2024 AJAS Registration Information

This is your invitation to join the National Association of Academies of Science (NAAS) and American Junior Academy of Science (AJAS) at the 2024 Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado, February 14 to 18, 2024. Standard registration will open on November 1, 2023, and close on January 1, 2024. We invite all academies to sponsor and send student delegates (AJAS Official Delegates, AJAS Fellows Alumni, and Student Observers) and adults. This includes inviting students who presented at the 2023 NAAS-AJAS/AAAS conference (and previous conferences) who have continued conducting research.

All AJAS Student Delegates under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult chaperone officially assigned by the sponsoring academy. Official chaperones are responsible for the safety, welfare, and conduct of their students at all times during the conference events. All attendees must also be fully compliant with the AAAS code of conduct policies—including health and safety guidelines—in compliance with the AAAS Annual Meeting policy.

All NAAS-AJAS Annual Conference participants (Student and Adult) must register for BOTH the NAAS-AJAS Annual Conference and the AAAS Annual Meeting.

The meeting will start with a welcoming opening reception, AAAS plenary scientific sessions, science tours, a dinner banquet, Breakfast with Scientists, and end with a scholarly poster session at the AAAS conference. All AJAS Official Delegates must present a poster at the 2024 annual conference detailing their original research to receive an AJAS Fellowship. Poster contents and scientific rigor are the responsibility of the sponsoring academy. 

Academy Directors: Please be sure that ALL the information in this document is sent to your students and adult attendees immediately. Returning students must contact their science Academy’s director for approval by submitting their research and abstract along with their request to attend the 2024 NAAS-AJAS Annual Conference. Please ensure that everyone attending the conference submits all their materials and fees on time. All attendees must abide by the 2024 NAAS-AJAS Code of Conduct. Each academy MUST SUBMIT A VERIFICATION LIST of their student delegates and official adult chaperones; email your list of student delegates and adults to Dr. Rachel Owen at admin@academiesofscience.org
 
AJAS Fellows Alumni: Students who presented their research at a previous conference and were inducted as an AJAS Fellow are encouraged to attend the 2024 AJAS/AAAS Conference.
 
 Register for AJASSupport AJAS View AJAS Conference Schedule 
     

Summary of key dates for AJAS Student Delegates
(subject to update)
             
NAAS-AJAS On-time Registration and Payment DeadlineJan. 1, 2024
NAAS-AJAS Hotel Reservation DeadlineJan. 1, 2024         
Best Practices in Poster Design with Dr. Kaup (via Zoom)
Jan. 7, 2024 
NAAS-AJAS Abstract and Registration Deadline to AAAS    Jan. 15, 2024
NAAS-AJAS Late Registration and Payment Deadline ($25 added fee)Jan. 15, 2024
AAAS Annual Meeting Registration and Payment DeadlineJan. 25, 2024
NAAS-AJAS & AAAS Cancelation DateJan. 25, 2024
 
In-person events in Denver, CO.: Feb. 14 to 17, 2024
Note: No virtual events will be conducted during this conference. 
Below is a general outline of the schedule. More details can be found here
 
Wednesday, February 14
  • Registration, Hilton Denver City Center                                                  2:00-5:00pm
  • Opening Reception and Keynote Speaker, Hilton Denver City Center  6:30pm
 
Thursday, February 15
  • Denver Museum of Nature & Science Tour                                             9:00am-3:00pm
    • Delegates can alternately take metro to the AAAS conference for the plenary and scientific sessions. Lunch on your own.
  • AAAS Annual Meeting Plenary Session                                                  Afternoon/Evening
 
Friday, February 16
  • AAAS Plenary Sessions and Workshops                                                       Morning
  • Banquet and Tours at the Denver Aquarium                                                  2:00pm (Bus pick-up)
 
Saturday, February 17
  • Breakfast with Scientists, Hilton Denver City Center                                    8:00-10:00 am
  • AJAS Poster Session, AAAS Convention Center Expo Hall                          Afternoon
 
Sunday, February 18
  • Depart Denver                                                                                                Morning
 


AJAS-NAAS and AAAS Conference Registration Information

All NAAS-AJAS Annual Conference participants (Student and Adult) must register for BOTH the AJAS Annual Conference and the AAAS Annual Meeting.
 
