Welcome

Do you know about the Student Academy? We are not the Science Fair, Science Olympiad, or Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, all organizations that seek to foster student interest in science and mathematics. NCSAS does that, too, but is distinctive in holding competitions at the District and State levels for students who have completed research projects, requiring both a paper and an oral presentation, and providing an opportunity for them to receive personal feedback from research scientists in their field. In addition, we offer mini-grants to student researchers to encourage their efforts.

Awards given at the State Competition include medals, science magazine subscriptions, books, cash, and bookstore gift cards. For high school students we also select two students to receive a limited number of expense-paid trips to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)/American Junior Academy of Science meetings for the most outstanding papers, plus we give a $1,000 college scholarship each year. Finally, through our affiliation with the NC Academy of Science, the North Carolina’s association for college level research scientists, we award honorary memberships in the American Association for the Advancement of Science each year.

If you have a project that you'd like to submit, please participate!

Who we are

The North Carolina Student Academy of Science (NCSAS) is an organization for students in grades 6-12 in alliance with the North Carolina Academy of Science (NCAS). The objectives of NCSAS are 1) promoting the study of science, technology, and mathematics, 2) assisting students to pursue careers in science and technology, and 3) encouraging students to use their talents for the improvement of themselves, their schools, and their communities. Each year, NCSAS holds District and State meetings at which students have the opportunity to share their research in competition. On March 26, 2010, the site for the annual state meeting is the North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham.

The NCSAS is made up of nine districts state-wide with eight of them being geographical and the ninth being the North Carolina School of Science and Math which enrolls students from all over the state. While many members of NCSAS are affiliated by a club membership, students may also register for individual membership. Registration forms must be filled out to participate in the meetings, and new members may join during registration. While most districts offer district competitions, some do not, and students not in districts that hold competitions are encouraged to send their papers to the Director(s) of the district in which they live for review and approval to compete at the State level.
For more details regarding NCSAS and information about the district and state meeting procedures, please see the NCSAS Handbook.

Annual Meeting and Competition 2009:

The 2009 NC Student Academy of Science Annual Meeting and State Competitions was held Friday, March 27^th. The keynote presentation was by Dr. Oliver Smithies, Nobel Laureate and Excellence Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. For the 230 student researchers, their sponsors and families, Dr. Smithies described in a colorful and engaging way his research and the many factors that have contributed to his discoveries in science.

The students made 172 presentations describing the results of their scientific investigations. First, second and third place in each category were awarded gold, silver and bronze medals, respectively. First place winners additionally received an invitation to participate in a poster presentation and recognition event at the NC Academy of Science meeting at Warren Wilson College on April 4, 2009. All students received the new conference tee shirt, designed by Mr. Juan Scivally, Art Instructor at NCSSM.

The competition was judged by approximately 50 professionals from state agencies, educational institutions, and businesses in the Triangle. Students were given the chance to meet with the judges over dinner after the competition to get additional feedback about their projects and learn about the science interests of the judges. Two teachers were recognized with NCSAS Teacher Recognition Awards: Rob Halpern of Millennium Charter Academy and William Hendrickson Halifax High School.

Several students were nominated for officer positions at the meeting. The election results will be announced later.

Other Programs

Students interested in NCSAS may also be interested in:

The North Carolina Science Fair
Year of Science
Duke Talent Identification Program