U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado

On behalf of the research offices of the military, the Academy of Applied Science is pleased to announce the 47th National Junior Science & Humanities Symposium, scheduled April 29-May 3, 2009, Colorado Springs. The National JSHS will bring together 240 high school students who qualify for attendance by submitting and presenting original scientific research papers in forty-eight regional symposia held at universities nationwide. Approximately 100 adult leaders—high school teachers, university faculty, ranking military guests, and others—attend and join in encouraging the future generation of scientists and engineers and celebrating student achievement in the sciences.

The primary aims of JSHS are to promote original research and experimentation in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering at the high school level, and to publicly recognize students for outstanding achievement. By involving talented students and their teachers in affiliated symposia, and by recognizing students' research endeavors through scholarships and the opportunity to present their research in a public forum, JSHS aims to encourage continued interest and participation in the sciences and ultimately to widen the pool of trained scientific and engineering talent prepared to conduct research and development vital to our nation.

Participation

The U.S. military sponsors of JSHS invite the participation of five student delegates and one adult leader from each of the forty-eight affiliated regional symposia. Among the total five student delegates representing each regional delegation, two are invited to present their research before the National symposium and compete for significant military sponsored scholarships.

The scientific and educational program

The Air Force Research Laboratory's Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Arlington, Virginia, and the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, will host the 47th National JSHS. The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) is the nation’s premier institution for developing leaders of character. The USAFA is home to eleven research centers and two institutes, all utilizing the knowledge and expertise of cadets and faculty for the benefit of tomorrow’s Air Force. The
research program at USAFA is invaluable to the accomplishment of our mission to educate, train, and inspire men and women to become officers of character motivated to lead the Air Force in service to our nation.

Research at the Academy enhances cadet learning by working with world-class faculty and researchers while also offering hands-on research for real-world solutions, in both the military and commercial sectors. Cadets have the
opportunity to perform research in a wide variety of fields, from building and launching rockets with FalconLAUNCH, to investigating winglet design for aircraft fuel efficiency with the Aeronautics Research Center, to identifying and countering cyber attacks with the Academy Center for Cyberspace Research.

Highlighting the National symposium are the presentation of research results by regional student finalists. Competitive sessions will be conducted at National where eighteen finalists will be selected for significant military sponsored awards, including undergraduate scholarships, and participation in the London International Youth Science Forum, July 29 - August 12, at London University. The National symposium will honor all participants at the closing banquet and awards ceremony with addresses by ranking military officials.

Please visit this page to learn of program updates as they become available and to register for participation