The Junior Academy

The Junior Academy is a free, virtual STEM program from The New York Academy of Sciences for students ages 13 to 17. Members join international teams and take on online Innovation Challenges, working to design solutions to real-world problems. Challenges are sponsored by companies and begin with a kick-off week that builds skills such as research methods, design thinking and data analysis. Students choose their own teams and can get guidance from STEM professionals who serve as mentors, though a mentor is not guaranteed. Each challenge lasts 10 weeks. Fall Challenges run from mid-September to mid-November, and Spring Challenges run from mid-February to mid-April. Expect to spend 3-4 hours per week during a challenge. Everything happens online on the Academy's Launchpad platform, so no travel is needed and students can join from anywhere in the world. There is no cost to participate. Students who finish every milestone of a challenge on time earn a certificate and a Young Membership to the Academy, and expert judges pick one winning team and two finalists per challenge.

Ages 13-17 (students turning 18 during a challenge cannot take part). Strong English proficiency is required and assessed during the application; the application must be completed in English, and a parent or guardian must sign a consent form. Apply online during the fall (typically March-July) or spring (November-January) recruitment periods. Applications for Fall 2026 closed in July 2026.