTT, new coordinators are often coupled up with more experienced senior researchers to pass on the know-how.  

“When they share the experiences, they don't have to get stuck on things that are quite easy to resolve, but because you have not done it before, it might not be so clear,” says Tenhunen-Lunkka.

Beyond teaching the skills, it also helps more researchers take up coordinating tasks. It’s common that few volunteer to take up project management. Mentoring helps show that coordinating can be a rewarding activity.

“I think it can be somewhat of a big scary thing, coordinating any new RDI project, especially if you're slapped on with all of the provisions and rules and requirements,” says Tenhunen-Lunkka.

Yet simply being a good manager is not enough. While not at the very top of responses, knowing one’s subject was ranked as an important skill for a coordinator – not everything can be replaced by consultancy firms and professional managers.

What can the Commission do to have better coordinators? Tenhunen says doing a bit of research on coordination could be the first step. There are few studies on research project management out there, but Commission sits on plenty of data that could help understand it better.

“Specifically, I would be interested to see if they would look into failed projects and see if coordination could have played some kind of a role,” says Tenhunen-Lunkka.

Second, she says being more mindful of coordination when selecting Horizon project could be helpful. Tenhunen has been involved in the evaluation of Horizon projects in the past, and at least at the time there was not a specific question focused on the capabilities of the coordinator. She does not think managerial experience has to be a criterium in the evaluation process but says willingness and interest to learn about management and administration should be encouraged.

But at the end of the day, big collaborative research projects are a team effort, and a coordinator is only as good as the network doing the work. “We need the consortium and their active approach,” says Tenhunen-Lunkka. “It takes two or more to tango, especially in bigger projects.”

Here’s a link to the Anna Tenhunen-Lunkka and Riitta Honkanen’s full study.

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Entertainment

George clooney to make his broadway debut in a play version of movie 'good night, and good luck'.

Mark Kennedy

Associated Press

NEW YORK – George Clooney will make his Broadway acting debut next year in a familiar project for the Hollywood star: “Good Night, and Good Luck.”

Clooney will play legendary TV journalist Edward R. Murrow in a stage adaptation of the 2005 movie that earned him directing and writing Oscar nominations and was among the best picture contenders.

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“I am honored, after all these years, to be coming back to the stage and especially, to Broadway, the art form and the venue that every actor aspires to,” Clooney said in a statement.

The play “Good Night, and Good Luck” — with David Cromer directing — will premiere on Broadway in spring 2025 at a Shubert Theatre to be announced. It will be again co-written by Clooney and Grant Heslov.

The 90-minute black-and-white film starred David Strathairn as Murrow and is a natural to be turned into a play: The dialogue-heavy action unfolds on handful of sets. The title comes from Murrow's signoff on the TV series “See It Now.”

A key part of Clooney’s film portrayed Murrow’s struggle to maintain support from CBS executives for critical reporting on Republican Sen. Joseph McCarthy, known for accusing government employees of disloyalty. Clooney played “See It Now” co-creator Fred Friendly, who resisted intense pressure and ensured the reports got to air.

Murrow, who died in 1965, is considered one of the architects of U.S. broadcast news.

“Edward R. Murrow operated from a kind of moral clarity that feels vanishingly rare in today’s media landscape. There was an immediacy in those early live television broadcasts that today can only be effectively captured on stage, in front of a live audience,” Cromer said in a statement.

The Clooneys are boosters of journalism. Clooney’s father, Nick Clooney, worked as a TV news anchor and host in a variety of cities including Cincinnati, Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. He also wrote a newspaper column in Cincinnati and taught journalism students at American University.

At the time the movie came out, Clooney said his family took pride in how journalists held the government accountable during the paranoia of the 1950s communist threat. Clooney said he wanted to make a movie to let people hear some “really well-written words about the fourth estate again.”

Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Will offshore wind be good for Humboldt County, California?

• Full Transcript

Subscribe to the Sustainable Development Bulletin

Anthony f. pipa anthony f. pipa senior fellow - global economy and development , center for sustainable development @anthonypipa.

May 14, 2024

• This offshore wind installation presents a massive opportunity for the state and even the nation to reach net zero emissions, but it may also have negative impacts on local communities. 
• In a region with a long history of extraction and exploitation, it’s essential to approach industrial development and address climate change from the local community’s perspective to ensure it occurs equitably. 
• Developing a platform for community involvement, especially led by groups that have historically been left out of such decisions, is essential to ensure that benefits outweigh negative consequences.  
• Community benefits agreements enable benefits to be widely shared, but rural communities may need to strengthen their capacity to represent their collective interests well. 
• 41 min read

In late 2022, the federal government auctioned off ocean access near the coast of Humboldt County, California to develop an offshore wind installation. This major industrial project could produce 6% of the state’s current energy needs just in its initial stage. In this episode, Tony Pipa visits Humboldt County to understand the scale and ambition of the project and learn how key stakeholders, including leaders of local tribes, are coming together to ensure the benefits are shared and avoid the exploitation that occurred with past economic development. Featuring:

• Scot Adair, Director of Economic Development, Humboldt County, California
• Natalie Arroyo, 4th District Supervisor, Humboldt County, California
• Rex Bohn, 1st District Supervisor, Humboldt County, California
• Linnea Jackson, General Manager, Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District
• Lonyx Landry, Native Coordinator/STEM Advisor, Indian Natural Resources, Science and Engineering Program, Cal Poly Humboldt
• Bryna Lipper, CEO, Humboldt Area Foundation
• Connie Stewart, Executive Director of Initiatives, Cal Poly Humboldt
• Listen to Reimagine Rural on Apple ,  Spotify , or wherever you like to get podcasts.
• Learn about other Brookings podcasts from the Brookings Podcast Network .
• Sign up for the podcasts newsletter for occasional updates on featured episodes and new shows.
• Send feedback email to [email protected] .

