What Is IJAS? A Gateway for Young STEM Researchers

The Illinois Junior Academy of Science (IJAS) has served as a keystone institution for budding scientists since 1927. It offers middle- and high-school students a structured chance to plan, conduct, and present original research, competing first in regional fairs and then at the State Exposition.

For many students, IJAS is more than a science fair: it is a trajectory that helps build research skills, writing proficiency, and presentation confidence. Through rigorous policy oversight, safety rules, and multi-tiered judging, IJAS ensures uniform standards across all regions and the state level.

How IJAS Works: From Classroom to State Level

The IJAS competition is structured in three main levels:

1. School Level: Students first complete their research projects under the guidance of teachers or mentors.
2. Regional Fair: Schools are grouped into 12 regional divisions, and projects are presented at local feeder fairs in February–March.
3. State Exposition: Top projects from each regional fair advance to the IJAS State Exposition, held every April at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.

Timeline and Key Dates for Illinois Junior Academy of Science (IJAS)

Every IJAS season unfolds across several phases. While some dates vary by region, the state-level schedule gives you anchor points to plan around.

• Membership & Registration Deadline (State & Region): All schools, clubs, or individuals must maintain IJAS membership, typically renewed by December 31 each year.
• Regional Submission Deadlines & Expositions: Regions set deadlines for papers, abstracts, posters, and safe-form endorsements. For example, in Region 2 (Illinois), the 2026 schedule shows paper/poster submission due on February 9, 2026, and the regional paper session on March 7, 2026, with poster session & awards on March 14.
• State Exposition Dates: The IJAS State Science Exposition is typically held around April 24–25 at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
• Earlier State-Level Events: The state exposition is typically held around May 2–3 at the University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign, with poster and paper sessions across multiple campus venues (State Farm Center, Illini Union).

Use the state dates each year as your milestone, then obtain your region’s deadlines from the regional chair or website.

Eligibility — who can enter IJAS?

• School enrollment: Typically you must be enrolled in a school in the state (or be a resident homeschool student), or enrolled in a state-based program (e.g., IMSA programs for Illinois). Check your IJAS state ISEF/ISEF-affiliation rules for residency and school enrollment specifics.
• Grade levels: Middle school and high school usually have separate divisions — read the state’s eligibility rules for exact grade cutoffs.
• Membership & sponsor requirement: Your school generally must hold IJAS membership or you must join as an independent/homeschool group. A teacher sponsor is required to manage registration and communication.
• Safety & endorsement: Projects requiring hazardous materials, human subjects, vertebrate animals, or certain biological agents often need endorsement forms and supervisor signatures per IJAS policy. Follow the Policy & Procedure Manual.

Complete List of IJAS Science Fair Categories by Subject Area

Below is a comprehensive category listing commonly used by IJAS (Illinois lists these categories in their FAQs and manuals). Use this to pick the right classification for judging and awards:

• Aerospace Science / Astronomy & Astrophysics
• Agriculture / Plant Science
• Animal Science / Zoology
• Behavioral Science / Consumer & Behavioral Science
• Biochemistry
• Botany
• Cellular & Molecular Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer Science / Informatics
• Earth & Environmental Science
• Electronics / Electrical Engineering
• Engineering (general) / Robotics
• Environmental Science / Sustainability
• Health Science / Human Biology
• Materials Science
• Mathematics / Statistics
• Microbiology
• Physics / Physical Sciences
• Product/Consumer Science / Applied Science
• Other: Interdisciplinary, Biomedicine, etc. (Some regions combine or rename categories; consult your region’s category list.)

How Regional Fairs Feed into the State Exposition

IJAS is structured so that every student must first present in their regional fair before qualifying for the state exposition. Each region handles its own registration, judging panels, and selection of finalists. Regions may also enforce local rules, as long as they conform to the IJAS Policy & Procedure Manual.

For instance, IJAS Region 9 notes that students who advance to state must ensure their abstracts, safety/endorsement forms, and backboards are fully completed and signed by their teacher sponsor, not by a parent. Also, regional rules often forbid electricity or display of artifacts (only images allowed).

Because region-to-region practices differ, it’s imperative to download your region’s instructions (and the central IJAS Safety & Policy Manual) early in the season.

Region	Counties / Area Covered	Regional Fair Date(s) & Format
Region 1 – Central	Fulton, Henderson, Henry, Knox, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, Menard, Mercer, Peoria, Rock Island, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, Woodford	March 8 — Poster & Paper Session
Region 2 – Chicago & Metro Non-Public	East of Route 83, north/south boundaries, non-public schools in Chicago area	Paper Session March 1, at Horizon Science Academy; Poster Session March 15 at Northeastern Illinois University
Region 3 – Chicago Public Schools (CPS)	CPS area	Paper & Poster: March 13–14, at MSI (Museum of Science & Industry)
Region 4 – East Central	Champaign, DeWitt, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Kankakee, Livingston, Logan, Macon, McLean, Piatt, Vermillion	March 15 — regional fair
Region 5 – Northern	Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Putnam, Stephenson, Whiteside, Winnebago	March 22 — Regional Fair
Region 6 – North Suburban	North half of Cook & DuPage, Lake County (dividing line Route 20)	March 5 — paper session at Stevenson HS; March 8 — poster session at Wheeling HS
Region 7 – Southeastern	Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Lawrence, Moultrie, Richland, Shelby, Wabash	March 24 — regional fair at Ramsey Junior High, 4–7 pm
Region 8 – Southern	Alexander, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Union, Wayne, White, Williamson	February 25 — Regional Fair
Region 9 – South Suburban	Southern half of Cook & DuPage (south of Route 20), Will County	Paper March 8; Poster March 15
Region 10 – Southwest	Adams, Brown, Cass, Christian, Green, Hancock, Macoupin (north of Route 16), Montgomery (north of Route 16), Morgan, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott	March 22 — Regional Science Fair
Region 11 – Joliet Area Non-Public Schools	Private / parochial schools in DuPage, Grundy, Kankakee, Kendall, Will (Diocese of Joliet)	March 7
Region 12 – Edwardsville Area	Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin (south portion), Madison, Monroe, Montgomery (south portion), St. Clair, Washington	March 22

Awards and Recognition

Students who qualify for the State Exposition can receive:

• Gold, Silver, or Bronze Medals based on judging criteria.
• Special Awards sponsored by universities, corporations, and STEM organizations.
• Opportunities for Advancement to national and international science competitions.

Why IJAS Matters for Future Scientists

For middle and high school students dreaming of STEM careers, IJAS offers a launchpad for discovery and innovation. It builds a foundation in critical thinking, research design, and communication — skills that top universities and employers highly value.

IJAS alumni often go on to study at leading institutions and contribute to fields like biotechnology, AI, sustainability, and space science.

If you’re a student curious about how the world works, IJAS is the perfect place to start your scientific journey. Begin your project early, connect with a mentor, and mark your regional deadlines on the calendar. Your next big discovery might just begin here — at the Illinois Junior Academy of Science.

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