Junior Academy

Washington
Junior Academy of Sciences

science fair
High school student explaining her project to a WAS judge.

Since the 1940’s, the Washington Academy of Sciences has sponsored a Junior Academy of Sciences. The Junior Academy exists primarily to serve pre-college students in DC, Maryland and northern Virginia. We provide professional scientists who serve as judges in STEM fair (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs in schools. The judges attend fair events, interview students and evaluate their projects. We provide Certificate awards based on achievement, as well as feedback to students and teachers for improving science fair quality and guidance.

Local government agencies and the private sector have increasingly recognized the strategic importance of STEM education.  The Junior Academy serves to support this national interest.

We Need Your Judgment!

The Junior Academy welcomes inquiries from people in schools, companies, or affiliates who wish to serve as science fair judges, tutors, mentors and classroom volunteers in future programs.  For more information or to volunteer please contact the Vice President of the Junior Academy at .

Currently the Junior Academy partners with the American Junior Academy of Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in its Senior Scientist and Engineers STEM Volunteer Program in the local area. The Junior Academy also partners with Sigma Xi in its new publication initiative, Chronicle of the New Researcher .  Students are invited to submit research articles for publication here.

The Junior Academy also participates in robotics clubs and maker spaces in the DC area, including MASER-DC (Mentors Advancing STEM Education and Research), which sponsors the Washington DC Girls Only Robotics Club Bladerunner FRC 6893 organized under FIRST Robotics.

The Junior Academy contributes to other maker spaces,  including Rockville Science Center and MoCo Makers, based in a storefront on Maryland Ave. in downtown Rockville, MD.

Previously the Junior Academy provided support for other educational programs such as these:

  • STARS – Science and Technology Aptitude Recognition for Schools.
  • SEAP – Science and Engineering Apprentice Program and SEAP Venezky Awards for Chemistry Apprentices.

The Washington Academy of Sciences hopes to expand Junior Academy services with more programs, such as opportunities for publication, to reach more students and encourage them to consider careers in STEM.