biography in science project

How to Write a Good Academic Biography (Part 1)

When your journal article gets accepted or you are preparing for a public presentation, you will often be asked for a short academic biography. For many people, these academic bios are more difficult to write than a dissertation. How do you sum up yourself and your work in 3-5 sentences? What do you need to include? What should you leave out?

What You Should Do

• Start with your full name followed by your current position, your general interests, and your current project, keeping them all very brief.
• If you are within a year of receiving a prestigious award, mention that as well.
• Finally, finish with a sentence that’s personal: add a hobby, a pet’s name, the city you live in—whatever you are comfortable with that is personal but not too private.

What You Should Avoid

• Avoid speaking in the first person, i.e., don’t use “I.”
• Don’t divulge details beyond your current position.
• In a longer bio of multiple paragraphs, you may add more awards and information about your master’s and bachelor’s degrees, but not in a short bio. Moreover, don’t add anything that happened before grad school—including your place of birth. For example:

Hi! My name is Scott. I was originally born in Vermont and now I’m a professor at North Yankee University in Fargone, New York (in upstate New York). I study antelopes’ migration patterns and their impact of native grain growth. My interest in antelopes began as a teenager when I first saw one in the wild. I did my undergrad degree in biology at SUNY and my masters and UCLA and my PhD in Forestry at Hunter College.

Related: Finished drafting your academic biography and heading for an international conference? Check out this post now!

The above example is far too casual and Scott’s work and current position are overshadowed by all the other random details. This can be written in a much better way:

Scott Sampson is a professor of Wildlife Biology at North Yankee University. His work focuses specifically on the migration patterns of antelope and their impact on the growth of native grain. His favorite place to do research in his backyard, which opens to the Akron National Forest.

This improvised version is concise, relevant, and makes Scott’s bio appear professional while giving a short description of his personal details.

Longer Bios

For longer bios, follow the same basic rules, but go into a bit more depth about your work, your education, and your future projects or interests. You may also consider adding a line about your immediate family. But as always, leave the personal details for a short and friendly mention at the end of the bio.

Mostly, your bio will be used by someone to introduce you at a conference or public event so if you write your bio using these tips, you will help them give a smooth and accurate introduction. Remember that the bio is the first thing that people know about you so pack it full of the most important things about yourself!

If you would like to know more about different formats of academic biography, read the next article in this series!

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How to Write a Good Academic Biography (Part 2)

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How to Write a Bibliography For a Science Fair Project

• Cell Biology
• Weather & Climate
• B.A., Biology, Emory University
• A.S., Nursing, Chattahoochee Technical College

When conducting a science fair project , it is important that you keep track of all the sources you use in your research. This includes books, magazines, journals, and Web sites. You will need to list these source materials in a bibliography . Bibliographic information is typically written in either Modern Language Association ( MLA ) or American Psychological Association (APA) format. Be sure to check with your science project instruction sheet in order to find out which method is required by your instructor. Use the format advised by your instructor.

Key Takeaways

• Keeping track of the sources used for your research is very important when completing a science fair project bibliography.
• The Modern Language Association (MLA) format is one common format used for bibliographies for science fair projects.
• The American Psychological Association (APA) format is a second common format used for science fair project bibliographies.
• Both the MLA format as well as the APA format have specified formats to use for resources like books, magazines, and websites.
• Always make sure to use the correct format, whether MLA or APA, specified in the instructions that you receive for completing your science fair project.

Here's How:

• Write the author's last name, first name and middle name or initial. End with a period.
• Write the title of the book in italics followed by a period.
• Write the place where your book was published (city) followed by a comma. The city of publication is only used when the book is published before 1900, if the publisher has offices in multiple countries or is otherwise unknown in North America.
• Write the publisher name followed by a comma.
• Write the publication date (year) followed by a period.

MLA: Magazine

• Write the author's last name, first name followed by a period.
• Write the title of the article in quotation marks. End the title with a period inside the quotation marks.
• Write the title of the magazine in italics followed by a comma.
• Write the publication date (abbreviating the month) followed by a comma and the page numbers preceded by pp. and followed by a period.

MLA: Website

• Write the name of the article or page title in quotation marks. End the title with a period inside the quotation marks.
• Write the title of the website in italics followed by a comma.
• If the name of the publisher differs from the name of the website, write the name of the sponsoring institution or publisher (if any) followed by a comma.
• Write the date published followed by a comma.
• Write the URL (website address) followed by a period.

MLA Examples:

• Here is an example for a book -- Smith, John B. Science Fair Fun . Sterling Publishing Company, 1990.
• Here is an example for a magazine -- Carter, M. "The Magnificent Ant." Nature, 4 Feb. 2014, pp. 10-40.
• Here is an example for a Web site -- Bailey, Regina. "How to Write a Bibliography For a Science Fair Project." ThoughtCo, 8 Jun. 2019, www.thoughtco.com/write-bibliography-for-science-fair-project-4056999 .
• Here is an example for a conversation -- Martin, Clara. Telephone conversation. 12 Jan. 2016.
• Write the author's last name, first initial.
• Write the year of publication in parenthesis.
• Write the title of the book or source.
• Write the place where your source was published (city, state) followed by a colon.

APA: Magazine

• Write the author's last name, first initial.
• Write the year of publication, month of publication in parenthesis .
• Write the title of the article.
• Write the title of the magazine in italics , volume, issue in parenthesis, and page numbers.

APA: Web site

• Write the year, month, and day of publication in parenthesis.
• Write Retrieved from followed by the URL.

APA Examples:

• Here is an example for a book -- Smith, J. (1990). Experiment Time. New York, NY: Sterling Pub. Company.
• Here is an example for a magazine -- Adams, F. (2012, May). House of the carnivorous plants. Time , 123(12), 23-34.
• Here is an example for a Web site -- Bailey, R. (2019, June 8). How to Write a Bibliography For a Science Fair Project. Retrieved from www.thoughtco.com/write-bibliography-for-science-fair-project-4056999.
• Here is an example for a conversation -- Martin, C. (2016, January 12). Personal Conversation.

