UAlbany to Showcase More than 450 High School Science Researchers Statewide
ALBANY, N.Y. (Feb. 28, 2024) – The University at Albany is hosting more than 450 science research students and teachers from approximately 40 schools across New York State for the 39th Annual Upstate New York Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (Upstate NY JSHS), Feb. 28 and 29.
The Upstate NY JSHS is co-directed by Leonard Behr, UAlbany in the High School’s Director of Science Research in the High School and lead liaison to the program; and Tim Lance, a University at Albany distinguished service professor emeritus, president of the New York State Education and Research Network, and emeritus from NYSERNet.
The students presenting are finalists from three regional symposia: one hosted by Taconic Hills High School, the second hosted by Yorktown High School and a third hosted by Rochester Institute of Technology. The program has inspired hundreds of students to present their papers at the regional symposia.
The event is among the most prestigious for students to present original research in a symposium-style format.
Event schedule:
Wednesday, Feb. 28
12:30 – 5 p.m. Concurrent Speaker Sessions
6 – 8 p.m. Awards Ceremony
Thursday, Feb. 29
9:00 – 11:05 a.m. Final Speaker Session
11:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. Concurrent Poster Presentations (open to the public)
1:30 – 3 p.m. Awards Ceremony
Wednesday’s awards ceremony follows a full day’s schedule of over 40 presentations by student speakers. Scientists and industry experts, including representatives from the University at Albany, judge the students’ research projects. Student finalists from five science categories will compete for top honors before another panel of judges on Thursday.
Darian Topolski, a graduate of the Science Research in the High School program at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School and current PhD student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, will give a keynote address during Wednesday’s awards ceremony titled “Navigating Discovery: A Journey Through Research.”
Top students will move on to present their research at the 62nd National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, which takes place May 1-4. Those invited to the National JSHS will compete for college scholarships.
The University at Albany, UAlbany in the High School, National Science Teachers Association, and the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense and the U.S. Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force sponsor the Upstate NY JSHS. Additionally, the Upstate NY JSHS receives support from corporate and organization sponsors including the Golub Foundation, Stewart’s Shops, CDPHP, MVP Health Care, and GlobalFoundries.
Learn more about this year’s Upstate NY JSHS.