High School Research Programs
Providing students with a solid understanding of STEM’s role in addressing many of our most urgent challenges.
The Junior Academy
The Junior Academy is an international network of high school students united by their shared love for utilizing STEM to tackle real-world problems. Our flexible technology platform enables virtual collaboration so that teams of solvers can work together across geographies and time zones to share their ideas, fine-tune designs and put concepts to the test.
Innovation Challenges
High School students are invited to participate in 10-week Innovation Challenges where they form international teams and work with STEM experts who mentor them as they design solutions to real-world problems.
[{"id":32412,"link":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/learning\/high-school-research-programs\/innovation-challenge\/human-centered-ai\/","name":"human-centered-ai","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Human-Centered-AI-1024x573.jpg","alt":""},"title":"Human Centered AI","author":{"name":"The New York Academy of Sciences","link":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/author\/klam\/"},"date":"Feb 11, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-11 20:20:16","modifiedDate":"2026-02-20 19:12:48","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-20 19:12:48","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"","space":""},"taxonomies":{"feature":"","ic-stage":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/ic-stage\/challenge-is-active-this-challenge-is-part-of-the-junior-academy\/' rel='ic-stage'>Challenge is Active. This challenge is part of the Junior Academy.<\/a>","program-category":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/innovation-challenge\/' rel='program-category'>Innovation Challenge<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/learning\/' rel='program-category'>Learning<\/a>","scientific-theme":""},"readTime":{"min":1,"sec":43},"status":"publish","excerpt":"Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how we live, learn, and connect with the world around us. From making everyday tasks safer and more efficient to unlocking new possibilities in education, healthcare, and the arts, AI holds enormous promise. Yet alongside this potential come real concerns\u2014bias, privacy, environmental impact, AI over-reliance, and more."},{"id":32374,"link":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/learning\/high-school-research-programs\/innovation-challenge\/mental-well-being\/","name":"mental-well-being","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Mental-Well-being-1024x540.jpg","alt":""},"title":"Mental Well-being","author":{"name":"The New York Academy of Sciences","link":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/author\/klam\/"},"date":"Feb 11, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-11 20:09:44","modifiedDate":"2026-02-20 19:12:28","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-20 19:12:28","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"","space":""},"taxonomies":{"feature":"","ic-stage":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/ic-stage\/challenge-is-active-this-challenge-is-part-of-the-junior-academy\/' rel='ic-stage'>Challenge is Active. This challenge is part of the Junior Academy.<\/a>","program-category":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/innovation-challenge\/' rel='program-category'>Innovation Challenge<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/learning\/' rel='program-category'>Learning<\/a>","scientific-theme":""},"readTime":{"min":2,"sec":21},"status":"publish","excerpt":"Adolescence can be an exciting time of incredible growth and development. It can also bring extra responsibilities, added stresses, and complicated social situations that can be detrimental to mental well-being and put young people at risk for developing mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety."},{"id":29325,"link":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/learning\/high-school-research-programs\/innovation-challenge\/food-waste\/","name":"food-waste","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/food-waste-innovation-challenge-1024x684.jpg","alt":"Organic composting."},"title":"Food Waste","author":{"name":"The New York Academy of Sciences","link":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/author\/klam\/"},"date":"Sep 4, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-09-04 20:09:31","modifiedDate":"2026-02-10 20:09:47","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-10 20:09:47","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"","space":""},"taxonomies":{"feature":"","ic-stage":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/ic-stage\/challenge-is-complete-resources-are-available\/' rel='ic-stage'>Challenge is Complete; Resources are Available<\/a>","program-category":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/innovation-challenge\/' rel='program-category'>Innovation Challenge<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/junior-academy\/' rel='program-category'>Junior Academy<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/learning\/' rel='program-category'>Learning<\/a>","scientific-theme":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/scientific-theme\/health-disease\/' rel='scientific-theme'>Health & Disease<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/scientific-theme\/sustainable-planet\/' rel='scientific-theme'>Sustainable Planet<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":2,"sec":8},"status":"publish","excerpt":"Preventing the billion metric tons of food wasted each year could reduce world hunger, minimize greenhouse gasses, and prevent habitat and biodiversity loss across the globe. In this challenge, you are asked to design solutions that reduce food waste with an eye towards promoting sustainability, equity, and responsible consumption."