[ocean and wind sounds, music]

ADAIR: I hope this is a project that happens with us and not necessarily to us.

ARROYO: These projects are happening at us and hopefully with us, and I’m going to do my darndest to make sure they happen with us.

LOYX LANDRY: I don’t want to see another raw deal. I don’t want to see this next manifestation of Manifest Destiny happen to us again. If this is to happen, this needs to happen with us.

PIPA: Those are the voices of three local leaders in Humboldt County, California, all referring to plans to install one of the most ambitious offshore wind energy installations in the world, 21 miles off the Pacific coast. The sentiment shared across all three is that this large industrial project should happen with them, not to them.

I’m Tony Pipa, senior fellow in the Center for Sustainable Development at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. Welcome back to Reimagine Rural , the podcast that visits rural towns and collects the stories of local leaders as they experience significant opportunity and change.

Yes, today I am once again in Humboldt, but this is a vastly different Humboldt than the town in Kansas that I visited in our last episode. This Humboldt is also a destination in its own right, a rural county in California that’s about 270 miles north of San Francisco. It’s a place that combines the beauty of the Pacific coastline with the majestic redwood forests in the Redwood National and State Parks and the stunning Klamath River cutting through lush green hills. It’s home to 9 federally recognized tribes and covers roughly the size of Rhode Island and Delaware with about a sixteenth of the population.

An ambitious offshore wind installation off the coast of Humboldt County offers a major opportunity for economic development while making significant progress to reach net zero emissions in the state—yet the local communities and tribes are also skeptical, based on their experience with the harmful effects of past industrialization

And Humboldt County, California’s abundance of wind will be critical for renewable energy. Here is Natalie Arroyo, a county supervisor elected from the county’s 4th District.

ARROYO: We have incredible wind resources here and we recognize as a community, I think, that that’s an asset. I will tell you that in May when the wind is blowing nonstop for days at a time, it doesn’t always feel like an asset. This last year I was reminded, we have very, very windy springs and have wind all year round, but there’s periods of time where I’m like, for the love of God, will it stop being windy? And then I remember, oh, yeah, that’s that’s what we’ve got. That’s something we have to work with.

PIPA: In December 2022, the federal government auctioned nearly 600 square miles of ocean access off Humboldt Bay and Morro Bay, which is much further south in California, to five energy companies. The plan near Humboldt is to build giant, 900-foot-tall wind turbines in deep waters more than 20 miles off the coast to harness the wind and send its energy back to shore as electricity. These massive windmills will be three times larger than ones you see on land; think the size of the Eiffel Tower in Paris floating in the ocean.

One estimate is that offshore wind farms like the one proposed here could power 25 million homes by 2045 and provide 13 percent of the power supply needed by the state of California, which is the fifth largest economy in the world right now. Some estimates put that proportion of energy even higher. Any way you look at it, that’s a lot more power than Humboldt County needs for itself. It’s also a significant economic opportunity.

And it’s not just a project to erect wind turbines. As Bryna Lipper, executive director of the Humboldt Area Foundation, says, this will require a whole set of related investments.

LIPPER: What we began to realize was the offshore wind development itself, the wind farms, were only one of a series of many cascading activities that we call the offshore wind cluster. That includes a massive port development. That includes transmission systems and the grid systems in the state of California and the state of Oregon. All of a sudden, when you’re crossing state boundaries, you’re actually talking about FERC with the federal government.

And thinking about the local infrastructure that would need be needed to support all of that: housing, transportation and roadways, workforce systems, and the such. And you began looking at this massive industrial, really industrial complex that needed to be developed here in order to enable offshore wind.

PIPA: Together, these activities will require billions in investment, maybe tens of billions. The Department of Transportation recently approved a $462 million investment to upgrade the local port, for example.

Here’s how Scott Adair, the county’s director of economic development and executive director of the Humboldt County Workforce Development Program, describes it.

ADAIR: The project has often been contrasted to construction of the Golden Gate Bridge or the Hoover Dam. This is a massive construction project. It’s a multi-billion-dollar construction project. And for a rural community the size of ours, that’s incredibly life changing. Even if this project were to occur in one of the major U.S. cities along the West Coast, such as San Francisco or Oakland or down in Los Angeles, it would be a massive undertaking for a population or a community of that size with all the resources and the capacity that they have.

And so, for Humboldt County to see an opportunity like this, it is for most of our residents and in the public outreach and the community engagement that we’ve done, it’s something that is both thrilling and terrifying to people all at the same time.

PIPA: That’s breathtaking when you think about it. On the scale of the Golden Gate Bridge or the Hoover Dam. Those are not just pieces of infrastructure; they are icons of the American identity.

An installation of this size would define this area’s future in many ways. Rex Bohn, the county’s longest-serving elected supervisor, represents the 1st District, an area still dominated by dairy farms, timberlands, and other agriculture. Rex grew up here, helping out at his dad’s corner grocery store. He’s watched the county’s varied economic development through the years.

BOHN: We were built on fisheries, and it’s not a dead industry. People say fisheries are dead. They’re not dead. We still have, we still have an active fisheries. They say timber here is dead. We’ve got to do something because timber is dead. They spent over $80 million on processing timber infrastructure, making lumber in Humboldt County in the last six years. That’s a good chunk of change. We don’t have as many mills, but we’re still doing a lot of timber. You look at our ag report—timber is still a big part of our industry.