The bibliography formats used in this listing are based on the MLA 8th Edition and APA 6th Edition.

Science Fair Projects

For additional information about science fair projects, see:

• Scientific Method
• Animal Project Ideas
• Human Body Project Ideas
• Plant Project Ideas
• Purdue Writing Lab. "APA Formatting and Style Guide." Purdue Writing Lab , owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html. 
• Purdue Writing Lab. "MLA Formatting and Style Guide." Purdue Writing Lab , owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html. 
• Biology Science Fair Project Ideas
• Animal Studies and School Project Ideas
• Scientific Method Example
• 10 Great Biology Activities and Lessons
• RFLP and the DNA Analysis Applications
• How to Format a Biology Lab Report
• Introduction to the Human Genome Project
• Angiosperms
• Inbreeding: Definition and Genetic Effects
• What Are Plant Systemics?
• Osteology: Definition and Applications
• How To Take Good Biology Notes
• Life and Work of Francis Crick, Co-Discoverer of DNA's Structure
• Cilia and Flagella
• African Americans in Science

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Four steps for writing a great science biography.

Assemble all the information you need for a winning research paper in under an hour

Gathering information for a great biographical research paper in the sciences is easier and faster than you think. All you need is one hour, access to your library’s online databases and the four-step plan below:

Pro-tip: Before you get started, check with your university library about access to a reference manager like RefWorks or EndNote . These handy time-savers make it easy to store the information you find in one place. Plus, when it’s time to write your paper, you can add footnotes and create bibliographies automatically.

Start the clock:

• Select the right person . You’ll write a better paper if you can relate to your subject and their work. So, choose someone who is impacting the world today… and in a significant way. That opens the door to using a wealth of contemporary resources – like newspapers and documentaries – along with their scholarly record. You’ll also be in a better position to include the kind of personal experiences that make your paper more engaging and demonstrate that you understand the impact of the person you’re writing about. Where to start? Nobel Prizes in the sciences are awarded every October, providing a selection of candidates for your paper. Want to impress your professor? Choose a scientist who is in line for a future Nobel. A great source is Clarivate’s Citation Laureates , an annual list of extremely influential scientists and a trusted forecast of candidates for Nobel prizes. This highly select group is chosen by the Institute for Scientific Information , which uses quantitative data together with expert qualitative analysis to identify the pinnacle realm of scientific contributions. (Bonus: there are often videos, interviews and even podcasts for Citation Laureates so you can include quotes from your subject in the paper.) Here’s an example of someone you might choose: The 2022 list of Citation Laureates includes Dr. Mary-Claire King , who discovered the gene mutation “BRCA1” (for BReast CAncer) in the mid-1990’s. Her discovery continues to play a critical role in cancer prevention. Because she appears on the Citation Laureates list, we know that her work is both impactful and influential. The content available on the Citation Laureates site provides a starting point for understanding and further research, including a podcast.
• Gather background information that’s easy to understand . Your subject should have a lengthy scholarly record, but that’s weighty content. Before you dig into that, gather information from the newspapers and videos in your library’s online portal to provide you with an overview of your subject’s work in everyday language. These are also great sources for helping you articulate your subject’s impact on science or the world. Further, they’re helpful in finding basic biographical information and anecdotes that can enliven your paper (Note: We recommend library resources versus a general internet search to ensure you’re using credible sources that are professor-approved.) Pro tip: When searching, use quotation marks around your subject’s full name (“Mary-Claire King") to get precision results Using our example of Mary-Claire King, we searched Academic Video Online in our library and found a video of Dr. King speaking on a panel about the ethics of gene counseling. We also found a documentary about the emotional impact of learning you have the BRCA1 gene mutation. In ProQuest One Academic , we narrowed our search to newspapers and gathered articles from across four decades, including a 1993 interview with the New York Times before her discovery of the genetic link in breast cancer – an excellent source for quotes and anecdotes that revealed her spirit and determination.
• See where they started . You can find your subject’s early career interests by looking them up in ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global (PQDT), which will give you the title and abstract or the full text of their dissertation. Mary-Claire King’s dissertation Protein Polymorphisms in Chimpanzee and Human Evolution appeared in PQDT in 1973. That work is credited with furthering the understanding of humans’ and chimps’ genetic makeups and tells us that genetics was her passion as her career was beginning.
• Explore the scholarly record . Use the Web of Science ™, found in your library’s online portal, to chart your subject’s research and impact on other researchers. Start your search in the “Researchers” tab to find their publications, using their name or author identifier, including ORCID or Web of Science ResearcherID. Once you have the correct author record, check out the metrics section and look for the “Sum of Times Cited,” which is a count of the number of times other researchers have cited your subject’s work. Then, click on “View Citation Report” for a quick way to see when and where your subject made an impact. Mary-Claire King’s publishing record spans more than half a century, with multiple extraordinarily influential papers. By looking at the chart of citations and publications in the Web of Science, we see her influence rising after her landmark BRCA1 gene discoveries in 1995. We also see a profound influence spike in 2005 when she publishes new research comparing chimpanzee and human genomes.

Let’s review the content you now have in hand:

• You’ve identified a great person to write about
• You have a solid understanding of their impact, plus quotes and anecdotes that will add life to your paper
• You know how they started their research career
• You know when and where they influenced other researchers

…Plus, it’s all easily at hand in your reference manager.

You’re ready to write a great paper. Good luck!

For more tips to make the information process more efficient read our blogs about writing research papers that impress professors and Clarivate’s Research Smarter series . Find great resources like the Web of Science and ProQuest One Academic in your university library.

In terms of bang for your buck, a biography research report packs a punch. It covers a wide range of standards-based skills, and it’s a meaningful student-centered project. Each step of the biographical writing process is outlined below, allowing you to make the most of every minute of instructional time.   

