They sound like experiments out of an MIT lab: “The effect of density on projectile motion launches,” “Understanding HIV,” “Bridge failure mitigation opportunities.” But they are experiments that were among the winners at this year’s Bromfield School Science Fair.

The fair, which took place Feb. 8, was the culmination of months of preparation by students in grades six through 12. According to Deb Pierce, science leader at the school, students start planning their projects in September. Students are asked to submit proposals for one to three ideas to the science teachers in the disciplines the students would like to explore—biology, chemistry, physics, or general science. The teachers offer recommendations, but the students are solely responsible for their project choice, said Pierce.

“We try to find mentors to help students who might need it,” she said, adding that they would like to see more mentors available to students next year.

Pierce said that winners at the high school level are eligible to go on to the regional competition at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in March. Seniors Tracy Snyder and Clara Wool, who won a blue rosette for the best experimental project in the high school, plan to compete at the regional level. Their project, “Bitter is Better,” explored the medicinal properties of chicory. Pierce said that winners who place in the regional competition are eligible for the May state competition at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.