},{"id":29277,"link":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/learning\/high-school-research-programs\/innovation-challenge\/marine-biodiversity\/","name":"marine-biodiversity","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/marine-biodiversity-innovation-challenge-1024x682.jpg","alt":"An underwater shot."},"title":"Marine Biodiversity","author":{"name":"The New York Academy of Sciences","link":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/author\/klam\/"},"date":"Sep 4, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-09-04 18:53:45","modifiedDate":"2026-01-13 20:22:26","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-13 20:22:26","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"","space":""},"taxonomies":{"feature":"","ic-stage":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/ic-stage\/challenge-is-complete-resources-are-available\/' rel='ic-stage'>Challenge is Complete; Resources are Available<\/a>","program-category":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/innovation-challenge\/' rel='program-category'>Innovation Challenge<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/junior-academy\/' rel='program-category'>Junior Academy<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/learning\/' rel='program-category'>Learning<\/a>","scientific-theme":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/scientific-theme\/health-disease\/' rel='scientific-theme'>Health & Disease<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/scientific-theme\/sustainable-planet\/' rel='scientific-theme'>Sustainable Planet<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":2,"sec":22},"status":"publish","excerpt":"Offshore wind farms can offer a renewable energy source, but there are also some environmental drawbacks. The construction and presence of wind turbines can disrupt marine life behavior and more. Design and plan offshore wind farms with the least negative impact on marine life that support and even increase biodiversity."},{"id":29273,"link":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/learning\/high-school-research-programs\/innovation-challenge\/energy-infrastructure-solar-power\/","name":"energy-infrastructure-solar-power","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/energy-infrastructure-innovation-challenge-1024x673.jpg","alt":"Solar panels."},"title":"Energy Infrastructure: Solar Power","author":{"name":"The New York Academy of Sciences","link":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/author\/klam\/"},"date":"Sep 4, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-09-04 18:52:52","modifiedDate":"2026-01-13 20:17:36","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-13 20:17:36","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"","space":""},"taxonomies":{"feature":"","ic-stage":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/ic-stage\/challenge-is-complete-resources-are-available\/' rel='ic-stage'>Challenge is Complete; Resources are Available<\/a>","program-category":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/innovation-challenge\/' rel='program-category'>Innovation Challenge<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/junior-academy\/' rel='program-category'>Junior Academy<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/learning\/' rel='program-category'>Learning<\/a>","scientific-theme":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/scientific-theme\/health-disease\/' rel='scientific-theme'>Health & Disease<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/scientific-theme\/sustainable-planet\/' rel='scientific-theme'>Sustainable Planet<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":2,"sec":46},"status":"publish","excerpt":"In an increasingly electrified world, shifting from fossil fuel dependence to renewable energy is necessary to sustainably meet the growing demand. Making this transition will require 2 areas of innovation. What innovative solution could you design to make the shift from traditional energy sources to renewable solar energy a reality?"},{"id":23526,"link":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/learning\/high-school-research-programs\/innovation-challenge\/living-in-the-extremes\/","name":"living-in-the-extremes","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/ja-living-in-the-extremes-1024x683.jpg","alt":"A woman hiking, looking at a series of structures that appear to be from an old civilization."},"title":"Living in the Extremes","author":{"name":"The New York Academy of Sciences","link":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/author\/klam\/"},"date":"Feb 13, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-02-13 18:40:09","modifiedDate":"2025-09-03 20:36:39","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-09-03 20:36:39","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"","space":""},"taxonomies":{"feature":"","ic-stage":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/ic-stage\/challenge-is-complete-resources-are-available\/' rel='ic-stage'>Challenge is Complete; Resources are Available<\/a>","program-category":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/innovation-challenge\/' rel='program-category'>Innovation Challenge<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/junior-academy\/' rel='program-category'>Junior Academy<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/learning\/' rel='program-category'>Learning<\/a>","scientific-theme":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/scientific-theme\/sustainable-planet\/' rel='scientific-theme'>Sustainable Planet<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":2,"sec":13},"status":"publish","excerpt":"Our world is constantly changing; with the rise of severe natural disasters mainly due to climate change and our growing world population, we must explore ways to live in more extreme environments. In this challenge, you will focus on one \u201cextreme environment\u201d and propose a comprehensive solution to sustain life there."