  • These two registrations are separate and must be completed at different websites.
NAAS-AJAS Annual Conference Fees & AAAS Annual Meeting Registration Fees
NAAS-AJAS Registration and Payment Deadline: Jan. 1, 2024.
(Registrations until Jan. 15 are possible – if space allows - but will incur a late charge of $25 per person)
 
 
Attendee TypeAJAS In-person
Conference Fee
AAAS Registration Fee**
AJAS Official Delegates*$400$75
Student Observers*$400$0 or $75
Adult Chaperone$400$0 or $175
AJAS Fellows Alumni*$400$0 or $75
 
 
AJAS Official Delegates are students who are presenting research at the 2024 AJAS Annual Conference. This includes past and 2023 AJAS Fellows who wish to attend the 2024 conference to present new research.
 
Student Observers are students, such as siblings or others as designated by the sponsoring academies, who are not delegates and do not present research.
 
Adults are teachers, official chaperones, NAAS board members, affiliated academy members, and parents/adult family.
 
AJAS Fellows Alumni are Official Delegates from previous years who are not presenting research at the 2024 Annual Conference.
 
* Every person  under 18-years-old MUST have an adult registered for the AJAS Annual Conference who will serve as that student’s official chaperone. Adults can chaperone more than one student. Official chaperones are responsible for the safety, welfare, and conduct of their students during the conference events.
 
** All AJAS Official Delegates must register for AAAS Deluxe Access ($75). All other participants may choose to register for Basic Access (free) or Deluxe Access (paid) for the AAAS Annual Meeting (see further explanation in the AAAS Annual Meeting Online Registration section below).
 
 

NAAS/AJAS Annual Conference Online Registration -Part 1

NAAS-AJAS Registration and Payment Deadline: January 1, 2024.
  
To register go to:
https://www.viethconsulting.com/members/evr/reg_event.php?orgcode=NAAS&evid=37737483
  • Click-on “Register for this event” and “Register as a Guest.”
  • Enter your contact information. The email address you enter here will be the one used for sending out Annual Conference information. Click-on “Continue.”
  • Select the registration package, shown in the table above, that best suits you.
  • Complete remainder of form.
AJAS Official Delegates, student observers, and AJAS Fellow Alumni (if under 18) must provide the names and email addresses for their adult chaperone, state or regional science academy director, teacher and/or research mentor, and abstract title. 

Payment Method Options
  • Payment for self – 2 Options:
    • To pay by check -- Select Pay by Check/Money Order option.
      Mail the check with the completed 2024 AJAS Fees Form.
    • To pay by PayPal or with credit card -- Select PayPal option.
 
  • Payment provided by other.
    • Write the specific name of the person/organization paying your registration fee.
    • Select the Pay by Check/Money Order option.
    • Forward to the payee your confirmation email.
Read carefully through your confirmation email. If you have questions or need to make any changes, contact NAAS administrator Dr. Rachel Owen at admin@academiesofscience.org

Cancelation policy: Cancelation requests must be received in writing at admin@academiesofscience.org.  
 
For email requests dated:
  • Until January 25, 2024: Cancelations with full refund minus a $50 processing fee is available.
  • After January 25, 2024: No refund requests will be honored.

By registering for and participating in the NAAS-AJAS Annual Conference, participants acknowledge and understand the following: they hereby knowingly assume the risk of injury, harm, and loss associated with the event, including any injury, harm, and loss caused by the negligence, fault, or conduct of any kind on the part of NAAS-AJAS.

AAAS Annual Meeting Online Registration - Part 2

 
All AJAS Official Delegates must register for AAAS Deluxe Access when they submit their abstract to AAAS. A discounted rate of $75 is available.
For all AJAS Official Delegates:
  • Go to the following link: https://aaas.confex.com/aaas/2024/ajas/cfp.cgi
  • Follow the instructions in this document
For Chaperones: All other participants may choose to register for Basic Access (free) or Deluxe Access (paid) for the AAAS meeting. AAAS Basic Access is free and allows access to plenary talks (the only AAAS talks on the AJAS schedule) and the Expo. Deluxe Access also permits access to the AAAS scientific sessions. If student observers or Fellow alumni opt for Deluxe Access, a discounted rate of $75 is also available. If a NAAS-AJAS adult and/or chaperone opts for Deluxe Access*, a discounted rate of $175 is available from AAAS. AAAS Annual Meeting and schedule information is found at: https://meetings.aaas.org/
 
  • For NAAS-AJAS adults registering for AAAS the participants should:
    • Indicate Basic ($0) or Deluxe ($175) access in the NAAS-AJAS registration form
    • Await further details for confirming registration from AAAS
    • At least one chaperone from each state must register for Deluxe Access.
 