Now offshore wind is going to be a big part. And I think it’s going to create the trickle-down effect of whatever else it creates. We’re going to have an industrial harbor now, an extreme industrial harbor that isn’t just going to be for wind. We can do other things. But with that people have to realize we may need to look at rail someday. We may need to look at upgrading our highways. We may, to get these things out of here, maybe it’s just fixing our highways a little bit more so we can take containers, something, to the Bay Area, which is only a one-day trip.

PIPA: So, a lot of stuff needs to be built, not just the wind turbines. And this would mean significant changes not just for the port of Humboldt. It means building roadways, upgrading transmission lines, and maintaining a wide range of different types of infrastructure.

As Scott Adair says, all of this is …

ADAIR: Multigenerational. It is definitely an opportunity which will impact and could affect both positively and, in some ways, adversely multiple generations in Humboldt County.

PIPA: Humboldt County’s history is littered with repeated experiences of how the latest economic development opportunity did not fulfill its promise. And as Bryna Lipper describes it, they did not always work out to the county’s benefit. In some instances, there was active harm.

LIPPER: So, you’re talking about the fourth largest economy in the world very soon, as the state predicts. So, in terms of climate mitigation, it could be enormous. However, in terms of the implications to local communities in those places, it could also be enormous, and potentially even be harmful.

The history here in this region for the last 200 years has been one of deep scar and extraction. From the gold rush to the timber rush, to the water rushes, and then cannabis, industrial economies have come into this region, taken out and left the wounds of genocide to our tribes, deep environmental harms. We remember the timber wars, for example. And the Klamath Dam River project, which will soon be the largest dam removal project in the world, almost killed off a species.

PIPA: As Connie Stewart, who’s a former mayor of Arcata, one of the area’s largest towns, and who now leads workforce initiatives for Cal Poly Humboldt, describes it, the challenge is to evolve decisionmaking and governance so it’s different this time.

STEWART: Our region is blessed with having the most tribes of any region in the state, and we have the largest tribes and some of the smallest tribes in our region. There’s about 14 tribes throughout the region. And so, and each tribe is its own government, and needs to be heard and respected. And all of those tribes have seen boom and bust economies going back to the gold rush here. The last rush was the cannabis rush, right? Where everybody thought there was great opportunities, and people came and changed the landscape, and they extracted, and then they went bust.

And so, the question on everyone’s mind, but especially on some of our tribal leaders’ minds, is is this an economy that is really going to be community changing or is this just another boom-and-bust community?

This is really about getting power to San Francisco. Our water flows south to urban areas. So, now our power will flow south to urban areas. So, at this time, how do we bring everybody together to say, Okay, but it has to be a transition for our region as well? And that’s the challenge. And it’s not just, how do we bring you together to talk about our community benefit? How do we bring you together to make sure we have work; we can have the workforce? How do we bring you together to make sure that procurement works so we get power? Because 25 minutes from here, literally, our utility company is telling people you can’t open your business for seven years because we cannot give you power locally. So, businesses are not being built in our community because there’s no power. And yet we’re talking about providing power that San Francisco needs.

The daunting task is how do you save the planet but not kill your own community at the same time?

I don’t know that we have really handled that well across the country. It seems like we’ve let communities win and lose.

PIPA: For all the good that this mega project could do, Bryna and Connie point us to the heart of the matter, the tensions that are at the intersection of history, trust, and public decisionmaking that sit alongside the energy, environmental, and economic development considerations. Who will benefit, and who gets to participate in those decisions? How will it be different from who’s been left behind in the past? And since there’s a great deal of public investment that will be part of this cluster of projects, what are the policy implications?

Certainly, this project offers significant potential for addressing climate change and making progress on major commitments by the California state government and the federal government to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2045 and 2050, respectively. And as the economic development experts in the county outlined for me, there’s also the potential for thousands of jobs, new or expanded businesses, even new business sectors.

But as Natalie Arroyo acknowledges, this is also cutting-edge technology that brings its own unknowns.

ARROYO: So, we think the imperative we’re facing as a nation, and certainly we’re going to do our part, our big part as a community here, is around climate change. So, we need to develop as quickly as possible these energy alternatives for folks. And, you know, I’m excited and I think our community is excited and optimistic and also concerned about the some of the impacts associated with offshore wind. The technology is pretty new. It’s going to be deployed in a different way than it has anywhere else in the world. But I think we all recognize that we’re contributing to a greater cause by being a test case for some of this new technology.

PIPA: Scott Adair told me that Humboldt Bay is the largest producer of oyster seed on the entire west coast, and both he and Natalie Arroyo pointed out that this installation will affect the area’s fisheries and the related economy. It will also produce its own industrial waste. No project of this size happens without these types of impacts. Here’s Bryna Lipper:

LIPPER: So, whenever industry comes in into this area, it has been deeply harmful. And this time around, I think we need to see some substantial mitigations, extraordinary care of what local community needs and wants, and real benefits accrue to those who have been marginalized historically, including the tribes, communities of color, migrant communities who fish in those waters.

So, we’re really trying to figure out a way If something can be done better so that we can balance climate needs with the needs of a community.

PIPA: For locals, the trick will be to mitigate the negative consequences to the greatest extent possible while getting the most out of the opportunities. And given the region’s history, that means elevating the participation and concerns of the local tribes. Lonyx Landry explains:

LANDRY: I feel it’s short sighted to think this is all good and roll over and just let it happen to you. We didn’t do so well, at least indigenous people, when it comes to the gold rush, when it comes to the timber rush, when it comes to the damming rivers rush, when it comes to before that, the taking the bark of our tan oaks, our food source, of our acorn trees, and killing them by girdling them to have tanning industry. It was a short spell where that was happening here as well. So, all these rushes, we haven’t fared very well. So, I’m very leery that this next best thing, all of a sudden, we’re going to fare well?

