The Tennessee Junior Academy of Science (TJAS) was formed in 1942 at the George Peabody College in Nashville with the objective of, promoting science education in Tennessee high schools by encouraging original scientific research by secondary school science students. The TJAS is designed to further the cause of science education in high schools by providing an annual program of scientific atmosphere and stimulation for capable students. It is comparable to scientific meetings of adult scientists. The Junior Academy supplements other efforts in the encouragement of able students of science by providing an avenue of stimulation and expression.
State and municipal Junior Academies: The purpose of state and municipal Junior Academies is to promote science as a career at the secondary school level. The basic working unit is the science club or area in each school where the extracurricular science projects and activities are supervised by science teacher/sponsors. The American Junior Academy serves a state or city organization much the same as do the professional societies, and it functions in a similar manner; e.g., holding annual meetings for presenting research papers. The parent sponsor of a Junior Academy of Science is the State Academy of Science.
The primary activity of the American Junior Academy of Science is the Annual Meeting, held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Association of Academies of Science. Top young scientists in each state or city academy are encouraged to present papers and exchange research ideas at the national level. Tours and social hours are also arranged.
Please contact Dr. Preston MacDougal for further information about JTAS.
Dr. Preston MacDougall:
Middle Tennessee State University
Department of Chemistry
Box X101
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
Phone: 615-898-5265
FAX: 615-989-5182
Email: pmacdougall@mtsu.edu
The TJAS invites high school students from across the state to submit papers based on research problems, with evidence of creative thought to the TJAS Director by Pi Day, March 14th of each year. A panel of readers and judges evaluates each paper, based on a set of pre-determined criteria, and approximately twenty-five are selected. The student authors are invited to present their research to their peers during the annual TJAS meeting. The Annual meeting takes place during the third Friday of April and is held each year on the campus of Belmont University in Nashville. The rewards for participation include the honor of being selected to appear on the program, the opportunity to present and discuss their work before an outstanding group of young scientists, and publication of the abstracts of presented papers in the Handbook and Proceedings of the Tennessee Junior Academy of Science. A panel of judges at the annual meeting selects the top 6−9 papers, and the complete papers are published in the Handbook. In addition, the TAS provides $500 cash awards to the top two writers/presenters, and $200 awards to the next 5−7 students whose papers are published in the Handbook. The two outstanding writers/presenters also receive travel awards of up to $500 each to attend and present their work at the American Junior Academy of Science meeting, which meets annually in conjunction with the National Association of Academies of Science. Instructions for preparing and submitting research reports can be found in the most recent Handbook of the Tennessee Junior Academy of Science
The TJAS has available a number of small research grants ($200−$300 per student) to support student research for the TJAS program. The intent of these research grants is to create opportunities for motivated students with limited resources to conduct significant, competitive research projects. Each year many of these grants go unclaimed, and science teachers are encouraged to make their students aware of these resources. However, there is no guarantee that all requests will be funded.
The research grant application can be found here.
First presented in 1997, the TAS Distinguished Science Teacher Award recognizes one Tennessee science teacher who has made significant contributions to the teaching and learning of science. Nominees for the award are evaluated on the basis of their contributions to the teaching profession, education record, involvement in professional organizations, special awards or special recognition, and letters of support. The recipient of this award is invited to attend the fall TAS meeting where he/she is recognized with presentation of a certificate, a plaque, and a $500 cash award.