Health and Safety Guidelines
All in-person attendees to the NAAS-AJAS Annual Conference must agree to and follow the COVID policies and guidelines set forth for by the AAAS for the 2024 AAAS Annual Meeting. Based on the latest scientific evidence on COVID-19, AAAS strongly recommends the following guidelines for all participants, including, but not limited to, presenters, attendees, exhibitors, staff, and guests:
 
  • Ensure your COVID-19 vaccinations are up to date, including the latest boosters.
  • Take a COVID-19 test no more than 24 hours before your attendance (regardless of your vaccination status), and do not attend any in-person events if you test positive or have symptoms of a respiratory infection.
 
The NAAS-AJAS relies on the individual sponsoring academies to understand and ensure adherence to the AAAS Health and Safety Guidelines.    
In-person Travel and Arrival Information
Travel costs to Denver, CO are the responsibility of the sponsoring academy.
 
Participants should plan to arrive in Denver, Colorado, by early afternoon on Feb. 14, 2024 (Wed). If arriving by air a Denver Regional Transportation District train ride to Union Station, and then a free bus, can provide transportation to the hotel  https://www.rtd-denver.com/services/rail/rail-system-map .
 
Conference registration is at the Hilton Denver City Center, on Feb. 14, 2024 (Wed), between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm. Conference events start shortly thereafter in the Denver conference room, downstairs.
 
Plan to depart Denver, CO starting on the morning of Feb 18, 2024. A late Saturday evening departure is also possible.
 
Be aware that the AAAS Annual Meeting is held from Thursday, February 15, 2024 through Saturday, February 17, 2024 (one day shorter than previous years) and its many events are available for all NAAS-AJAS delegates with deluxe access (which includes all AJAS Student Delegates). https://meetings.aaas.org/
AJAS Hotel Information
 
Hotel Reservations Deadline: Jan. 1, 2024
Hotel reservations and costs are the responsibility of the sponsoring academy.
Registering for the NAAS-AJAS Annual Conference does not reserve, or pay for, your hotel room.
 
The NAAS-AJAS has reserved a block of 80 hotel rooms (each with 2 double beds), at excellent group rates, at the Hilton Denver City Center. The Hilton Denver City Center is a full-service conference hotel in downtown Denver. This hotel has an immediate connection to both the Denver Rail and Bus System, and a large complex of shops and restaurants is nearby.
 
1701 California Street, Denver CO 80202    |   1-303-297-1300
 
ROOM RATESHilton Denver City Center. Does not include taxes and fees. All rooms have two double beds.
 
 Room per night4-night totalCost per person
Single$175.00$700.00$700.00
Double$175.00$700.00$350.00
Triple$195.00$780.00$260.00
Quad$215.00$860.00$215.00
 
 
To make your hotel reservations:
To receive the discounted NAAS-AJAS block rates, hotel reservations must be made at: https://book.passkey.com/event/50710327/owner/3135/home
 
If our hotel block becomes filled, later registrants may be required to pay the hotel’s regular rates. Or search for alternate lodging.
 
Make reservations to arrive on the early afternoon of February 14, 2024 (Wed) and depart on the morning of February 18 (Sunday Morning) (4 nights).

Directors and chaperones please coordinate hotel reservations with the adults and students from your academy. The Science Academy director or an official chaperone needs to make the hotel reservations for the adults and students in your group. At least one chaperone must be on each reservation submitted.
 
Several key NAAS-AJAS Annual Conference events will take place at the Hilton Denver City Center.
The honors banquet (Feb 16th Friday) will be at the Denver Aquarium, and private charter bus transportation will be provided for everyone from the hotel to the Aquarium and return.
 
AAAS conference events will take place at the Colorado Convention Center. The Colorado Convention Center is connected by Metro Rail to the Hilton Denver City Center, and the two are easily walkable in good weather.
https://www.rtd-denver.com/services/rail
https://denverconvention.com
AJAS Conference Events
(Subject to update)
AJAS Conference Events Summary
A series of events—available for every registered AJAS delegate—will begin on the evening of Feb. 14, 2023, with a welcome kick-off event.
 
A formal agenda timeline will be made available online.
 