Introduction

Kick off the assignment by breaking down the term biography. Lead students in a discussion about the word parts bio and graph. You can also take a moment to focus on the differences between a biography and an autobiography by discussing the meaning of the word part auto.  Click here to read more about adding roots, prefixes, and suffixes to your curriculum.

Mentor Text

Start the biographical writing process by examining a mentor text. Mentor texts are pieces of writing that students can return to and reread for different purposes. They are texts that can be studied and imitated. To make sure you don’t overwhelm your students or bombard them with unnecessary information, select a short biographical excerpt (I use the John Muir chapter from Home of the Brave: An American History Book for Kids: 15 Immigrants Who Shaped US History ). After reading through the biographical excerpt together as a class, analyze the major components of a biography using discussion questions that you have prepared ahead of time. Focus your mentor text questions on content, structure, and connection. Three example questions are provided below. 

Text Content: What details does the author provide to begin the biography?

Text Structure: How is the information in the text organized? 

Text Connection: Which elements from this text would you like to include in your biography?

Biography Research Guide

Completing a biography research guide will help your students remain focused and on task. The format and structure of the research guide is based on the needs of your students. Hopefully, the items listed below will point you in the right direction.  

Cover Page : It’s important to review the meaning of the term biography and require students to think critically about who they will research and why. Giving students room to pick the person they will research and write about is what makes this assignment student-centered. Even picking from a list of figures provides students with a sense of choice, helping them take ownership of their learning.  

Things To Keep In Mind : Include a page that reviews important details and things to keep in mind during the research and writing process. You may also want to  include space for students to record due dates.

Bibliography : A bibliography template with space to record source information is helpful for students to utilize while researching.

Research Template : Guide students through the research process with a comprehensive research template.  In order to assist students in crafting a successful biography, include specific criteria for  students to fill in while researching. 

After completing the research portion of the project, your students will be prepared to start writing their biographies. Providing your students with a structured step-by-step outline will ensure that each paragraph of their biography is organized and focused.  

Essay Template

An essay template is nice to have on hand for students that might be struggling with the writing process. It can also be used as a whole-class activity before independent writing begins. Modeling the writing process for students will ease the feelings of stress and provide your students with a roadmap for success. Observing others plays a vital role in how we acquire new knowledge and skills. When applied to this particular project, analyzing the mentor text and modeling the writing process are two ways in which observational learning can be applied.  

“Observing others plays a vital role in how we acquire new knowledge and skills.”  Albert Bandura, Social Learning Theory   

Editing Checklist

An editing checklist is extremely helpful for peer or independent editing. Ideally, the checklist will include the assessment of essay content, structure, grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. The revising process is something that students will develop over time. Providing students with an editing checklist is a helpful learning scaffold until students feel comfortable revising their work independently. 

Students need to start with the end in mind. Reviewing the rubric before starting the research and writing process gives students a clear understanding of the project expectations.

In addition to reinforcing research and writing skills, the biography project will provide your students with an opportunity to think critically about an influential figure and how they might apply some of the lessons learned to their own lives.  

Are you ready to incorporate a biography research report into your curriculum, but don’t have the time to create all of the necessary components? Click here to download everything you need from Literacy in Focus on TpT.  Printable and digital formats are included! 

This post contains affiliate links. Click here to read my affiliate policy .

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5 Simple steps for writing an interesting biography report on a famous scientist

February 06, 2023 4 min read homeschool science homeschool science tips scientist

Learning about famous scientists can deepen our students' appreciation and understanding of science. And so it's important that we add a few biographies and reports on key scientists throughout their homeschooling years.

To help you out with this task, we wanted to share  5 easy steps for writing  a biography report on a famous scientist.

5 Easy steps for writing a scientist biography report

We love sharing about the key men and women in science with our students. We usually do this at different stages throughout their journey and this is something we incorporate into our programs. But typically, we recommend that students begin sharing scientist biography reports around third or fourth grade. In this beginning these will be super simple and they'll get more complex as the students get older. But they will all begin with...

Step 1: Choose and read

The first step for writing any scientist biography report is to have the students read about the scientist. 

You may have a book, or article, scheduled in your science program, but if  you don't have a book already scheduled for you with your science program, simply choose the scientist you would like to study and then head to your local library.  The children's literature section generally has a section for biographies, which makes it easy to find a book that will work for your student.

Here is a list of options we have used in the past:

• 100 Scientists who made history (This book has simple articles on a variety of scientists that are great for younger kids.)
• Science Stories Series by Beverly Birch (These are simple biographies also good for younger kids.)
• Who Was series by a variety of authors  (There are several scientists in this series, which is good for upper elementary and middle school kids.)
• Living History Library by Jeanne Benedick (There are several scientists in this series, which is good for middle school kids.)
• DK Biography Series (Again, there  are several scientists in this series, which is good for middle school  and high school kids.)
• DK Eyewitness: Great Scientists  (This book has simple articles on a variety of scientists that are great for older kids.)

Once you have your book or article selected, you can read the selection all in one shot or you can break it up over a week or so. If your students are younger, feel free to read the selection out loud. Just be sure to discuss what the students have read, or listened to, each day.

Looking for a unit already put together for you on a scientist? Here are two you can download for free: Mendel and Pasteur.

Step 2: Answers several questions

After the students finish reading the book or the article, have them answer a few questions about the book. 

These are the questions we like to ask:

• Who was the scientist you read about?
• When and where were they born?
• What was their major scientific contribution?
• List the events that surround their discovery.
• List some other interesting events in the scientist’s life.
• Why do you think that it is important to learn about this scientist?

Here is a free printable for you to use with your students as they answer these questions:

• Scientist Biography Questionnaire

If your students are younger, feel free to act as their scribe as they answer these questions. The plan is that these questions will serve as a basic outline or a list of facts to pick and choose from when the students go to write their actual reports.

Step 3: Write a rough draft

The day after you answer the questions, review the student's answers and talk about how to structure the report.  Your goal may be a simple one-paragraph report or it may be a several-page essay - this really depends upon the students' ages.

