The National Association of Academies of Science is continuing a needs-based scholarship program to pay the registration costs and expenses of student delegates who wish to attend the 2026 American Junior Academy of Science Annual Conference.

The 2026 NAAS-AJAS Annual Conference will be in Phoenix, AZ from Feb. 11-14, 2026. The 2026 NAAS-AJAS Conference will be held in-person only, with no virtual attendance options.  As in past years, our meeting will be in conjunction with the AAAS Annual Meeting.

Through a recent and generous grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the National Association of Academies of Science is re-instating a needs-based scholarship program to support the attendance of qualified student delegates whose financial limitations might prohibit their participation in AJAS 2026. Funds can be awarded up to $1,500/delegate.  

Deadline:  July 31, 2025

Scholarship Background
The intent of this scholarship is to provide support for student delegates who have demonstrated merit to attend AJAS, but where financial limitations would otherwise prohibit their participation.  Up to $15,000 of scholarship funds are available for AJAS 2026 with a maximum distribution of $1,500/delegate. 

Because of the limited funding available, only delegates who demonstrate the most compelling financial needs will be considered for this scholarship. To ensure broad geographic distribution of the funds, a maximum of two delegates from any academy (or one at-large delegate per state or territory) will be considered.  Note: The financial support provided through this mechanism will be in the form of a reimbursement check (paid after the AJAS meeting).  Receipts will be required to receive reimbursement.

Eligibility
Any academy of science planning on sending one or more student delegates to the 2026 AJAS Annual Conference is encouraged to apply. 

Application Process
Please submit the following information: 

• Name & e-mail
• Name of chaperone & e-mail of chaperone
• Academy or state you are representing  (At-Large Delegates must attest that their geographic location does not have a state or regional Academy of Science to sponsor the student.)

Brief Proposal: 
Please submit a brief proposal (250 words max.) to the NAAS describing concisely how you would use the allocated scholarship funds to support one or two of your student delegates. See the criteria indicated below (as a guide) to identify in what way the delegates you are recommending for support would qualify for financial assistance.  Scholarships may be awarded to cover up to $1,500/delegate for costs associated with AJAS 2026 attendance. Please do not include delegates’ names or other identifying information. 

Note: This proposal should be submitted by a state academy representative or the parent/guardian for an at-large student (i.e., a student without a state or regional Academy of Science).  

Submissions are due July 31, 2025.

Selection Criteria
Academies are encouraged to focus on the following criteria, listed in no particular order, for financial assistance to student delegates:

• Students who attend a Title 1 School
• Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch
• Students who will be first-generation college students
• Students who identify as historically underrepresented in STEM
• Students who do not meet the above criteria but who self-identify financial need
• Another innovative approach not described above.

An independent working group will evaluate the various anonymized proposals with the goal of distributing the funds as widely as feasible among the selected academies. 

We anticipate receiving more requests for funding than can be provided, therefore, not all who apply may receive funding.
 

Submit an Application

Contact
Please direct questions to Dr. Rachel Owen at admin@academiesofscience.org.