IJAS Annual Meeting
The Iowa Academy of Science thanks the Iowa Space Grant Consortium for its generous support of middle and high school students attending and presenting science research at the Iowa Junior Academy of Science Annual Meeting.
Please read through to the bottom of this page.
Eligible Attendees
Taking part in the IJAS and the IAS Annual Meetings provides invaluable experiences at a professional meeting and a unique opportunity to meet Iowa scientists. No other venue in Iowa provides students with a chance to meet scientists in both a professional and informal setting and hear speakers from many disciplines discuss the latest scientific discoveries.
IJAS Starr Student Research Grant Recipients and IJAS members who have conducted research during the current academic year and have presented their research at one of the approved state or regional science fairs are invited to compete at the IJAS Annual Meeting. Non-competing IJAS members may attend as observers.
Additional Eligibility Requirements
The student doing the presentation must be the one who conducted the research.
No student may present research from a previous year without conducting additional research on the topic during the current year.
Only one project per student.
No student may compete at the middle school or 9th-11th grade levels in more than 3 different years. No student may compete at the senior level more than one year.
A maximum of 3 students may work together on one project. See below for how awards will be split among group projects.
In the 9th-11th grade category, the prize is a trip to the next American Junior Academy of Science Meeting. If a project completed by a group of student's is selected for this award, the student's must either pick one individual to attend the conference, split the award and raise the additional funds for all to attend, or forfeit the award to one of the alternate winners. For the 12th grade category, projects by teams of two students shall be accepted, however a winning team would split one scholarship.
Students must meet the eligibility requirements described above and preregister for the conference in order to compete.
Photo Release
Each student is asked to provide a photo release form. Please download here: (ijas_photo_release.pdf).
Non-competing IJAS Students and Chaperones
The Iowa Academy of Science invites IJAS member schools to bring a maximum of 10 non-competing students with 2 chaperones to the conference. The students will observe IJAS oral and poster presentations and experience a professional meeting. Based on their experience some students may choose to submit their own research projects in the future.
Registration and Meal Fees
A grant from the Iowa Space Grant Consortium (ISGC) in support of the IJAS Annual Meeting and the Iowa Academy of Science make it possible for Iowa students to present their research in a supportive setting at a professional scientific meeting. IJAS students and accompanying adults are exempt from registration fees and cost of the IJAS Awards Luncheon. Competing IJAS members may bring one adult to the meeting free of charge. Free registration and meal eligibility is discussed below.
Registration Categories
IJAS students, teachers, sponsors, or other accompanying adults must preregister by the Advance Registration Deadline. Students from IJAS member schools will register as part of their school delegation. Individual IJAS Members must self-register. An option is available to download a form to mail in and pay by check. The Academy accepts credit or debit card payments online but not by mail or by phone. Registration categories include:
Student Presenters - For students who will compete in the IJAS Poster/Oral Presentation Competition. Students who have received Starr Research Grants or who are IJAS Members and have presented at designated regional or state science fairs are eligible to present at the IJAS Annual Meeting.
Student Observers - An IJAS Member student attending the IJAS Annual Meeting but not competing in the IJAS Poster/Oral Competition. Member schools may send up to 10 student observers and have their registration fees waived. Individual IJAS Members are also eligible.
Teachers/Sponsors - Teachers or sponsors attending as part of a school delegation. Schools may send up to 2 accompanying adults and have their registration fees waived.
Parent/Guardian/Other Accompanying Adults - Student Presenters may bring one accompanying adult and have the registration fees waived. The students may be part of a school delegation or be an Individual IJAS Member.
Additional adults whether they be teachers, sponsors, or other adults must register at the regular conference rates to attend IJAS or IAS activities.
Presentations and Awards
The following prizes are awarded:
Senior Level (12th Grade only): Two $500.00 College Scholarships. Open to graduating seniors only.
9th-11th grade Level: Two students receive an all-expenses paid trip to the American Junior Academy of Science Conference. Two alternates are selected with the option to attend if the winners are unable to attend or if they choose to pay their own expenses.
Middle School Level: Up to two Most Promising Young Scientist Certificates are awarded.
IMPORTANT! Please read the IJAS Presentation Guidelines by clicking on the button below to learn more about how to present at the IJAS Annual Meeting. All presenters must follow the guidelines to be eligible to present.