Needed: Regional Director of Junior Academy of Science – Central Region
The New Mexico Junior Academy of Science (NMJAS) promotes student research through participation in an annual written and oral technical paper competition. Science Fair focuses on the background and tools necessary to do scientific research. The NMJAS paper competition focuses on aiding and encouraging young scientists in the written and oral communication of the results of their research.
The annual competitions are held in conjunction with the Regional and State Science and Engineering Fairs. They are open to middle and high school students whether public, private, or home schooled, from across the state of New Mexico. The Junior Academy of Science has been supported by a local grant from Sandia National Laboratories and NMAS funds. Competition rules follow national guidelines and directors are supported by the New Mexico Academy of Science Board of Directors. There are separate division for Middle Schoolers and High Schoolers.
The Jr. Academy has been in continual existence for over two decades and NMAS board members are committed to helping as needed.
General responsibilities
- Advertise competitions, distribute contest rules, and solicit competitors
- Solicit judges, oversee judging criteria
- Provide computer and projector for presentations, set time, place, date, of competitions in conjunction with Science Fair Competitions. OR Set up a zoom session for the oral competitions.
- Distribute prize money; distribute biographies of winners for publication
- Account for money provided by NMAS board and grants for student competitions
- Act as liaison to the NMAS Board of Directors.
Key competencies
The major qualification is an expressed interest in promoting STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and a willingness to share professional expertise to encourage involvement of students in STEM. The program requires planning and coordination with Science Fair staff at schools to set competition locations and dates. Communication with student competitors is paramount and an option for oral presentations is through a Zoom conference. The regional directors account for funds provided by NMAS and there are no expected costs for directors.
To apply of for more information, contact Malva Knoll, NMAS Secretary, knollmalva16@gmail.com