},{"id":23521,"link":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/learning\/high-school-research-programs\/innovation-challenge\/air-quality-health\/","name":"air-quality-health","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/ja-air-quality-health-1024x536.jpg","alt":"A woman wearing a facemask looks out from her balcony to a hazy, air polluted city skyline."},"title":"Air Quality & Health","author":{"name":"The New York Academy of Sciences","link":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/author\/klam\/"},"date":"Feb 13, 2025","dateGMT":"2025-02-13 17:40:37","modifiedDate":"2025-09-04 16:19:59","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-09-04 16:19:59","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"","space":""},"taxonomies":{"feature":"","ic-stage":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/ic-stage\/challenge-is-complete-resources-are-available\/' rel='ic-stage'>Challenge is Complete; Resources are Available<\/a>","program-category":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/innovation-challenge\/' rel='program-category'>Innovation Challenge<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/junior-academy\/' rel='program-category'>Junior Academy<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/learning\/' rel='program-category'>Learning<\/a>","scientific-theme":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/scientific-theme\/health-disease\/' rel='scientific-theme'>Health & Disease<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/scientific-theme\/sustainable-planet\/' rel='scientific-theme'>Sustainable Planet<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":2,"sec":51},"status":"publish","excerpt":"Air quality has been a known health issue to people and cultures around the world for hundreds of years. Today air pollution is believed to account for 7 million deaths annually, most of which are the result of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Design a technical solution to address a key source of pollution."},{"id":18867,"link":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/learning\/high-school-research-programs\/innovation-challenge\/ethical-ai\/","name":"ethical-ai","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/2024-Fall-Innovation-Challenge-Ethical-AI-1024x683.jpg","alt":""},"title":"Ethical AI","author":{"name":"The New York Academy of Sciences","link":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/author\/klam\/"},"date":"Sep 20, 2024","dateGMT":"2024-09-20 19:29:39","modifiedDate":"2025-09-03 20:43:18","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-09-03 20:43:18","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"","space":""},"taxonomies":{"feature":"","ic-stage":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/ic-stage\/challenge-is-complete-resources-are-available\/' rel='ic-stage'>Challenge is Complete; Resources are Available<\/a>","program-category":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/innovation-challenge\/' rel='program-category'>Innovation Challenge<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/junior-academy\/' rel='program-category'>Junior Academy<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/learning\/' rel='program-category'>Learning<\/a>","scientific-theme":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/scientific-theme\/science-in-society\/' rel='scientific-theme'>Science in Society<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":2,"sec":24},"status":"publish","excerpt":"AI is changing the landscape of the world as we know it. How can we maximize the benefits of AI while also implementing useful boundaries to minimize the disadvantages and dangers? In this challenge, you will develop a solution to address one specific issue that AI poses."},{"id":18873,"link":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/learning\/high-school-research-programs\/innovation-challenge\/upcycling-and-waste-management\/","name":"upcycling-and-waste-management","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/2024-Fall-Innovation-Challenge-Ethical-Upcycling-and-Waste-Management-1024x683.jpg","alt":"Sculpture made of glass bottles"},"title":"Upcycling and Waste Management","author":{"name":"The New York Academy of Sciences","link":"https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/author\/klam\/"},"date":"Sep 20, 2024","dateGMT":"2024-09-20 19:28:40","modifiedDate":"2025-09-03 20:44:13","modifiedDateGMT":"2025-09-03 20:44:13","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"","space":""},"taxonomies":{"feature":"","ic-stage":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/ic-stage\/challenge-is-complete-resources-are-available\/' rel='ic-stage'>Challenge is Complete; Resources are Available<\/a>","program-category":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/innovation-challenge\/' rel='program-category'>Innovation Challenge<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/junior-academy\/' rel='program-category'>Junior Academy<\/a><a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/program-category\/learning\/' rel='program-category'>Learning<\/a>","scientific-theme":"<a href='https:\/\/www.nyas.org\/scientific-theme\/sustainable-planet\/' rel='scientific-theme'>Sustainable Planet<\/a>"},"readTime":{"min":2,"sec":46},"status":"publish","excerpt":"In this challenge, you will be designing a comprehensive solution to waste management at a scale that makes a measurable impact. We will explore how we can make small and large changes that lead us all to a more mindful and resourceful future."}]