AJAS is American's only honor research society for high school scientists! Membership is by invitation only. Each state academy of science chooses premier high school scientists from their state to nominate as AJAS delegates.

Each state academy of science determines the guidelines by which their state AJAS delegates are chosen. Usually, the senior scientists in each state academy organize junior academy of science. Under the direction of the junior academy of science, a state-wide scientific research competition is held. The winners of these state-wide competitions are nominated to represent their state at the national AJAS convention. Interested students and mentors would need to contact their state academy of science for information such as when the competitions are held. Click here for links to state junior academy websites and contact information. If your state web site is not shown, you might check with your state senior academy. (Please contact AJAS to update your state's information.)

Some states have no active state academy. In some of these states, we have a contact person in that state from whom AJAS will accept a nomination. In other states, interested parties should contact the AJAS director directly.

More about AJAS and its relationship with NAAS & AAAS

The national AJAS convention meets in conjugation with AAAS ,the American Association for the Advancement of Science. AAAS is the world’s largest general science organization and publisher of Science. With more than 138,000 members and 275 affiliated societies, AAAS serves as an authoritative source for information on the latest developments in science and bridges gaps among scientists, policy-makers and the public to advance science and science education. One very important aim and purpose of the AAAS is to reach out to young scientists in middle school and high school. It recognizes that these young people are its future. (For more information about AAAS CLICK HERE)

One of the affiliated societies in AAAS is NAAS, the National Association of Academies of Science. NAAS is made up of all the various state academies in our country. Each state academy nominates its delegates to AAAS, NAAS and AJAS. In a few states, there is no state academy of science. High school scientists from those states would need to contact AJAS for consideration. (For more information about NAAS CLICK HERE)

To summarize the AAAS, NAAS, and AJAS relationship. Each state academy of science is a member of NAAS. These state academies nominates the first-place high school winners in statewide research-based competitions. AJAS membership is by invitation only. These AJAS delegates meet in association with the annual AAAS conventions held each February.

NAAS volunteers have organized AJAS convention with activities tailored to the interest of high school age delegates. AAAS subsidizes the students and chaperones expenses by reducing the registration fee for the students by about 75%. It reduces the registration fee for the chaperones by about 60%. AAAS provides our meeting rooms and negotiates reduced prices for hotel accommodations. NAAS volunteers subsidizes several events such as the "Breakfast with Scientist" through fund raising.