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The Kansas Junior Academy of Science

The Kansas Junior Academy of Science (KJAS) is an organization for students interested in science and mathematics who wish to expand their ability and accomplishments in this field. Students who wish to present in the Junior Academy work on a science or mathematics project during the year. The student then must present at a District Meeting which are held each spring. To present at a District Meeting, KJAS members submit their research papers to be judged and orally report on their projects. Projects are judged by career scientists in the science content area specific to the research project. Projects which are rated as superior at the District Meeting are invited to be presented at the State Junior Academy Meeting help the first Thursday in May at Wichita State University.

At the State Meeting, students must again submit their written scientific paper and orally present to a panel of judges. All projects are evaluated and some papers may be recommended for publication in the Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science. Some winning students may be selected to present his/her paper at the American Junior Academy of Science Meeting which is sponsored by the National Association of Academies of Science and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The Kansas Junior Academy of Science usually provides a portion of the student's airfare, registration, and room expenses to this meeting.

At times, other awards may be presented. For example, in 1993, and, again in 1994 we were able to select six Junior Academy students for a year's honorary membership in the AAAS, which includes a year's free subscription to Science. Junior Academy meetings are not science fairs. With the exception that each student's work is evaluated, Junior Academy meetings are conducted in a fashion similar to any scientific meeting where scientists meet with each other to talk about their own research and listen to formal presentations of other research.

WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF KJAS?

The goals of the KJAS are:
(1) to stimulate interest in science among young people
(2) to encourage students to conduct scientific investigations
(3) to offer training in presenting scientific matters before the public
(4) to afford the opportunity of making contacts with scientists
(5) to provide opportunities to share their scientific interest with others.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO JOIN KJAS?

Any junior high, middle school or senior high school student interested in any area of science or mathematics who has a desire to investigate a problem is eligible to participate. Problem solving involves answering questions such as how and what. Many scientists solve problems no one has ever solved before by proceeding in a logical way. The same procedure is used by science students in completing a project.

Some problems are easily solved while others require weeks, months, and sometimes years. Working on a project gives you an opportunity to solve a problem by applying the originality of thought so essential to a scientist. It takes curiosity and desire to work on a problem, but the rewards are numerous. This is a splendid opportunity for beginners to learn the basics of research and to experience the enjoyment of solving a problem. Please take advantage of it. We will help you all we can.

Individual students can become members of KJAS and so can entire school classes or science clubs. Teachers and sponsors automatically become members. A group membership is individually less costly and has the benefit of including a year's subscription to the Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science which contains interesting research papers by students and senior scientists in the state of Kansas.

Annual dues are the following:

Student Membership  (Junior and Senior High School)
     -  Includes Transactions                $15.00
 
Junior Academy Group Membership    (for science classes and science clubs)
     -  Includes Transactions                $25.00

Become a member! KJAS Membership Form

.WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS OF KJAS?

Students must complete a scientific study, write a scientific paper and prepare a 10 minute oral presentation summarizing the research. Students can enlist the help of a teacher or other mentor but this help should be accurately reflected on the Student Signature Page/Mentor Form when the paper is submitted for judging at both District and State Meetings.

KJAS members should use the following guidebook to assist them in their writing and oral presentation preparation.

The Kansas Junior Academy of Science is a division of the Kansas Academy of Science (KAS)

This page last updated 10/29/2009