New Mexico Academy of Science
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New Mexico Junior Academy of Science

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2021 Update

The 2021 NMJAS Scientific Paper Competitions will be held virtually on Zoom. Information on the regional competitions can be found here. There will be no competitions in the Southeast or Southwest Regions. Any student in these regions may compete in the Central Region.

The State Competition will be held virtually on Zoom at 4:00 pm on April 8, 2021. Written papers are due to the NMJAS Director by 10:00 pm on March 22.

Regional Information | Rules & Resources | For Judges | Download the Flyer | Register

About the program

The New Mexico Junior Academy of Science (NMJAS) promotes student research, participation in science fairs, and an annual written and oral technical paper competition. It is affiliated with the American Junior Academy of Science, an honor society that recognizes high school students for outstanding research.

Science education has focused primarily on the background and tools necessary to do scientific research, but there is little emphasis on writing about and orally presenting the results of research. The NMJAS Scientific Paper Competition was instituted as a means of aiding and encouraging young scientists in the written and oral communication of the results of their research. The NMJAS encourages 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. They are open to middle and high school students – whether public, private, or home schooled – from across the state of New Mexico. Students can enter the competition even if they are not competing in the science fair, but they do have to have a research project.

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 $150 and $100, respectively and are eligible to compete at the State Competition. First, second, and third place awards at the State Competition are $250, $150 and $100.

Many students who compete also submit an entry in a 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.

First Place Winners in State Competitions

2021, Aditiya Koushik
2020, Karin Ebey
​2019, Rusty Ludwigsen
2018, Lillian Peterson
2017, Sanjiv Harikumar
2016, Rusty Ludwigsen
2015 Jovan Zhang
2014, Jeongmin Lee
2013, Amanda Mercer
2012, Nikita Bodganov
2011, Fiona McCrossin
2010, Laura B. Lane
2009, Ryan Erickson
2008, Megan Johnson
2007, Shandiin Copeland
2006, Anna Trugman
2005, Keely Goodgame
2004, Mahlet Woldemariam
2003, Nigel Reuel
2002 Naveen Sinha
2001, Tom Widland​​
2000 Naveen Sinha
State competition winners are eligible to be published in the New Mexico Journal of Science of that year. The following winners have had their paper published.
  • 2020: Karin Ebey (abstract)
  • 2018: Karin Ebey, AnaMaria Perez, and Ksenia Sevostianov
  • 2017: Lea Godret-Miertschin and Sanjib Harikumar
  • 2016: Rusty Ludwigsen, Lillian Petersen, and Alex Silverhart

For State Competition NMJAS winners as well as AVS Science & Technology Society winners between 2003 and 2021 click here.
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New Mexico Academy of Science

NMAS is a member of the National Association of Academies of Science (NAAS) and an affiliate of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). We do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, physical disability, or sexual orientation. NMAS is a 501(c)3.

Address

New Mexico Academy of Science
​P.O. Box 36885
Albuquerque, NM 87176

Contact Us

  • Home
    • About us
    • Board Members
    • History
    • Contact Us
  • News
  • Programs
    • Research Symposium
    • New Mexico Junior Academy of Science
    • National Youth Science Camp
    • Science Teacher Awards
    • Scientist Awards
  • Resources
    • Supporting Science Standards
    • Education resources
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • NM Science Resources
  • Publications
    • NM Journal of Science
    • Newsletter
  • Get Involved
    • Membership
    • Volunteer
    • Donate