Illinois Junior Science and Humanities Symposium

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Last Updated: Apr 15, 2026, 12:23 PM

March 1-2, 2023

Hosted by the STEM Education Research Center, SIU Carbondale.

What is IJSHS?
IJSHS is a regional competition for high school students to compete in a regional humanities and science symposium and potentially advance to the national level (JSHS). The symposium is designed to challenge and engage students (Grades 9-12) in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). Individual students compete for scholarships and recognition by presenting the results of their original research efforts before a panel of judges and an audience of their peers. 

How do I participate?
In the fall, application materials are made available to all public and private high schools in the state of Illinois. Cook County (because of the concentrated population base, Cook County holds its regional symposium at Loyola University).  All students living outside Cook County, Illinois, should register to participate at Southern Illinois University, in Carbondale, Illinois.

Teachers should nominate students who have demonstrated an interest in and an aptitude for scientific studies. Each high school may nominate up to ten (10) students; additional student names may be submitted only on a space-available basis.

Students may be nominated as presenters or observers. Although the ten (10) students nominated from each school do not have to present, if students have completed a project, we strongly encourage them to submit a paper. We also strongly encourage students to participate as observers if they have an interest in completing projects in the future and are looking for ideas on how to get started.  

Example of a research paper

The IJSHS is a regional competition conducted under the auspices of the national Junior Science and Humanities Symposia program.

The primary aims of IJSHS are to promote research and experimentation in the sciences, engineering, and mathematics at the high school level, and to publicly recognize students for outstanding achievement and effort.  The major activities of IJSHS include:

  • Oral and poster presentations of original research papers by high school students
  • Tours and hands-on activities in research labs
  • Opportunities to meet others interested in the sciences

Conference Materials

Research Papers

RESEARCH PAPERS

Students will submit their papers and be invited for either the Oral Presentation or the Poster Session. Projects must be original investigations on experimental, field, observational, or applied research in the science, engineering, and mathematics fields.  Paper submissions must be prepared according to the Core Rules of Competition. 

REVIEW

A committee of SIU personnel, including the IJSHS Regional Director, will review all submitted research papers, meet to discuss the merits of each paper, and select which students are to present at the Symposium.

The review committee will determine the method of presentation (oral or poster session). Note: The Symposium reserves the right to reject papers if guidelines are not followed. Papers that are resubmitted from a previous year must be substantially advanced or they will not be considered for presentation.

ORAL PRESENTATION

Presenters will have 12 minutes to present their project with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation and 3 minutes for questions from the judges.

POSTER SESSION

The poster session takes place after the conclusion of the Oral Paper Presentations. Presenters will have 5 minutes to present their research to a three-judge panel, and 5 minutes for questions from the judges.

RESOURCES

Students should visit the Illinois Junior Science and Humanities website for an explanation of submissions that must accompany the research paper (Abstract, Biological Sketch, Student Photo, and Statement of Assistance). 

Arun Thottumkara, a first-place finalist in both the 2003 Illinois and National JSHS, has been permitted to post his paper, "Oxidation of Benzyl...Esters Using a Novel Hypervalent Iodine Reagent” as a reference item for Illinois JSHS students and teachers. Arun's paper has also been published. Article and tips on preparing your presentation for JSHS (Student presenter and National JSHS winner) -pdf.

 

Statement of Outside Assistance

The Statement of Outside Assistance Form is a series of questions provided by JSHS inquiring about your research project.  The form is a required portion of the student presenter's registration process.

Cover Letter

The cover letter is a biographic paragraph about yourself.  Please complete listing information about yourself, family, interests, hobbies, plans for your future, etc. Make sure you include your name and school.

Abstract

The abstract is a one-page document that should include the title of the research project, the student presenter's name, school, the sponsor, and a paragraph summarizing/describing the research project.

Conference Information

  • Submission and Registration Deadlines

    • Jan 14 - Teacher/Sponsor RSVP due.
    • Jan 25 - Student registration and research project deadline.  All students who wish to apply must register and submit an abstract and research paper reporting the results of their STEM research in CVENT.
    • Feb 1 - SIU staff will notify students to confirm participation in oral or poster presentations.
    • Feb 15 - All remaining participants (family, observers, chaperones, parents, volunteers, STEM professionals, etc), complete registration. 
    • Mar 1 & 2- Illinois Regional Symposium at SIU Carbondale.

  • Event Schedule

    Day 1: Wednesday, March 1
    Groups will check in to the hotel in the late afternoon.  After unpacking, you will meet on campus at the Student Center to set up posters, practice oral sessions, and join the opening ceremony.  Afterward, a reception will cap off the evening.  

    Day 2:  Thursday, March 2 
    Groups arrive at the Student Center in the morning and present oral and paper presentations.  After lunch, you will visit research labs and later, join the awards ceremony.

  • JSHS Sponsors

    Visit the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposia Page for awards, abstracts, photos, and more.  Registration is not yet live, please check back soon!

    Sponsors

    The United States Department of the Army has sponsored the Junior Science and Humanities Symposia (JSHS) program since its inception in 1958. The Departments of the Navy and the Air Force joined the sponsorship in 1995.

    Specific cooperating organizations include:

    • The Army Research Laboratory's Army Research Office, Research Triangle Park, NC
    • The Office of Naval Research, Arlington, VA
    • The Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
    • The Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Arlington, VA

  • Participation

    Registration is now open in CVENT.

    Nomination Form

    Students who plan on entering the IJSHS competition should have their sponsoring teacher contact Rebecca Dycus at rdycus@siu.edu before Jan. 14.  The nomination form is an indicator to SIU staff that you plan on attending the event and is not an official registration for the event. 

    Registration

    IJSHS registration is processed through CVENT, all attendees; student presenters, student observers, teachers, and chaperones, will need to complete the official registration through CVENT to attend the IJSHS competition. We encourage all who plan to attend to start the registration process as soon as possible.  Deadlines for registration are listed in the blue boxes above.   You may start the registration process and edit or complete the process at different times.  Once you create your account, be sure to keep your login information in order to access the registration at a later date.

Questions?

Duane J. Lickteig, IJSHS

Rebecca Dycus