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Illinois Junior Academy of Science to hold annual expo at NIU

April 14, 2014

A photo of chemistry beakersThe Illinois Junior Academy of Science (IJAS) will hold its annual state exposition Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3, at the NIU Convocation Center.

Project displays will be open to the public from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free.

More than 1,400 seventh- through 12th-grade students from across Illinois – some of the state’s best and brightest aspiring scientists, engineers, designers and problem-solvers – will exhibit research and design investigations. They will compete for scholarships, best in category awards and other special awards worth more than $15,000.

Students begin their research and design projects supported locally by their schools, teachers and parents. Students advance to their regional expositions, which select the top students to advance to the state exposition. Students can compete in an oral presentation exposition of their investigation or with a project display competition.

Investigations range from consumer and behavioral science to engineering, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, astronomy and astrophysics and more.

Additionally, IJAS sponsors an essay and artistic design competition. This year’s theme is “It’s an Ice Day for Science” in honor of the 2014 banquet speaker Ross Powell, internationally renowned geologist, NIU professor and co-chief scientist of the Antarctic Geological Drilling program.

Ross Powell

Ross Powell

“The skills and abilities that students learn while conducting authentic research investigations are life-long twenty-first century skills that will serve them well in college, their future careers, and as they become our global leaders,” IJAS president Judy Scheppler said.

The IJAS research competitions are aligned with Illinois State Learning Standards, the Next Generation Science Standards and the Common Core State Standards for Literacy in Science and Technology Subjects.

For more information about IJAS, email quella@imsa.edu.