Here is a basic structure for a multi-paragraph report:

• One paragraph with the introduction and biographical information on the scientist,
• One paragraph on the scientist's major discovery and the events surrounding the discovery,
• One paragraph on some other events in the scientist's life,
• And a final paragraph that concludes the report and shares why someone should study the scientist.

You can reduce these topics to once sentence for a shorter report or expand them for a longer one.

Step 4: Edit

The day after, or a few days after, the students complete the third step, you need to have them edit their papers.

We read the whole draft together when editing because when we do it this way, my student usually picks up most of the errors on her own. Thus making the corrections hers instead of mine, which saves us quite a few tears. If we don't catch them all this way, I will point out any remaining errors and then we move on.

Then once we have finished editing, we will chat about the format for the final report. We typically give a few options for a scientist biography report.

• A mini-book
• A full-size poster
• Or a standard report 

If the students choose to do a mini-book, poster, or lapbook, we will also discuss what the layout of their final project will look like.

Step 5: Prepare the final report

After you finish editing and choosing a layout, the students should pull together their final reports. 

This step is fairly easy because of all the work you did in the previous four steps. Basically, the students will take their edited draft and put it in the format you decided upon.

You can choose to grade the report or share it with a group. Either way, your students will gain a deeper understanding of science through the men and women that have shaped the course of the subject through their discoveries!

The Final Product

Choose and read a scientist's biography, answer the questions, write the rough draft, edit, and prepare the final report.

That is how you can write a scientist biography report in five simple steps. Hopefully, you are now inspired to try writing one with your students!

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Scientific Biographies

Jonas salk and albert bruce sabin.

In the 1950s Salk and Sabin developed separate vaccines—one from killed virus and the other from live virus—to combat the dreaded polio disease.

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Biographical Resources for the Sciences: Home

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• Membership Directories or Listings
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Welcome to the Science Biography Subject Guide. In this guide you'll find:

• links to online science biographical resources
• a list of paper sources for science biography by field
• a list of resources on Nobel Prize Laureates
• a list of sources for geographically-specialized entries
• links, citations, and tips for finding resources related to science biography

Library Resources in Science Biography for Famous and Some Lesser-Known Scientists

This guide provides links, citations, and tips for finding resources related to science biography. 

Famous Scientists and broad coverage :

Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography - Features deceased scientists from ancient times through the 21st Century. Signed articles. Some portraits in black and white. Bibliographies. Index by specialty. Online version of Dictionary of Scientific Biography and New Dictionary of Scientific Biography.  Print editions held at Marx Library, Medical/Historical Library, and SML Starr Main Reference Room.

ORBIS - Online Catalog (books and journals in the Yale University Library System) To find biographies or autobiographies for an individual, enter the person's name in Orbis Advanced search keyword box. An example book is: Spencer Baird of the Smithsonian by EF Rivinius and EM Youssef. Library Shelving Facility QH31 B17 R58X For collective science biography enter a keyword search such as scientists biography or biologists biography. Some biographical indexes are also available which cover entries in collective science biography. These books may be found in Orbis by entering a keyword search such as science bio-bibliography indexes.

The Biographical Dictionary of Scientists. 2 volumes Editors: Roy Porter and Marilyn Ogilvie. 3rd edition Helicon Publishing, c2000. Over 1280 biographies of men and women scientists, living and deceased, from throughout time.  International in scope. Fields covered include: astronomy, botany, biology, chemistry, cosmology, engineering, exploration, geology, mathematics, physics.  Bibliographies for further reading. LSF

Biographical Memoirs , National Academy of Sciences. - Many of these volumes are online through Orbis as well as online through the Academy. Portraits and life events and a selected bibliography for deceased members of the Academy. 1877-

World Biographical Information System . - Database from De Gruyter. Biographical information on > 6 million people starting from the 8th century B.C. to the end of the 20th century. Collects information from 30 biographical archives. Includes Johann Christian Poggendorff's Biographisch-Literarisches Handworterbuch der exakten Naturwissenschaften/Biographisch-Literarisches Handworterbuch zur Geschichte der exacten Wissenschaften. For deceased persons. International in scope and covering all fields. 

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Biography Project: Research and Class Presentation

• Resources & Preparation
• Instructional Plan
• Related Resources

Set the stage for high-interest reading with a purpose through a biography project. Students work together to generate questions they would like to answer about several well-known people, then each student chooses one of these and finds information by reading a biography from the library and doing Internet research. Students create a graphic organizer (a web) to organize the facts they have found and share what they have learned about their subjects through oral presentations. Students evaluate themselves and their classmates by using a rubric during the research and graphic organizer-creation process and by giving written feedback on one another's presentations.

Featured Resources

Bio-Cube : This planning tool can help students organize their research; use it as an extension to the lesson and have them outline the lives they' researched before writing their own biographies.

From Theory to Practice

• By using graphic organizers, students write or draw meanings and relationships of underlying ideas. This has been shown to improve students' ability to recall content.
• By summarizing information, students improve in including ideas related to the main idea, generalizing, and removing redundancy.
• By working in cooperative groups, students may increase their learning of reading strategies through peer discussion. They may also lead to better comprehension.

Common Core Standards

This resource has been aligned to the Common Core State Standards for states in which they have been adopted. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, CCSS alignments are forthcoming.

State Standards

This lesson has been aligned to standards in the following states. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, standard alignments are not currently available for that state.

NCTE/IRA National Standards for the English Language Arts

• 7. Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and nonprint texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.
• 8. Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.
• 12. Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).

Materials and Technology

• School or classroom library with a broad selection of biographies
• Computers with Internet access and printing capability
• Index cards
• Oral Presentation Peer Feedback Form
• Oral Presentation Rubric

Student Objectives

Students will

• Learn to ask relevant questions before beginning a research project
• Learn to take notes and categorize information as they create graphic organizers
• Improve comprehension as they read and skim text for main ideas and details
• Develop research skills (book and Internet) with the purpose of teaching the class what they have learned
• Think critically as they use rubrics and written feedback to evaluate their classmates and themselves

Session 1: Before Reading

Sessions 2 to 5

Session 6: After Reading

Sessions 7 to 9: Class Presentations

Have students use their webs and the online Bio-Cube tool to plan and write biographies of the person they have researched. When they are finished, ask students to share the books with a younger class.