PIPA: Lonyx is at Cal Poly Humboldt, where he’s the native coordinator in the Indian Natural Resource Science and Engineering Program, and a council member of the Northern California Indian Development Council.

LANDRY: I am a Nor Rel Muk Wintu Nation citizen, and that is a tribe east of the project. And likely, if transmission were to happen across land, it is high probability that it will cross Nor Rel Muk Wintu aboriginal territory.

PIPA: Lonyx spoke in terms of sacrifice when describing the impact that the earlier gold, timber, and even cannabis rushes had on the native tribes in this area.

LANDRY: I don’t want to see my beautiful community degraded. I also understand that if we can’t do it here, which I very much feel is as good as it gets for progressive thinking, for sustainable thinking, doing something different—I feel like we are one of those places in our nation where it’s as good as it gets here. I still feel like it needs to be better than that.

And it needs to be better for our grassroots local, historically marginalized people, and our tribes. We’ve sacrificed a ton already. If we’re asked to sacrifice yet again, well, this time it’s kind of feeling a little bit more ask, but kinda, because I feel like there are forces that are, it’s coming.

Some of the challenges that I’ve had are feeling like our community, local leaders feel like they got a fish on the hook, and they don’t want to lose it because this is going to save our economy. This is going to save our all kinds of things. This is going to take care of so many problems. They got a fish on the line. Well, I think they’re errantly mistaken. You got a megalodon on the line that’s coming to eat you.

PIPA: During my visit, I had the good fortune to travel about 55 miles from the coast and Humboldt Bay up to Hoopa, situated along the Trinity River, not too far from where it meets the Klamath River. There I spoke to Linnea Jackson, who is a member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe and the general manager of the tribe’s public utilities district. She explained to me how past energy projects never fulfilled their promise.

JACKSON: So, there’s been dams placed not only on the Klamath River, but the Trinity River as well. I believe that although that does generate some energy, I think the long-term environmental impacts have been detrimental to this area and the environment and the earth and tribal people. It has had issues with salmon populations and ecosystems. We have a lot of our water that’s diverted down to Southern California and Central California that obviously affects our water quality. And then with climate change and drought conditions, that really does have an impact, to how we provide safe drinking water, recreational as well as cultural uses.

So, I think largely the large investment into dams and those types of infrastructure have had a long-term effect. And I think we’re seeing that now and trying to kind of remediate some of those things that were built 50 to 70 years ago.

PIPA: In the early to mid-twentieth century, dams were built along the Klamath river without tribal consent in the name of providing power. They blocked salmon runs, degraded the water quality, and negatively impacted the ecosystem of wildlife and habitats that the tribes depended upon.

Yet the promise of abundant and dependable power was never met. Linnea explained to me that the state recently rated Hoopa’s power as among the most undependable in the state. After years of advocacy, the dams are coming down now. Tribal communities and other groups here have a long memory of how energy and economic development projects promised a great deal but ultimately delivered few benefits.

JACKSON: I think that people are very apprehensive of harnessing a different kind of resource, because of the history of extractive processes.

I think that they’re very skeptical about that because the long-term studies aren’t there to show, for a fact, this is going to be the impact in 10 to 20 years on, you know, our oceans, on our salmon population, the marine, and the ocean as a whole, because the Trinity River and the Klamath River both run into the Pacific Ocean. And those species migrate back. And it’s hard for me to believe that there will be no environmental impacts from that.

PIPA: The more I learn about the experiences of the tribes in the area, the more I understand their hesitation. Natalie Arroyo explains that the site itself in the ocean has particular cultural and historical significance to the Wiyot Tribe.  

ARROYO: So, right in the middle of Humboldt Bay, we have Tulawat, which is an island that is sacred to the Wiyot people. Not only was it the site of a terrible massacre in the 1860s, but more importantly, it’s the Wiyot center of their spiritual world. And so, we’re talking about erecting turbines, assembling and towing out turbines from Humboldt Bay at a site that’s visible to Tulawat.

PIPA: So, while tribal and community leaders recognize the urgency and the opportunity represented by this installation, there’s also plenty to give them pause. Similar skepticism contributed to the rejection of an earlier proposed project to build a wind farm on land by a company called Terra-Gen. Rex Bohn was one of two county supervisors who voted to allow the project to go through, but three others voted against it.

BOHN: Now five years ago, we had an onshore wind project: 48 windmills, everything else, all on private land, all with private monies. And it would have made basically 88 percent carbon neutral. They had an agreement with PG&E, and it was all gonna stay here.

Those were exciting times. That failed for various reasons. Not all of them factual, but there was a hysteria. And it failed on the last day.

PIPA: When I talked about the Terra-Gen project to different people, I got the sense that the project failed because they didn’t feel as if the community had been in the driver’s seat. The company had hosted dozens and dozens of community meetings, but agreements about how certain groups might benefit were left to the last minute.

Taking a lesson from that experience, as conversations about other renewable energy opportunities surfaced, including offshore wind, community leaders saw it as a chance to do things differently. Um, actually, scratch that—not just a chance, but an imperative to do things differently, as Bryna Lipper describes it.

LIPPER: I think history tells us a lot about what to expect. And I think for the question about offshore wind mega development, it tells us that when we become euphoric about one technological solution that is before us to solve the economy, to solve climate change, to solve all of our job woes, that that is a red herring.