  1. The priority for the delegates will be to create a poster and abstract. AJAS will provide an interactive online tutorial session, and other assistance, to help each delegate complete their posters and abstracts. Poster contents and scientific rigor are the responsibility of the sponsoring academy.
  2. Science Tours will be on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, at The Denver Museum of Nature & Science and AAAS will offer Science workshops.
  3. The Fellows Banquet Award Ceremony and Tours at the Denver Aquarium on Friday, Feb. 16, 2023.
  4. At the AJAS conference all AJAS delegates will attend the Breakfast with Scientists event on Saturday, Feb. 17. After this event, all delegates will head to the AAAS Annual Meeting convention EXPO center to present their research posters.
 
Adult Volunteer Committees
 
Teams of volunteers, organized into committees, are essential to a successful NAAS-AJAS Annual Conference. When registering, please select your 1st and 2nd, committee choices.
 
Volunteer time commitments are typically intermittent and flexible throughout the four day and—in some instances—they may already be part of your event routine. In January, you will receive an email with more specific information regarding your committees and associated pre-meetings.
 
In-person Volunteer Committee Options (all are intermittent time requirements):
 
Transportation Bus Charter Captains will be managing a group for transportation to and from The Denver Museum of Nature & Science and the Denver Aquarium. Some travel will be on the Denver Rail. Captains will receive a passenger list, map, and site contact information. There will be 2-3 captains per group.
 
Responsibilities include taking attendance, ensuring on-time departures, and keeping the group together. If a student is missing, it is the responsibility of their chaperone to stay to find him/her and to find and pay for transportation to/from the destination.
 
Event Security assistance is needed to ensure that our events are attended only by official NAAS-AJAS participants. Event security volunteers will check name badges as participants enter events.
 
Photographers are needed to contribute digital images for the AJAS archives. Members will work with the official AJAS Photographer to capture all aspects of our conference.
 
Responsibilities include bringing a camera, taking pictures, and delivering the images you select to the official AJAS Photographer.
 
Registration Committee members are needed for Wednesday, February 14, 2024, from Noon – 8:30 pm. Members of this committee sign-up to work in shifts. Your students can also serve on this committee. It is a fun way to meet everyone who is attending our conference. Responsibilities include:
 
  • 12:00-2:00 pm- Organize registration materials at the Hilton Denver City Center Conference Center. (Put AJAS stickers on name badges, put name badges in plastic sleeves, arrange name badges on table in alphabetical order, sponsor brochures, and gifts.)
  • 2:00-5:00 pm – Regular registration. (Give out conference material, remind everyone that they MUST wear their badge to ALL events, and check off participants when they register.)
  • 5:00-8:30 pm – Late registration. (Attend the registration table for those who arrive during the Opening Reception.) These individuals will still be a full part of the events (i.e., you get to eat and watch the speakers). 
 
Thank You Letter Committee members serve a critical function—particularly in support of next year’s delegates! Throughout the event, members will invite student delegates to write thank you letters to the many individuals who participated in the Annual Conference (volunteers, sponsors, speakers, scientists, etc.). Committee members will review the letters, and stamp and seal envelopes. At the Wednesday Chaperone meeting, one chaperone from each affiliated science academy will receive an envelope with Thank You note cards. Envelopes will already be addressed so students know to whom they are writing the thank you. Over the years, these thank you letters from delegates have proven to be very important in the promotion of the AJAS program—and it is just a nice thing to do!
 
Poster Committee
Members on this committee will support John Kaup (Poster Master) in delivering the in-person poster session at AJAS 2024.  There will be opportunities to help with one or more of the following:  (1) transporting easels, boards and clips to the convention site; (2) setting up the easels and poster boards and breaking them down after the last poster session; (3) being available to help students as they put up and take down their posters; (4) transporting easels back to hotel or to a shipping location; (5) participating in one or more zoom sessions (help sessions) prior to the meeting (likely in mid-to-late January) to answer students’ questions about poster design and provide feedback if requested. The poster committee volunteers will not be reviewing poster content or scientific rigor.
 
Breakfast with Scientist Adult Facilitator
Students in small groups (6-8) will be assigned to a table at the Breakfast with Scientists event on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. During this session, the students will introduce themselves and the scientists will discuss their current responsibilities as well as their career path. As an adult facilitator, your role is to ensure appropriate behavior, eat, and have fun.