- Junior Academy News
- History of SCJAS
- Schedule
- Program Information for Teachers
- Research Training Program Flyer
- Application for the 2020-2021 Research Training Program
In 1957 a Junior Academy was introduced in the Southern California Academy of Sciences program. This was an endeavor to bring young people into the membership. In time they were asked to participate in one program (several events occurred monthly) each year where several students would present papers. At other times, a student would present a paper before the regular program of the month. No separate meetings were held by the young people.
In
1980
a research program for high school students was started by the
Southern California Academy of Sciences.
Designated as the Junior Academy, it began with five high
school students, each assigned to a local research institution and
mentored by a research scientist during their academic year. The
program was funded through a grant by the A.A.A.S. which provided
$200.00 for each student's research.
Occasionally the students met informally on weekends as
the Junior Academy to become acquainted with each other and to
discuss their research. Students
presented their research in Poster Format during the SCAS Annual
Meeting. The
following year the Arco Foundation provided money to double the
program. By 1988, TRW (Northrup Grummond) and Prentice Hall
allowed the program to include twenty-four students.
The Nancy Reagan Foundation added funds in 1990.
In 1990, the National Science Foundation funded and
expanded the program as a part of its Young Scholars Program.
The Academy, the California Museum of Science and
Industry (California Science Center), and the University of
Southern California supported this program, as the Southern
California Student Consortium.
The student number increased to nearly 75.
In 1991, the California State University, Fullerton’s NSF
Young Scholars Program, where the students did research during the
summer with CSUF researchers, also presented their research at the
Junior Academy sessions at the Annual Meeting. The number of student presenters increased to well over 100
and required two all-day sessions at the Annual Meeting.
Due to the outreach effort of these programs, the students represented the
demographic diversity of the southern California region.
Formal structured Saturday meetings were established to
motivate, and teach the skills needed for the students to maintain
success in science. These
meetings continue to this day.
These topics include, “How to write a Scientific
Paper”,”How to Create a Scientific Poster”,
How to Present a Scientific Talk”, “Scientific Ethics”,
and learning of other research at various institutions. Saturday
meetings are usually held at Loyola Marymount University, Cabrillo
Marine Aquarium, and the UCI Air Pollution Laboratory.
In the past, meetings have been held at the L.A. County
Museum of Natural History, Claremont McKenna College, Occidental
College, University of Southern California, and UCLA.
Submitted by Gloria J. Takahashi