Given all of that, given the lesson of history, I think we have to be more contemplative of the choices before us. I feel like we are using the same toolkit for this renewable energy work that we used in the industrial revolution. And if that toolkit doesn’t change, despite the fact we’re using it for the good cause of climate change, we will have the same outcomes. We will have extraction from communities, we will have communities that are ill-equipped and ill-prepared and even harmed by industry coming in. Negotiating away its power. Demanding of it things that it cannot do or does not want to do without its consent. And then when the resource ends, leaving us with the harms.

I’ve been working on climate change for most of my career. I’ve been dedicated to helping communities adapt to these threats. This is yet another threat, unless we do it differently.

Community stakeholders have created a new coalition, CORE Hub, to help steer the development and negotiate sustainable benefits that are widely shared

PIPA: That impulse, that commitment to do things differently this time, led to the creation of what Bryna and other local and tribal leaders call CORE Hub.

LIPPER: About two years ago a group of folks formed the Climate and Community, or CORE, Hub of the Redwood Region. That group of people was myself based here at a community foundation, one of our county supervisors in Humboldt, our energy research center at the Cal Poly University here, a tribal climate leader, and began to think about the energy vulnerability here that we were experiencing with wildfires and Pacific Gas and Electric—PG&E—power shutoffs because of fire risk. And also, just the severity of climate change and the impacts in the region. We are some of the fastest rates of sea level rise here in this entire country due to subsidence effects.

And we thought that if we could figure out a different way of approaching climate change, industrial development, self-empowerment, and do that in a way that assured tribal voices in particular, with their expertise around environment and ecosystems, had a strong voice at the table to describe what it was that they wanted, what they envisioned, and had the space to talk about risks and tradeoffs and opportunities.

And could be in partnership to draw down some of the resources that might be available, for example, with the IRA and the federal government investments in climate. If we could build that kind of network and coalition to self-empower, create local policies, and ensure of mitigations, then we might have a chance.

And being able as a community to actively respond to those needs began with a group of people trying to describe what its desires were. I think many communities consider those kinds of visioning exercises really important to be ongoing,

but the question of who has the power at the table is often a set of players that that is usually at the table and very active and describing that in terms of traditional economic development.

PIPA: Lonyx Landry from Cal Poly Humboldt participates in CORE Hub, but he was wary at first. Was this just about making sure offshore wind got done? Was it just another way to convince the tribes to come on board?

LANDRY: I initially was thinking and wanting to pay attention to and keep an eye on, you just want to make sure this project happens. And for a lot of people, and I’m not arguing their rationale on getting there to that place, they feel like it happening is the most important thing possible. And so, the creation of CORE Hub, or so I thought initially, was to assure this happens.

But what I learned as I got more involved with CORE Hub was, yeah, people want to see us addressing this existential crisis. And this group, this CORE Hub group, for the most part absolutely wants to see it happen a certain way. A responsible way. A just, an equitable way, where lots of different people get to play and be part of. If it’s going to happen, then it needs to be like that.

So, when I felt that sincerity and authenticity coming from my colleagues that I work with that CORE Hub, I realized that this is a circle, and this is a group of people, broad group of people, that I want to work with to assure this happens the right way.

PIPA: Linnea Jackson expresses similar sentiments. She points out that CORE Hub is not just about coordination, but also about providing capacity, expertise, and information to members so that they can collectively protect and advance their interests.

JACKSON: So, CORE Hub, I believe, approached each tribe collectively and, you know, with being a smaller kind of environment here, we do know who’s working in the fields. And so, what I appreciate about them is not the changing how it’s governed, it’s changing the platform so that we can all be at the table to lend our perspective, because it’s just not tribes. It’s local elected leadership. It’s some state entities that are involved. It’s tribes as well. It’s the labor unions. And so, thinking collectively about the holistic approach on what it’s going to take for this industry, has really been eye opening.

They also provide services for looking at different legislations that are being passed and being able to take a technical, large document and giving you a high-level overview and allowing that to happen and resources to be able to spend your time to attend these meetings, travel, and have a seat at the table. So, I do really appreciate that.

PIPA: Scott Adair, the economic development director at the county, praises the value of CORE Hub. He also points out that, given the county’s responsibilities across all its constituents, the county is complementing CORE Hub’s efforts by engaging other stakeholders as well.

ADAIR: We work with CORE Hub regularly. They are considered a partner to our agency in this process. And I think what they’ve been doing in the community has been vital. They’ve brought a great deal of value already. And it’s because of the efforts of CORE Hub that we have seen changes to and modifications to some of those lease processes that have been administered by Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, so that the community captures more benefit out of the project.

They’ve been very active with state and federal officials, and very active within the community, representing different interest groups and representing different title holders and shareholders.

We as staff are actually under guidance from our elected officials via a resolution that they adopted last year to support and work with this CORE Hub initiative.

The flip side of that, conversely, there are groups that are not represented in that CORE Hub process. And because we as an agency are governmental, and there’s an expectation that we should be supporting and aiding all stakeholder and shareholder groups in this process, whether they’re positively or adversely impacted, whether they’re a privileged group or a historically disadvantaged group, that we should be treating all of those groups, at least from a service perspective, equally.

CORE Hub by design is not necessarily, they’re not excluding, but they’re also not necessarily focused on supporting the business community at this point in the process.

But we also want to know what does the clerk at the grocery store think about economic and workforce development in the community, and this project, and the crossroads between the two? And what these community benefit agreements should be doing to support our community? What does the soccer mom think about it? What is the agricultural worker who’s working 12-hour days outside in a field spending most of that time bent over, how do they feel about this conversation?

