Get ready to be inspired! The Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (Thermo Fisher JIC), the nation’s premier middle school STEM competition, has just announced its 30 finalists. These bright young minds, representing 14 states across the country, are ready to take on the challenge in Washington, D.C.
The Thermo Fisher JIC, a program of Society for Science, aims to ignite the passion for STEM in young people and empower them to tackle the world’s biggest challenges. These 30 finalists were carefully selected from the Top 300 Junior Innovators, chosen by a panel of top scientists, engineers, and educators. They’ll be competing for a whopping $100,000 in awards during Thermo Fisher JIC Finals Week (October 25-30) in Washington, D.C.
Get ready for an impressive display of innovation as these young scientists showcase their research, creativity, and teamwork during the competition. Judges will be evaluating their projects based on scientific rigor, communication skills, creativity, and collaborative abilities during team challenges.
“Congratulations to the Top 30 Thermo Fisher JIC finalists,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of Society for Science and Executive Publisher of Science News. “Their innovative projects showcase the bright future of STEM. These young people remind us of the importance of nurturing scientific curiosity from an early age and investing in STEM education.”
Thermo Fisher Scientific, a leader in providing scientific solutions, is a proud sponsor of the Junior Innovators Challenge, demonstrating their commitment to promoting STEM education and fostering a diverse talent pool for the future. “This year’s Thermo Fisher JIC finalists and their impressive projects serve as inspiration to any young person with an interest in STEM,” said Dr. Karen Nelson, Chief Scientific Officer at Thermo Fisher Scientific. “As a company committed to nurturing a STEM workforce that reflects the world around us, we hope all finalists bring this remarkable experience back to their communities to help spark passion and confidence among future competitors.”
Here’s a glimpse into the amazing group of finalists:
* They represent 14 states, with California and Texas leading the pack.
* The most popular project category is Environmental & Earth Sciences.
* Over half of the finalists identify as female.
Want to see the full list of finalists and their incredible projects? Head over to: https://www.societyforscience.org/jic/2024-finalists/
The Thermo Fisher JIC, a program reaching 65,000 students annually through the Society’s Affiliated Fair Network, is unique in its approach to STEM talent development. Students who excel in their local affiliated science fairs, making it to the top 10%, become eligible to enter the Thermo Fisher JIC. It’s the only middle school STEM competition that seamlessly integrates affiliated science fairs into its structure, ensuring a robust STEM talent pipeline.
The finalists’ journey is just beginning! Each finalist will receive a $500 cash award and will have the opportunity to participate in the Thermo Fisher JIC Finals Week in Washington, D.C., where they will compete for a range of prestigious awards, including:
* $25,000 Thermo Fisher Scientific ASCEND (Aspiring Scientists Cultivating Exciting New Discoveries) Award – This award goes to the student who demonstrates mastery across all STEM fields and excels in showcasing how research, innovation, and teamwork come together to make a real-world impact.
* $10,000 Broadcom Coding with Commitment® Award – This award recognizes a finalist whose project and performance highlight exceptional STEM knowledge and a passion for using computation/coding to help their community.
* $10,000 DoD STEM Talent Award – This award is presented to a finalist who embodies excellence in science, technology, engineering, or math, and exhibits the leadership and technical skills needed to thrive in the 21st-century STEM workforce.
* $10,000 Lemelson Foundation Award for Invention – This award, presented by The Lemelson Foundation, recognizes a young inventor developing promising solutions to real-world problems.
* $10,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement – This award honors the student whose work and performance demonstrate exceptional potential in health-related fields and understanding of the social factors that influence community health.
* First and Second Place Awards in each STEM category – These awards offer $3,500 or $2,500, respectively, to be used for a STEM summer camp experience.
* Team Award – Sponsored by Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM (TIES), this award provides a $200 gift card to a science supply company to the team that best demonstrates collaborative problem-solving, effective communication, and scientific and engineering collaboration.
The Thermo Fisher JIC also recognizes the finalists’ schools, awarding them $1,000 each to invest in STEM activities.
About Society for Science
Society for Science is a champion for science, dedicated to advancing the understanding and appreciation of science and its vital role in human progress. Established in 1921, Society for Science is widely known for its award-winning journalism through Science News and Science News Explores, its exceptional science research competitions for students, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, and the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, and its outreach and equity programming designed to ensure that all students have the opportunity to pursue a STEM career. Society for Science, a 501(c)(3) membership organization, is committed to informing, educating, and inspiring. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (Society4Science).