Student Assessment / Reflections

Possible student assessments include:

• Use the Web Rubric to grade the students' webs.
• Use the Oral Presentation Rubric to grade students' presentations based on the quality and completeness of information given.
• Observe and evaluate students' participation in group work and ability to critique other students' presentations based on their comments on the Oral Presentation Peer Feedback Form .
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• Kindergarten K

22 Famous Scientists Who Changed How We View the World (and the Universe)

From medicine to physics and astronomy, these scholars have saved lives and improved our understanding across all aspects of the natural world.

Whether it’s a medicine that has saved countless lives or an equation that helped propel the evolution of energy and technology, these breakthroughs arose from the scientific method of observation and experimentation.

Here are 22 of the most famous scientists from the 15 th century to today and how their crucial contributions in many fields of study still impact us.

Nicolaus Copernicus

Astronomer and mathematician 1473-1543

For centuries, people incorrectly believed the Earth was the center of the universe. Copernicus theorized otherwise, with the belief that the size and speed of a planet’s orbit depended on its distance from the centralized sun.

Rather than a breakthrough, however, Copernicus’ hypotheses were met with controversy as they deviated from the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church. The church even outright banned his research collection, On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres , in 1616 long after the German scientist’s death.

Galileo Galilei

Physicist and astronomer 1564-1642

Galileo changed how we literally see the world by taking early telescopes and improving their design. The Italian scientist made lenses capable of magnifying objects twenty-fold .

When Galileo used his tools to look toward the heavens, he discovered Jupiter’s four largest moons, now named in his honor , and stars far off in the Milky Way not visible to the human eye. His findings built the foundation for modern astronomy.

Learn More About Galileo Galilei

Robert Hooke

Astronomer, physicist, and biologist 1635-1703

Englishman Hooke coined the term “cell,” now known as the basic structural unit of all organisms, in his 1665 book Micrographia after observing the cell walls in slices of cork tissue. But his studies weren’t limited to biology. He is famous for Hooke’s Law, which states that the force required to compress or extend a spring is proportional to the distance of compression or extension. He also helped redesign London buildings destroyed by the city’s “Great Fire” in 1666.

Learn More About Robert Hooke

Sir Isaac Newton

Physicist and mathematician 1643-1727

You probably know about Newton’s three laws of motion, including that objects will remain at rest or in uniform motion unless acted upon. But did you also know his theory of gravity allowed the Englishman to calculate the mass of each planet and Earth’s ocean tides? Although Albert Einstein would later improve on some of his theories, Newton remains one of the most important minds in history.

Fun fact: Newton’s mother tried to pull him out of school at age 12 to become a farmer. Seems like a good thing that plan fell through.

Learn More About Isaac Newton

Charles Darwin

Biologist 1809-1882

Growing up in Great Britain, Darwin was raised in a Christian family and held creationist beliefs. That’s not what you’d expect from the man whose landmark 1859 book On the Origins of Species by Means of Natural Selection provided a detailed description of the theory of evolution. In his writings, he outlined his natural selection concept, in which species that evolve and adapt to their environment thrive while the others perish.

Learn More About Charles Darwin

Ada Lovelace

Mathematician and computer scientist 1815-1852

A computer scientist in the 1800s? Yes—Lovelace’s notes and instructions on mentor Charles Babbage ’s “analytical engine” are considered a breakthrough on the path to modern computers. For example, the London-born Lovelace first theorized a process now called looping, in which computer programs repeat a series of instructions until a desired outcome is reached.

Although her contributions weren’t recognized until the 20 th century, her legacy was forever cemented in 1980 when the U.S. Department of Defense named the new computer language Ada in her honor.

Learn More About Ada Lovelace

Gregor Mendel

Geneticist 1822-1884

Mendel, from Austria, became an Augustinian monk and an educator, instead of taking over his family’s farm as his father wished. His growing skills did pay off, as Mendel used pea plants to study the transmission of hereditary traits. His findings that traits were either dominant or recessive and passed on independently of one another became the foundation for modern genetic studies.

Learn More About Gregor Mendel

Louis Pasteur

Chemist and microbiologist 1822-1895

Pasteur used his observations of microorganisms to suggest hygienic methods we take for granted today, like sterilizing linens, dressings, and surgical instruments. The process of treating food items with heat to kill pathogens—known as pasteurization—also bears his name.

However, the French scientist is arguably most renowned for his efforts in creating vaccines for diseases such as cholera, smallpox, anthrax, and rabies. He worked on the rabies vaccine despite suffering from a severe brain stroke in 1868.

Learn More About Louis Pasteur

Sigmund Freud

Psychologist 1856-1939

Although his research initially focused on neurobiology, Freud—who was born in what is now the Czech Republic but grew up in Austria—became known for his psychoanalytic theory that past traumatic experiences caused neuroses in patients. He also proposed the ideas of the id, ego, and superego as the three foundations of human personality and that dreams were a method of coping with conflicts rooted in the subconscious.

Learn More About Sigmund Freud

Nikola Tesla

Physicist and mathematician 1856-1943

Chances are you’re reading this in a lit room. If so, you have the Croatia-born Tesla to thank. He designed the alternative current, or AC, electric system, which remains the primary method of electricity used throughout the world (rival Thomas Edison created a direct current system).

Additionally, his patented Tesla coil used in radio transmission antennas helped build the foundation for wireless technology. The scientist also helped pioneer remote and radar technology.

Learn More About Nikola Tesla

George Washington Carver

Botanist and agricultural scientist Circa 1864-1943

Washington Carver is best known for his work with the peanut plant. Born into slavery , the Missouri native developed more than 300 uses for it —including shaving cream, shampoo, plastics, and of course, recipes for foods like bread and candies. But he also looked out for farmers by teaching them livestock care and cultivation techniques. Washington Carver built fruitful friendships with major figures like automaker Henry Ford , whom he worked with to create a soybean-based alternative to rubber and an experimental lightweight car body.