PIPA: Now, you’ve heard a couple of people refer to something called a community benefits agreement. This is a legal agreement between developers and local groups that lays out the benefits a developer will provide in exchange for the community’s support. Such agreements could include everything from charitable-type investments for local activities to commitments to hiring local people; standards around pay and benefits for the jobs that get created; support for training, education, or protections for the workers; support for new housing; local infrastructure; lots of other considerations. So, there’s an opportunity here for creating mutually beneficial partnerships.

But it also has a bit of a David versus Goliath feel. You have these well-capitalized billion-dollar global companies alongside the federal and state governments that are going to build, deploy, and operate these installations, and they’re focused on turning a profit while achieving expansive energy and environmental ambitious.

And then you have Humboldt County, the Sovereign tribal governments, CORE Hub, and local institutions such as Cal Poly Humboldt, which together don’t quite have the same level of capacity.

And like many rural places, the people and leaders in Humboldt County may not feel that they have great alternatives, given the scale of opportunity that this cluster of investments in offshore wind represents. Their knowledge and ingenuity are as much an asset as the wind. The trick is whether the decision-making processes will leverage those so that the wind is harvested, rather than extracted.

And just to be clear: neither the state nor federal government has made it a requirement that a community benefits agreement gets executed, though. Scott Adair acknowledges that it’s a lot coming all at once, and a rural county such as theirs is having to move quickly with limited resources.

ADAIR: We’re inventing the wheel and building the plane as we fly it when it comes to how we as a community, how we as an agency, respond to and react to the challenges and the opportunities with regards to this massive development, multi-billion-dollar investment, which is going to be occurring in our port and 21 miles off of our coastline. And we don’t have a set of blueprints for how to do that.

Moreover, because we are a rural community, which already has somewhat of a dependency on federal and state grants just for operation and for implementation of the programs that we already do manage, we don’t necessarily have the team members or the staff or the bench, if you will, is not deep enough, and we weren’t prepared to have the size of personnel that we now realize we need in order to properly, at least, address all of the nuances associated with this project.

PIPA: The Humboldt Area Foundation has been entrepreneurial in raising money from charitable foundations to establish CORE Hub, provide funds for groups to participate, and hire the legal, policy, and technical expertise they’ll need to agree upon their collective interests.

The county and other local institutions are underway on efforts to grow their resources and bring on staff and additional expertise as well. Local government will need additional sustained capacity if the region is to maximize the potential

This is a need where investment and attention from the state, or even philanthropy or the federal government, could be helpful. The scale of the opportunity has local stakeholders thinking together about what this means for future generations. Connie Stewart describes the mindset.

STEWART: More and more, people are talking about community benefits—why should people come into the community and not help the community become a better place. And community benefit agreements are becoming more and more common. More targeted. In the past industries have come in and they’ve chosen, oh, we’re going to support baseball teams or we’re going to support the food bank or we’re going to make the decisions about where we put our investment. And there’s this new movement of no, no, no, we’re the community. We have knowledge. We want to help you as you enter our community direct your benefits to things we think we need and value that will help you be a better partner with us and help advance our community.

I don’t say agreement. I say agreements. Because there’re multiple agreements. It is a partnership. It’s a partnership that should benefit all parties.

And it’s how do we collectively work hard to make sure that whatever the project is is a benefit.

These is a chance that the electricity that gets generated will simply bypass Humboldt County, but the work of CORE Hub showcases the ingenuity and determination of this rural place to retain the value of their resources locally and reap the rewards

PIPA: And yet, here’s the kicker: it has not yet been decided that one of the biggest benefits of this installation—the access to clean, dependable, and abundant energy—will even land in Humboldt County.

Even though, as Linnea Jackson described earlier, local tribes have such undependable power today; even though, as Connie Stewart said earlier, the limited electrical capacity constrains business development today, there is a distinct possibility that the electricity gets routed directly to San Francisco without serving Humboldt County. Here’s Scott Adair on what that means.

ADAIR: We as a community need power independence and energy resiliency, and yet it’s not even certain if we will get one kilowatt of power off of this project. Although we may have 130 wind turbines 21 miles off of our coastline, creating 30 plus megawatts of energy per turbine in a 24-hour period, it all may be channeled into an undersea cable that goes down to the Bay Area. Or it may tap into the grid, but not branch off into our community, and be used elsewhere.

And so, psychologically, our community has a real difficult time with this concept of a massive, tremendous, scaled energy project for … I mean, this is of national scale, this project. And we may not benefit from it from at least an energy perspective, and that’s a real difficult pill to swallow. And we’re still trying to figure out what that may or may not look like.

PIPA: Connie Stewart shares the same worry about who will benefit.

STEWART: So, who’s going to pay to get power to San Francisco? Our rural region is going to produce the power that’s going to get to San Francisco? How is it going to benefit our region? Well, we don’t want that kind of growth in our rural region. So, how do we electrify our community as you go along even though we’re tiny, on your way to San Francisco? And how are you going to pay for all the transmission and infrastructure that’s needed in this rural community in order to get the power there?

And what is the benefit? What is the community benefit for providing green power to an urban area that has a history from day one of stealing from our region? San Francisco was built on redwood trees that were cut down in our region and transferred to there.

So, it’s a redwood city. There’s even a city called Redwood City on the way to San Francisco that was built out of big trees from our area.

PIPA: Now, as you can imagine, CORE Hub, the county, and many other local leaders see access to the energy from this offshore wind as a central issue. One scenario could have the electricity routed directly to the San Francisco Bay Area via underwater cables; the other would route the electricity to the county and disperse it from there.

