MEMBERSHIP
A. BENEFITS
The VJAS, through its active statewide programs, serves as an effective stimulus for scientific research by sponsoring programs for the advancement of science in grades 7 through 12 and by encouraging Virginia students to enter scientific research investigations in competition for awards at the annual VJAS Research Symposium. Virginia students, grades 7 through 12, are eligible to submit their research papers to the Research Symposium. At the same time Virginia students will submit for student officer positions, awards and scholarships. Students with papers accepted are expected to present at the Symposium, students not asked to present their papers are invited as participants to the Symposium. Students whose papers are accepted for presentation will have their papers’ abstracts published in the VJAS Proceedings. All will be published authors and winners will be recognized at the Awards Ceremony. We hope to encourage young scientists to see this like a professional conference where they join and attend as either presenter or participant but all are attendees.
The VJAS provides a means for Virginia students to meet others of similar ages, intents, and ambitions from the Commonwealth. The Research Symposium of VJAS provides an opportunity for students to attend lectures by professional scientists, scientific paper sessions of the VAS, and research presentations by their peers. In the virtual component students are encouraged to attend other sessions as if they were at a professional conference.
B. SPONSORS
Recognition is given to all teachers, students, parents, sponsors, administrators, committee members, mentors, and countless other volunteers and leaders who unselfishly spend thousands of hours assisting the participants in conducting research, writing, and processing their papers. The Virginia Junior Academy of Science appreciates the contribution and support of the many sponsors who work with students throughout the Commonwealth. They are the key to the success of the Junior Academy, and we rely on them in three ways.
1. The Head Sponsor serves as the point of contact for a school with the VJAS. The responsibilities are as follows.
2. The Student Sponsor is the specific school teacher serving as the advisor for an individual student’s research project. The student sponsor has direct knowledge of what the student is working on and provides guidance for the project. The Student Sponsor:
3. The Officer Sponsor is the teacher that advises and encourages the current Student Officer(s) of the VJAS from their school. The responsibilities are:
C. HOW TO PARTICIPATE: MEMBERSHIP Types of Membership. Two types of membership in the VJAS are available:
School Membership:
Membership Notes.
The paper submission deadline for the current year is February 21. Invoices will be sent to the head sponsor. An application fee is required for each submitted paper and is due March 24. If paying by credit card, the charge from PayPal will appear on the credit card statement as ‘research’. Please tell your students to inform parents to avoid contested charges from parents.
$35 per paper. If a student submits multiple different projects for consideration to the same Symposium, the $35 fee is charged only once.
The VJAS, through its active statewide programs, serves as an effective stimulus for scientific research by sponsoring programs for the advancement of science in grades 7 through 12 and by encouraging Virginia students to enter scientific research investigations in competition for awards at the annual VJAS Research Symposium. Virginia students, grades 7 through 12, are eligible to submit their research papers to the Research Symposium. At the same time Virginia students will submit for student officer positions, awards and scholarships. Students with papers accepted are expected to present at the Symposium, students not asked to present their papers are invited as participants to the Symposium. Students whose papers are accepted for presentation will have their papers’ abstracts published in the VJAS Proceedings. All will be published authors and winners will be recognized at the Awards Ceremony. We hope to encourage young scientists to see this like a professional conference where they join and attend as either presenter or participant but all are attendees.
The VJAS provides a means for Virginia students to meet others of similar ages, intents, and ambitions from the Commonwealth. The Research Symposium of VJAS provides an opportunity for students to attend lectures by professional scientists, scientific paper sessions of the VAS, and research presentations by their peers. In the virtual component students are encouraged to attend other sessions as if they were at a professional conference.
B. SPONSORS
Recognition is given to all teachers, students, parents, sponsors, administrators, committee members, mentors, and countless other volunteers and leaders who unselfishly spend thousands of hours assisting the participants in conducting research, writing, and processing their papers. The Virginia Junior Academy of Science appreciates the contribution and support of the many sponsors who work with students throughout the Commonwealth. They are the key to the success of the Junior Academy, and we rely on them in three ways.
1. The Head Sponsor serves as the point of contact for a school with the VJAS. The responsibilities are as follows.
- Registers their school with VJAS on Reviewr, described below in part C. The Head Sponsor needs to share the official school name with students who submit papers. This is the OFFICIAL school name that will be used by VJAS and cannot be altered. If the school name is not visible for selection then contact Robin Curtis, Associate Director (associate.directorvjas@gmail.com) so it can be updated and later accessible in the fields.
- Co-signs (along with Student Sponsor) applications for Special Interest Awards and/or Scholarships. All signatures may be electronic.
- Tracks the number of student entries and the number of students registered for the Symposium. Sponsors will have access to the Reviewr system.
- Coordinates with the Associate Director on the number of student entries, registrations for the Symposium, and payment of associated fees if the school is paying for students.
