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2021 UpdateThe 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.
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.
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
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.
For State Competition NMJAS winners as well as AVS Science & Technology Society winners between 2003 and 2020 click here.
- 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 2020 click here.