Each option means dealing with multiple jurisdictional and permitting issues, investing in new physical infrastructure, and dealing with significant unknowns. But the decision suggests our processes need an upgrade too. The decision will rest with several California state agencies that are mostly technical in nature and do limited community outreach or engagements with tribal members.

For Lonyx Landry, the historical overtones, especially as they relate to the tribes, are ominous. But he also sees this as the perfect chance to turn that history on its head.

LANDRY: The energy generated 20 miles off of our shore, unceded indigenous lands I would also add, are not necessarily for this community. So, we are to do the sacrificing for it, but it’s not necessarily for us.

If it’s gonna happen here, then it still needs to be beneficial to our local people. So, what does that mean? That means transmission making landfall here is one of those ways that local can maximize the sacrifices that we will be doing for the state of California. It allows other spinoff opportunities and industries to develop around it.

I still want to see a better deal than for the betterment of the rest of California. Yeah, that’s important. And yeah, that does some good for humanity, for California. But I don’t want to see it at as we only sacrifice to provide that better good for humanity and that better good for the state of California.

I want to see us here model for the state of California, model for our nation, how to flip that script, how to start making system changes in how we exist in this new world order and start doing something different.

PIPA: From Rex Bohn’s perspective, most folks in the area—from the more conservative residents of his district to the tribes, to local businesses, to the more progressive voices—agree on one thing: they need to come together to advance their collective interests even if no one gets everything that they want.

BOHN: This is an old Joe DiMaggio line. You got 40 percent want it, 40 percent don’t want it, and there’s 20 percent undecided. So, what do you do? Well, you keep those 20 percent undecided away from the 40 that do or want, so you do want to keep them away from the side that is the opposite of yours.

This is the point where I’m proud to have served as long as I have, but I’m proud of the people I’ve served with. Basically, our former CAO and our current CAO, who was the assistant CAO back then, we started an economic development department. And they have been instrumental in being that conduit between the windmills, between the companies, between the federal government, and everything else.

Because you got to understand, all the experts, all the experts, the windmill companies, or the corporations that run that, the federal government, and everything else, they’re going to do this, they’re going to go look what I did, they’re going to put it on their campaign slogans, they’re going to put it on their business things, saying we did this off Humboldt and everything else. They’re not going to show any pictures of the negative stuff that we get out of it. The stuff that didn’t work, the fallout, the tailings. They’re going to forget all about that. They’re just going to show the big shiny parts.

We’ve got good local people dead centered in the middle of this that will stay on top of it, so we don’t suffer bad consequences.

We know there’s going to be consequences. It’s not all going to be, it’s just not all going to be pixie dust. There’s going to be some problems. But the thing is, that’s where the biggest thing is, it’s not to jump on the things that are good—the good things will keep on going. It’s defining what’s bad and limiting the impacts it has on our community and the people that live here. And the people that are going to stay here.

PIPA: As Rex says, good local people are dead center in the middle of this, and in rural places there is often a limit to the capacity they have to respond to the juggernauts of major industrial projects in their communities.

I hear this theme a lot when I talk with rural officials and community leaders, and you’ll hear it repeated throughout this season of the podcast. And in Humboldt County, California, even as Bryna Lipper recognizes these constraints, she’s also run headlong into innovation, creativity, and deep care for the community among its residents.

LIPPER: When I moved here five years ago, coming from big global places like New York and London and D.C., and high-level policy environments, I didn’t quite know what to expect, quite candidly, coming into a rural environment.

I have met some of the smartest, most resourceful, enterprising, brilliant, and bold people of anywhere in my entire career here. And so, one of the myths that I think is really important to dispel in rural places is this myth of intellectual capacity. It is all here. There’re extraordinary people doing extraordinary work. And they tend to have innovative ideas about how to go about what is best for their community and their region. If we can create a holding space to allow them to solve their problems together, that’s where the real ingenuity comes from. That’s the engine of rural places.

And so, while there might not have been a template exactly to do this work, because this work has never happened in the Pacific Ocean of what we’re talking about, there certainly is a lot of understanding about how development happens and what people don’t want. There’s a lot of experience about imagining what they do want and fostering an environment to see that happen. We have so many examples here of that. And people have to invariably figure it out.

And so, it’s with those brilliant people who want to see wonderful things happen in their place and have historically had to figure out how to do it for themselves, that is the recipe, actually, for getting some, extraordinary things done.

PIPA: It’s that sense of optimism, that sense of possibility, that sense of producing a different future for Humboldt County, and frankly for the rest of us, that’s what stayed with me from my visit to this beautiful place despite all the complicated dimensions of this massive industrial installation.

At the start of this episode, Scott Adair, Humboldt County’s director of economic development, likened the offshore wind cluster to something on the scale of the Golden Gate Bridge down in San Francisco. Here’s his vision of what that might ultimately mean for all of us.

ADAIR: There were over 2,000 lawsuits that were filed to halt the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. And different interest groups were in complete opposition to that project. It was thought that the Golden Gate Bridge was going to be an ecological, environmental, and economic disaster.

It’s now the icon of the state of California and probably the most photographed bridge in the world.

And it connects so many communities to critical resources, medical services, education. It really has become a mainstay of our culture and our economy. I think potentially offshore wind could be that in the future for the state of California and for the United States.

PIPA: The story unfolding in Humboldt County reminds us that much of our country’s power gets generated in rural places. That’s true now, and it will also be true in a clean energy economy. The challenge is to avoid the old rural economy that extracts and exploits as the country shifts to renewable energy in the 21st century.

The situation in Humboldt County highlights that local civic capacity, governance, and economic structures must also evolve if these transformational technologies are to result in transformational outcomes for the residents of their home communities.