- Accompanies/chaperones those students from the school who will be attending the Research Symposium regardless if in-person, virtual, or hybrid due to students being minors and enabling facilitation of movement of attendees (presenters and participants)
- If the Head Sponsor cannot attend the meeting, then the Head Sponsor is responsible for finding another teacher to serve in this important capacity and delegate appropriately while notifying the Associate Director.
2. The Student Sponsor is the specific school teacher serving as the advisor for an individual student’s research project. The student sponsor has direct knowledge of what the student is working on and provides guidance for the project. The Student Sponsor:
- Signs the Student Entry Form for each student submitting a paper.
- Signs all appropriate “Certifications” on the “Certification Statement Form.”
- Co-signs (along with Head Sponsor) applications (as needed) for Special Interest Awards and Scholarships.
- All signatures may be electronic.
3. The Officer Sponsor is the teacher that advises and encourages the current Student Officer(s) of the VJAS from their school. The responsibilities are:
- To serve a one-year membership with the VJAS Leaders.
- To facilitate the officer(s) attendance at VJAS meetings and, if necessary, the Research Symposium
- To participate in the work of the Committee by attending VJAS meetings and supporting the activities of the officers.
- To delegate an adult that can support the student officer if the Officer Sponsor is unable.
C. HOW TO PARTICIPATE: MEMBERSHIP Types of Membership. Two types of membership in the VJAS are available:
School Membership:
- This is open to any secondary, middle, or high school (grades 7 through 12) in Virginia. This type of membership is free and mandatory for any school who has student participation in VJAS.
- The Head Sponsor of the school is responsible for registering their school in Reviewr by January 15. Upon registering the school, the school name populates into the Reviewr paper submission. If the school is not registered the student will not see the school and will not be able to be linked to the school.
- This membership category is normally intended for homeschooled students (grades 7 through 12) in Virginia. In addition, a student (in grades 7-12) who attends a public or private school that will not be joining VJAS as a School Member for the current year may be allowed to become a VJAS Individual Member if they are the only one from that school. It is encouraged that if more than one student is interested that an adult sponsor is willing to support these efforts
- The parent/guardian of the student must be listed as the legally responsible party on the Membership Registration. The parent fills the role of the Head Sponsor for a School Member (as previously described) and is responsible for completing and submitting the individual Membership Registration that is due January 15. This submission process is to be completed using the Reviewr platform.
- The parent/guardian should also list a Student Sponsor (see description under Sponsors) on the Membership Registration who is the project advisor and signs the required VJAS paper submission forms. If this person is not a science teacher, he/she should have an appropriate scientific background to advise the student properly. With an appropriate background, the parent of a homeschooled student could serve as the student sponsor.
- Individual Memberships are completed during the paper submission processes using this link: https://my.reviewr.com/site/ VJAS_Application_2026
Membership Notes.
- The Membership Applications are available and submitted through the Reviewr platform (https://my.reviewr.com/site/VJAS_SchoolMembership_2026).
- School and Individual members are encouraged to register by the January 15 deadline to avoid delays in the paper submission process. This also will ensure that all School Head Sponsors and all parents/guardians of Individual Members will receive Sponsor Updates and other information about the upcoming VJAS Paper Submission process and deadline.
- If a student who attends a public or private school is applying for the Phil Robinson Research Grant (due November 1), then a teacher at the student’s school must submit the School Membership Application and Membership Fee for the school no later than November 1. If a homeschooled student is applying for the Phil Robinson Research Grant, then the student’s parent/guardian must submit the Individual Membership Application and Membership Fee for the student no later than November 1.
- Fees are subject to change by the VJAS Committee on an annual basis. Upon receipt of Membership Applications and payment of the appropriate Membership Fees, a membership certificate will be issued from the VJAS office upon request.
The paper submission deadline for the current year is February 21. Invoices will be sent to the head sponsor. An application fee is required for each submitted paper and is due March 24. If paying by credit card, the charge from PayPal will appear on the credit card statement as ‘research’. Please tell your students to inform parents to avoid contested charges from parents.
$35 per paper. If a student submits multiple different projects for consideration to the same Symposium, the $35 fee is charged only once.
- This is the paper submission fee. Students with papers accepted are expected to present at the Symposium, students not asked to present their papers are invited as participants to the Symposium. We hope to encourage young scientists to see this like a professional conference where they join and attend as either presenter or participant but all are attendees.
- Member Schools submit a single check (single payment) for all the entry fees received from the students from its school. Schools are responsible for collecting student monies and submitting a single payment to VJAS. A Symposium Registration fee is required for each submitted paper and is due March 24. Be sure to inform students to check that school is paying even if the school is collecting payment.
- The parent/guardian of a Home school Member should pay online with a credit card or check using the Reviewr site. An application fee is required for each submitted paper and is due March 24.
- Students will register for the Symposium by April 19. This registration will confirm in-person attendance. For in-person attendance, this will include registration with the host institution for Jeffers luncheon.
- The application fee is separate and apart from any fees charged by the host institution for food, housing, etc.
- Application fees are non-refundable as they support the organization's annual management of the symposium.