Learn More About George Washington Carver

Marie Curie

Physicist and chemist 1867-1934

Curie, originally from modern-day Poland, was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize —in physics—and also became the first person to win two Nobel prizes .

The scientist, with the help of husband Pierre Curie , discovered radioactivity and the elements polonium and radium. She also championed the use of portable X-ray machines on the battlefields of World War I. Curie died from aplastic anemia, likely caused by her exposure to radiation.

Learn More About Marie Curie

Albert Einstein

Physicist 1879-1955

In addition to his frizzy hair and reported distaste for wearing socks, Einstein became famous for his theory of relativity , suggesting that space and time are intertwined . And, of course, the famous equation E=MC², which showed that even the tiniest particles can produce large amounts of energy.

The German scientist was also a champion for civil rights , once calling racism a “disease.” He joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in the 1940s.

Learn More About Albert Einstein

Physicist 1885-1962

Bohr studied and played soccer at Denmark’s University of Copenhagen before embarking to England to work with J.J. Thomson , who discovered the electron. Bohr proposed an entirely different model of the atom, in which electrons can jump between energy levels. This helped pave the way for quantum mechanics.

Bohr was also a key contributor to the Manhattan Project, in which the United States developed an atomic bomb during World War II. Bohr worked with project director J. Robert Oppenheimer , the subject of the 2023 biopic Oppenheimer .

Learn More About Niels Bohr

Rachel Carson

Biologist 1907-1964

Carson penned the famous book Silent Spring in 1962. The American scientist’s research on the adverse effects of DDT and other pesticides in nature is credited with beginning the modern environmental movement . Soon after the book’s release, the Environmental Protection Agency was established in 1970, and the use of DDT was banned by 1972. Carson, who died of breast cancer, posthumously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1980.

Learn More About Rachel Carson

Alan Turing

Computer scientist and mathematician 1912-1954

A skilled cryptanalyst, Turing helped decipher coded messages from the German military during World War II. The British mathematician is also considered the father of computer science and artificial intelligence, with his Turing Test purported to measure a machine’s ability to exhibit behaviors comparable to human beings.

Turing’s life and efforts during the war were the basis for the 2014 movie The Imitation Game , starring Benedict Cumberbatch .

Learn More About Alan Turing

Gertrude B. Elion

Biochemist and pharmacologist 1918-1999

Elion, who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1988, developed 45 patents in medicine throughout her remarkable career. Hired by Burroughs-Wellcome (now GlaxoSmithKline) in 1944, the American soon went on to develop a drug, 6-MP, to combat leukemia. In 1977, she and her team created the antiviral drug acyclovir that debunked the idea that any drug capable of killing a virus would be too toxic for humans. It’s used to treat herpes, chickenpox, and shingles.

Learn More About Gertrude B. Elion

Katherine Johnson

Mathematician 1918-2020

Each of NASA’s early milestones—from sending an astronaut, Alan Shepard , to space for the first time in 1961, to Neil Armstrong and the Apollo 11 crew landing on the moon eight years later—were all possible because of Johnson. The West Virginia native helped perform the mathematical calculations necessary to determine their correct flight paths .

In a show of gratitude, NASA named a building at its Langley Research Center in Virginia after Johnson in 2017. Her inspiring true story was told in the 2016 movie Hidden Figures , with Taraji P. Henson playing her on the big screen.

Learn More About Katherine Johnson

Rosalind Franklin

Chemist and biophysicist 1920-1958

Franklin began working at King’s College London in 1951 and used X-ray diffraction techniques to find that human DNA had two forms: a dry “A” form and wet “B” form. However, Franklin’s discovery was overlooked after a colleague leaked her findings to scientists Francis Crick and James Watson . That pair went on to create the double helix model for DNA structure. Franklin died from ovarian cancer at age 37.

Learn More About Rosalind Franklin

Jane Goodall

Primatologist 1934-present

Goodall’s extensive study of chimpanzees has helped us understand how similar humans are to our evolutionary relatives. After arriving in Tanzania in 1960, the British scientist discovered chimps create and use tools, develop complex language and social systems, and aren’t exclusively vegetarian as once believed.

Once she understood chimpanzees, Goodall turned her efforts to preserving their habitats and preventing unethical treatment of the animals in scientific experiments.

Learn More About Jane Goodall

Tyler Piccotti first joined the Biography.com staff as an Associate News Editor in February 2023, and before that worked almost eight years as a newspaper reporter and copy editor. He is a graduate of Syracuse University. When he's not writing and researching his next story, you can find him at the nearest amusement park, catching the latest movie, or cheering on his favorite sports teams.

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3 Ideas for Student Biography Research Projects Upper Elementary

When the second half of the school year comes around, it is officially biography season in my classroom!

That is because when the second half of the year comes we shift our focus during reading and writing to nonfiction and informative text . The engagement is instant as kids just love to read nonfiction. After we get our feet with reading a wide range of informative texts, we begin to closely study biographies.

Students LOVE to read about real people and the impact that they have had on the world . Every year students are always so motivated during our biography research project time. Our biography project is the first research project of the year, so it is important to me that I support them every step of the way.

Over the years I have found that by breaking down the process step by step for our biography reports students are not only successful when writing their first research essay of the year, but they are able to take the skills that they learned throughout the unit and apply it to future research projects that we do, like studying endangered animals and National Parks . 

Continue to read to find out how I approach teaching BEFORE I expect students to research and write an expository research essay .

1. Break Down Biographies

• are one person's telling about another person's life
• can be about people who have died or are still living
• include basic facts about the person of focus
• include information about the person's education and childhood
• usually tell about problems or struggles that they faced
• describe their major life achievements

Once we have gone over the characteristics found in biographies we get reading so that students can find these characteristics in action.

