Getting Started

Teachers/Sponsors

Sponsors are responsible for registering their school with the IJAS regional and state exposition, as well as attending meetings.

To begin, individual schools pay an IJAS State registration fee. They submit a registration form or renewal to the state. Yes, even if you are homeschooled or an individual student without a participating school. 

Note: Students who attend a school that only registers with a region cannot participate at the state level without the IJAS State membership. Students who attend an IJAS member school must compete under their school and follow all school requirements to participate. 

• IJAS Membership Page: To be part of the regional and state competitions, all schools or individuals must be members of the IJAS. Membership is now $100, due by December 31st, 2025. Late fees may apply.
• Please be sure to register your students when it's time for the regional competitions. This is the entry for the IJAS State series. Students must qualify for state through the regions. Contact the Regional Chairperson with any questions.

Do not hesitate to reach out to your region's chair with additional questions.

Sponsors are also responsible for reading the important documents, aiding their students in preparation for the exposition and keeping track of deadlines. 

• Be sure to read the Policy and Procedure Manual thoroughly. Many common questions can be answered by this document. 

Encourage your students to enter the contests, scholarships, and student board applications.

Students

Are you ready to learn through scientific research and meet students from across the state also interested in the same things as you? You have come to the right place! The Illinois Junior Academy of Science offers opportunities to make science fair accessible to every student. 

While it may seem like a big undertaking, through this hands-on experience--guided by the help of videos, the Policy and Procedure manual, and your sponsor--you will be able to create a science fair project from start to finish and learn more about STEM in unimaginable ways! Will you be the next Isaac Newton, Marie Curie, or Albert Einstein? 

Some Useful Resources

• How-To Videos: 5-10 minute videos explaining each aspect of a student's science paper and teaching students the correct way to write them, depending on the type of experiment.
  
• Policy and Procedure Manual: Specific information on requirements and rules for projects and papers.
• Endorsements and Required Forms: View updated abstract, safety sheet, and endorsement forms.
• Office Hours: Our monthly office hours are hosted on Zoom by the IJAS Student Board.
• General Reminder: Students must first submit a project at their Regional Exposition to participate in the State Exposition. If your school is not affiliated with the IJAS State or region, you may join an affiliated group or individually to enter your project at the regional exposition to qualify for the state exposition.
• Contact Us: Email us at with any questions at info@ijas.org!

Additional Contests

All students whose schools are members of IJAS are eligible to participate in the contests below, in addition to the traditional poster and paper sessions. Please view the "Additional IJAS Contests" under the "Getting Started" tab on the IJAS website for information about getting involved in these contests.

Artistic Design Contest

Decal Design Contest

Essay Contest

Senior Scholarship Application

IJAS Student Board

Interested in being a part of the statewide Student Board for IJAS? Check out the "Student Leadership" section on the "Contact Us" page of the IJAS website.