I see Humboldt’s local and tribal leaders as pioneers, taking on the hard work of innovating new ways for the different interests in their community to relate to each other, and then to relate to these large outside interests. It means creating a model that puts the full diversity of their community’s interests at the table. That’s the way they’re going to maximize the public benefits as billions in public and private investment are deployed, while minimizing the harm.

Their story has just begun. By the end of it, we may owe them a huge debt of gratitude, not just for providing cleaner energy, but for doing it in a way that shows us how to enable shared prosperity and sustainability in rural and tribal communities.

Theirs is a story that will bear watching for years to come. Thanks for listening and joining on that journey with them today.

Reimagine Rural is a production of the Brookings Podcast Network. My sincere thanks to all the people who shared their time with me for this episode. Also, thanks to the team at Brookings who make this podcast possible, including Kuwilileni Hauwanga, supervising producer; Fred Dews, producer; Gastón Reboredo, audio engineer; and Zoe Swarzenski, project manager at the Center for Sustainable Development at Brookings; and the great promotions teams in the Brookings Office of Communications and the Brookings Global Economy and Development program. Katie Merris designed the beautiful logo.

You can find episodes of Reimagine Rural wherever you like to get podcasts and learn more about the show on our website at Brookings dot edu slash Reimagine Rural Podcast. You’ll also find my work on rural policy on the Brookings website.

I’m Tony Pipa, and this is Reimagine Rural .

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Senior-only affordable housing proposed for Oceanside's South Coast Highway

A proposal to build 56 apartments for low-income seniors on South Coast Highway near Oceanside Boulevard tops a list of projects submitted for Oceanside's affordable housing program.

The Coastal Villas is one of two projects that Oceanside's Housing and Neighborhood Services Department is recommending for approval out of five responses to a notice of available funding that the city issued Feb. 9.

No. 2 on the list is a 111-apartment complex for low-income families and individuals to be constructed on vacant property in the 2100 block along the eastern side of South El Camino Real, near state Route 78.

The recommendations for funding are expected to go to the Oceanside City Council for a decision at its June 26 meeting.

"We need to get housing in the ground ... as soon as possible," Community and Neighborhood Services Director Leilani Hines said Thursday at a special meeting of the city's Housing Commission.

"All five proposals were good," she said. "If we had $20 million, we would fund them all."

Proposals not accepted for funding are placed on the city's wait list.

A panel of housing officials from Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad, San Marcos and El Cajon reviewed and ranked the five responses. The top two were selected in part because they are the closest to shovel-ready, would stagger construction and provide diverse types of housing, Hines said.

"They stood out for a number of reasons," she said, and the developers have a record of successful projects in the county.

Coast Villas, sponsored by National Core and the San Diego Community Housing Corporation, would be built on a site now occupied by a used car sales lot in the 1100 block of South Coast Highway. All 56 apartments would be for seniors age 62 or older.

Of those, 19 apartments would be leased to people without homes or at risk of homelessness, 12 would be for federal housing voucher recipients, and 35 would be for the category of very low-income households. One apartment would be for an on-site manager.

"We think this is going to be a catalyst for future growth," said Ted Miayhara, executive director at San Diego Community Housing.

SDCH was a co-developer of Oceanside's Greenbrier Village, a 60-unit apartment building for people who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless opening this summer on Greenbrier Drive, near Oceanside Boulevard and Interstate 5.

The developer has applied for a loan of $4,250,000 in city funding toward the Coast Villas project's total estimated construction costs of $37.6 million. If approved, the loan would be for 55 years at simple 3 percent interest.

The developer also has applied for $2.5 million from the county's No Place Like Home program. If accepted for the county funding, the complex would be required to accept low-income seniors in need of mental health services among its tenants.

The South El Camino Real project is sponsored by Mirka Investments. It would have 111 apartments for families and individuals making 30 percent to 80 percent of the area's median income, which is $119,000 annually for a family of four. Half of the apartments would have three bedrooms to serve large, low-income families.

Mirka is requesting $6 million in city funding toward the project's total costs of more than $76 million. A 50-year-old San Diego-based company, Mirka is expected to break ground this summer on the 43-unit South River Village affordable housing project at the northeast corner of College Boulevard and North River Road in Oceanside.

Construction could begin on the Mirka project as soon as early 2025 if all the financing falls into place, Hines said. The Coast Villas project would start next.

The city has $18.4 million in its fund for affordable housing. Most of the money, or $13.2 million, is from the in-lieu fees paid by residential developers who choose not to include affordable housing in their projects.

Staffers recommended leaving about $8 million in the housing fund to be prepared for additional projects that may turn up, such as the expected residential development of the former Reynolds Elementary School on Douglas Drive.

The funds could be difficult to replace in the future, Hines said. The City Council recently approved an ordinance to make more projects exempt from paying the fees. Also, when development slows, so does the collection of in-lieu fees, and there's no guaranteed source of the money.

However, several of the housing commissioners suggested the city choose a third project for funding rather than keeping a large reserve.

"I can see both sides of the argument," said Commissioner Rachel Denise White. A conservative stance may be good, she said, but the costs of materials and labor are always going up.

"Why not build more now, help more people now," White said.

The commission agreed unanimously to recommend the City Council approve three loans. City staffers will choose the third project from the list of five proposals in the weeks before the council's meeting.

The other proposals submitted were a $6 million loan for a $127 million project to build 172-unit Olive Park Apartments at the terminus of Olive Avenue; a $3.6 million loan to build 64 apartments at 901 Pier View Way; and a $1 million loan to rehabilitate 144 apartments at 4779 Yuma Ave.

This story originally appeared in San Diego Union-Tribune .

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