I start by reading a few short biographies like the ones found in anthologies like this one, Herstory written by Katherine Halligan:

We stop and discuss the elements that we listed on our anchor chart.  I have students find examples of struggles, accomplishments, and facts.

Once students have listened to a few biographies, I send them off to annotate a   biography article . 

Students take highlighters and sticky notes and mark up the text , citing where they found elements of biographies. This activity works well in partnerships so that the students can discuss each element with a peer.

At the close of this first lesson on biographies, I send students off with the task to think about a person that they would like to research . While I do like to encourage students to pick someone they are interested in, I do also guide them on who they select.

I tell my students to pick someone who has had an impact on the world and someone who is not a movie/TV/YouTube star. You can make any rules you want to help guide students or set no rules. I have found that spending a few minutes brainstorming appropriate people to research sets the tone for the whole project. That is why before we wrap up the lesson we brainstorm ten people who would be great to research. This brainstorming is just to get students excited and thinking. They do not have to pick from the brainstormed list.

The next day, after students have had time to think, and discuss it with their families, which I like to have them do, they submit their research request . They simply write their name on a piece of paper and the name of who they want to research and why. This is a great way to get students to pick someone intentionally and reduces repeat research projects. I never allow more than two people to pick the same person.

Grab the FREE form I have students use to request a focus person and guide right here.

2. Bring it Through the Writing Process

Once students have a good grasp on how to collect information, they are ready to work independently. I assign one topic for research each day. This helps the students stay focused on the daily task and make a research project manageable for upper elementary students. The breakdown I use for each day's research looks like thi s:

• Day 1: Family Life and Early Childhood
• Day 2: Young Adult Life
• Day 3: Adult Life
• Day 4: Accomplishments
• Day 5: Other Important and Interesting Information

Sometimes days are combined based on what resources students are using to collect information. Once students have collected information for their report, we pause our research and return to the writing process.

Students know that we use the writing process for all of our writing. However, mini-lessons in certain areas specific to informative writing are necessary to help students write their first research project. Mini-lessons I teach before students write that are specific to informative writing include :

• hooking your reader
• paragraph organization
• citing sources
• strong closure to wrap up your writing

Teaching students how to take notes and what to do with their notes helps them successfully write their first research project.

3. Get Student Creative Juices Flowing

• design a PPT presentation
• create a tri-fold handout to teach others
• create a puppet of the person
• design a poster
• prepare a speech as if they were the focus person
• allow students to come up with an idea for their presentation. I have to approve their idea based on the resources and materials we have available in the classroom.

When biography season comes around in your classroom, be sure to follow these tips for success! By breaking down biographies, using what students already know about the writing process , and allowing creative choice when it comes to project displays your students will be engaged, motivated, and write the best biography research projects you have ever seen.

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5 Fun Biography Research Projects: Easy Research and Writing Templates

Looking for fun biography research projects that both challenge and engage your elementary students? I’ve got you covered! From a biography report template to a digital biography project, I’m sharing my favorite ways to spark students’ curiosity and creativity as they investigate important figures. 

In this post, you’ll find tips for teaching biography research and writing, a list of handy biography research sources, and unique projects and activities that students (and teachers) love!

Why Biography Research Projects?

Nothing packs an educational punch like biography research! Research combines reading, writing, and learning all for a meaningful purpose. And the best part is that students love these fun projects, all while enjoying the many benefits.

With biography research projects, students will:

• Develop research skills
• Apply reading comprehension strategies
• Improve informational writing
• Build independence
• Integrate Social Studies and Science
• Grow organizational skills

Digital Biography Research Projects

For a flexible, ready-to-go biography project that takes minimal prep and works with any figure, past or present, consider a digital biography report .  

The beauty of a digital project is that it’s easily adapted to meet all kinds of needs (student ability, time available, depth of research, etc.) and students LOVE digital projects! The Biography Digital Research Report provides a guided research experience that can be completed totally online or with print texts. (Or a combination!)

Students just add their information to each Google slide and create a beautiful biography presentation for any figure. Plus, students can use the digital report to create a written essay using the included template and rubric.

Biography Research Report Booklets

Guided biography research booklets are the perfect way to support students as they venture into the world of research! These handy templates help students organize their information as they create a unique biography report using a tabbed mini-book.

Booklets are available for over 50 figures, including scientists and inventors, authors and artists, historical figures, amazing women, and more!

You can grab the  Martin Luther King, Jr. Biography Research Booklet  FOR FREE or click the image below to see all the figures available!

Lapbook Biography Research Projects

For a more hands-on biography activity, students can create a lapbook that includes their research and a final written report. Lapbooks are a great way to organize information while creating a final presentation students can be proud of!

My students love doing biography research and writing with these ready-to-go lapbook templates. You just need a large piece of construction paper or a file folder to create the base of the lapbook, then students attach template pieces as they learn about the figure of their choice.

Autobiography Writing Planner Templates

Reading and writing biographies is powerful, but why not bridge that work into having students write their own autobiographies? Once students understand the structure and purpose of a biography, they can really dig deep into creating their own!

An autobiography writing template makes it easy for students to plan their ideas and write a thoughtful and cohesive text. The planning pages, rubrics, and graphic organizers guide students through the process.

Biography Research Pendants Project

For quick and fun biography research projects, consider making pendants to hang in the classroom. Students research their figure online, or using print texts, and create a simple display with important facts.

The Black History Pendant Projects set includes 12 important figures from history and 2 versions of each pendant (a simple and more challenging version). You can grab the Martin Luther King, Jr. pendant for FREE in the Preview on TPT. Just click the image below.

Biography Research Online Sources

When it comes to biography research projects, students need access to accurate, kid-friendly, appropriately leveled texts.

Print sources are wonderful, but it’s often hard (or even impossible!) to find biographies for every figure students want to research. Plus, it can be a challenge to find multiple copies or various titles on the same figure. Online sources to the rescue!

