The 62nd Florida Regional
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium
February 2 - 4, 2025

A 3-Day Science Conference for 9 – 12th grade high school students, select middle school students, teachers and parents.

Sponsored by the University of Florida Center for Precollegiate Education and Training (UF CPET), the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA), and the Department of Defense (DoD).

JSHS is designed to:

• Search out talented youth and help them develop their interests and abilities in science.
• Assist students in career explorations by revealing opportunities in the sciences.
• Provide recognition and prestige for students who demonstrate an aptitude for scientific studies.
• Offer teachers the opportunity to motivate students and update knowledge about current research.

While participating in the JSHS, students, teachers, and parents will have the opportunity to:

• Interact with UF faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students to explore university-level research, learn about science and humanities majors, and discover career opportunities.
• Visit research labs to learn about exciting research and discoveries happening right now!
• Present research at the STEM Research Competitions or during the non-competitive poster and presentation sessions.

Registration Information

The Florida Regional Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) is open to all Florida high school students (grades 9-12), select middle school students (grades 6-8), teachers, and parents. Competitive participation is open 9-12 grade students who are a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States or U.S. territory. Chaperonage is not provided by the symposium. 

INDIVIDUAL REGISTRATIONS - Applications Open Now!

All individual registration will be through the online portal (ideal-logic) which is hosted through our partnership with the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS). Paper registration will not be accepted.

Please Note:  All students will need to create an account through ideal-logic and minor-age students will need to have a parent complete required waivers and sign off on their registration. 

PROGRAM FEES FOR 2025

 *All cancellations and substitutions must be made in writing by the registration deadline. Late registration will be accepted as space allows.

TEACHERS & CHAPERONES COORDINATING GROUPS

Please reach out to danae@cpet.ufl.edu to register school groups. You will be provided a Group Summary Form and Group Registration Form (School Permission) to complete. Return the completed forms and rooming lists via email (please include school name in the subject line) or fax to 352-392-2344. Please note - One adult fee waiver ($300; double occupancy) is provided for chaperoning every 10 students.

PAYMENTS

Payments may be made by group/organizational check or personal check or credit cards. Payment by credit card is available through Eventbrite for a small service charge. Eventbrite link to be updated soon.

Check Payments: (include registrants name(s) on the memo line) mailed to the UF CPET office at:

STEM Research Competition Information

The STEM Research Speaker and Poster Competitions are opportunities for 9th - 12th high school students to present original scientific research to peers and expert judges. Students apply for both the Speaker Competition and the Poster Competition, but may only compete in one. Students who applied previously may submit an application the following year provided the student completed a new research project or added significantly to the previous year’s project. Up to 24 students will be invited to compete in the Speaker Competition and up to 20 students will be invited to compete in the Poster Competition.

The first through fourth place Research Speaker Competition Winners and the Poster Competition Winner will receive a sponsored trip to the National JSHS. The first through third place Research Speaker Winners will receive tuition-based scholarship in the amount of $2000, $1500, $1000 respectively. The first and second place Research Speaker Competition Winners will represent Florida at the national speaker competition to compete for an additional up to $12,000 in scholarship prize money.  The third and fourth place Research Speaker Winners, along with the Competitive Poster Winner, will represent Florida at the national poster competition for cash and prize awards. 

Please note: Students must be a citizen or permanent resident of the US or US territory to be eligible for these government-sponsored awards, travel, and national symposium.

Students who are interested in applying to the STEM Research Competition must complete their Florida Regional JSHS registration and submit an abstract, their Statement of Outside Assistance, and their Research Paper. For a guidelines, templates, and more information please see STEM Research Speaker Competition and STEM Research Poster Competition.

Non-Competitive Student Participation Opportunities

The Florida Regional JSHS offers opportunities for all student participants to present original research, science models, or science-based visual arts to peers, teachers, parents, and representatives from UF in the General Poster Session. The General Poster Session is non-competitive and there is no selection process required; although students must pre-register to participate. Students gain professional communication experience and receive feedback from peers, teachers, parents, and UF faculty and undergraduate/graduate students.

STEM Research Presentations

Students who have conducted library or bench research and demonstrated an aptitude for verbal presentations are invited to participate in the  STEM Research Speaker Presentations. The presentation sessions are an opportunity for students to share current research information with peers, to develop professional verbal presentation skills, and to prepare students for future science competition.

Speaker Presenters give a 5-minute talk, with up to 2 minutes of questions from the audience. Student may use PowerPoint or similar computer-based visuals. Students will receive both peer and teacher/educator feedback.

Students wishing to participate in the STEM Research Speaker Presentations should prepare, revise, and practice their presentations before arriving at the Florida Regional JSHS. The STEM Research Speaker Presentations should reflect the high quality of work conducted by the students and the professionalism of a state science symposium.

Non-Competitive General Poster Session Presentations

The Florida Regional JSHS Poster Session includes three presentation styles as follows:

• Science/Humanities Research Posters
• Science Models
• Science-Based Visual Arts such as drawing or photography

Students may submit up to one work in each of the three styles.

All students attending the Florida Regional JSHS are invited and encouraged to participate. There is not a selection process for the  Poster Session, however, we request that teachers work with students to develop work that reflects the high standard of the Florida Regional JSHS.

The Florida Regional JSHS is Sponsored By

Center for Precollegiate Education and Training	US Department of Defense	US Army Research Office	US Navy Research Office	US Air Force Office of Scientific Research