New Mexico Academy of Science Junior Academy of Science

The Junior Academy promotes student research, participation in science fairs, and an annual written and oral technical paper competition. The New Mexico Academy and New Mexico Junior Academy encourage students to participate in this competition, through which they have unique opportunities to learn a crucial part of scientific work: communicating their work to others.

The competitions are held in conjunction with the Regional and State Science and Engineering Fairs. Students compete in the Junior Division (grades 6-8) or the Senior Division (grades 9-12). First and second place winners in each division at their Regional Fairs are awarded $100 and $50, respectively and are eligible to compete at the State Competition. First, second, and third place awards at the State Competition are $200, $100, and $50.


The 2008 NMJAS winners as well as the AVS Science & Technology Society winners are listed here. Funding for the 2008 competition was generously provided by Sandia-Lockheed Martin. Thank you Sandia! !

The First Place Winner of the State Senior Division 2007 Competition attended the 2008 meeting of the National Association of Academies of Science/American Junior Academies of Science (NAAS/AJAS) held in conjunction with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) meeting in Boston, MA and presented her paper to other student winners from all over the US as well as science professionals. Funding to attend this meeting was provided by a grant from Intel. Read more about AJAS and its national meetings at the AJAS Home Page. Funding for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 was provided by grants from Intel Foundation. Funding for 2006 was provided by grants from Intel and Sandia-Lockheed Martin.

For a list of the 2007 state winners click here. For 2006 winners click here, for 2005 state winners click here, for 2004 state winners click here and for the 2003 state winners click on this link. The AVS sends their own judges to the State Competition and gives cash awards to first and second place winners in each division as well as matching awards to their sponsors. A list of the NMJAS Senior Division First Place Winners in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004 is given below along with links to their abstracts.

Many students who compete also submit an entry in the science fair, although the Academy does not require that they do so. Entries in the paper competition, however, must report on the student's actual experiment or project. For help with writing a research paper see How to Write a Research Paper. The directors and dates of the regional competitions are listed below as well as the links to the rules, forms, and guidelines.

There are also good web sites where students can get information on writing a scientific paper and giving an illustrated talk.

1. Writing a Research Paper
2. Selekted Riting Wrules
3. Notes on the Structure of a Scientific Paper
4. Magic Rules For Giving An Illustrated Talk

Official Rules	Forms
Regional and State Paper Competition Rules Guidelines Judge's Instructions Notes to Judges	Entry Form (PDF version here) Student Biography Written Manuscript Judging Form Oral Presentation Judging Form Judging Critique Form

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