Depending on the grade-level, you might prefer to search the information and print copies for students, or allow students to do their own online research. Be sure students are ready with knowledge about how to find reliable sources and how to avoid clicking ads!

Here are some safe and reliable websites for students:

Britannica Kids: Biographies (kid-friendly, great selection)

Academy of Achievement (amazing biographies with photographs, but more complex, great for teacher-guided work)

National Women’s Hall of Fame (large collection, short biographies)

Mr. Nussbaum (wide variety of people, short biographies, *intrusive ads)

Ducksters (short and simple biographies)

Biography Research Print Sources

If possible, I try to incorporate some print sources to go with all our biography research projects. Luckily, there are so many amazing biography series for kids now! I’ve included links to some of my favorites below!

*These are affiliate links, but I only share resources I truly love!

The “Who Was…?” Chapter Book Series : Engaging biographies written in a story-like format. Kids love these books!

Time for Kids Biographies : Packed with nonfiction text features, these biographies focus on facts and include beautiful photographs and images.

National Geographic Kids Biographies: Similar to “Time for Kids,” these short biographies are packed with facts and photos!

“The Story of…” Biographies: Beautifully illustrated longer biographies that students adore!

Biography research projects are perfect for end-of-year projects, independent study, group work, content integration, and more! Allow students to follow their curiosity as they dive into meaningful research and self-directed learning!

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How to Differentiate Your Biography Research Project

Biography research projects can engage your entire class. Just use the Goldilocks principle. In other words, the process shouldn’t be too easy or too hard. Instead, it should be just right. Take a peek at this simple 1-2-3 method of differentiation.

Ms. Sneed Plans a Biography Research Project

“Let’s continue planning our fourth grade ELA block ,” Ms. Sneed told her student teacher, Mr. Grow. “I’d like to plan a biography research project for February.”

“Since it’s Black History Month, why don’t we focus on African Americans?” he replied.

Page #1 – Basic Biography Research

“Good idea. That will go great with our other biography activities . Now let’s see, what should they learn about each person?”

“Well,” said Mr. Grow, “I guess they should get some background information first. Like, for example, where the person was born, information about their family, that kind of thing.”

“Yes, and of course, we’ll want them to pinpoint their major contributions next.”

Ms. Sneed sat down at her computer and began to type:

• Describe when and where the person was born, grew up, and died. Include information about family members.
• What made the person famous?

“This is good basic information. Every student should find these things. Let’s use this page for everyone. But most kids can do more. So what else? I’d definitely like to differentiate this biography research project.”

Page #2 – Intermediate Biography Research

“Hmm, how about the challenges the person faced?” asked Mr. Grow.

“That’s perfect,” responded Ms. Sneed. Her fingers pecked away at the keyboard. On this page, she gave kids space to:

• Explain challenges the person faced.
• Identify ways the person overcame the challenges and people who helped or inspired them.

“I love this,” she said. “Kids need to know that influential people face adversity. Furthermore, they need to know that these people didn’t make it to the top on their own. If you look behind every famous person, you’ll find a support system.”

“So most kids in our class will do these two sheets?” Mr. Grow asked.

Ms. Sneed nodded.

Pages #3 and 4 – Advanced Biography Research

“Let’s add one more page for our advanced learners,” Ms. Sneed said.

“I’ve noticed that history played a big part in determining a person’s path in life,” she continued.

“On the advanced page, we’ll ask kids to explain how history changed events in the person’s life, as well as how the person changed history. However, in order to do that, they’ll have to research the time period and compare it with the biographical information.”

Mr. Grow looked on as Ms. Sneed worked on her computer. When she finished, she had added two more pages: a double timeline and a response sheet.

Creating a Display

“I have an idea for displaying kids’ research projects,” said Mr. Grow. “Can I work on it tonight and show you tomorrow?”

Ms. Sneed smiled. “Of course!”

The next day, Mr. Grow brought in a mock-up of his idea. “On this page,” he said, pointing to a template with a large photo of Harriet Tubman, “kids simply write the person’s main contribution. That will force them to pinpoint the pinnacle of their efforts.”

Pointing to a page with a small image and lines, he continued. “On this one, students will write their research paper.”

Now Ms. Sneed was grinning broadly. “I love it! This research project will make a wonderful display for Black History Month .”

The 1-2-3 Method

Ms. Sneed and Mr. Grow found an easy way to differentiate research. First, they identified three groups of students in their class. Second, they matched each student with the number of pages he or she could handle. That way, the research project was appropriate for everyone.

This strategy can be used for a variety of activities. It’s as easy as 1-2-3. As a matter of fact, you can find a variety differentiated research projects in my TPT store.

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Writing a Biography Project

Updated:  27 Jan 2022

Use this PowerPoint template for students to author a researched-based biography on a historical figure.

Editable:  PowerPoint, Google Slides

Pages:  28 Pages

• Curriculum Curriculum:  CCSS, TEKS

Grades:  3 - 6

• Microsoft PowerPoint (potx) Sign up to Plus
• Google Slides Sign up to Plus

Biographies are an essential genre of literature . 

These immersive texts allow readers to dive deeper into the experiences of figures and explore life through their eyes. 

Bring Your Students Into The World Of Biographies

Students will use this slideshow template to create a biographical text of an important figure through previously conducted research.

By applying…

• Composition
• Organization

…students will become biographers, challenged to record and analyze a figure’s most important contributions to a period or event in history .   

Additionally, this project template allows students to include additional text features relevant to their biography, such as: 

• Table of Contents

A grading rubric is also included in the download.

Before You Download

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the Google Slides and PowerPoint versions of this resource. 

This resource was created by Lauren Blankenship, a teacher in Florida and Teach Starter Collaborator. 

Get your biography lesson off the pages with even more supplemental resources: 

teaching resource

Biography timeline template.

Use this multipurpose timeline template for a variety of assignments, projects, and more!

Biography Sentence Starters

Give students a jumpstart on writing about people with 24 sentence starters.

Biography Writing Checklist

Now your students can make sure that they have everything they need in their biography.

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