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Judge Recruitment

NCSAS: Connecting Professionals with Students

2025  District Competition Dates Vary.  State Event will be split this year.   Judges are needed at either event.

  • District 1-4 (Triangle and east) in Durham, NC March 28;

  • District 5-8 (Triad and West) in Morganton, NC April 25. ​

North Carolina Student Academy of Science goal is to bring STEM professionals and researchers together with students.  As a judge, you'll read their research paper in advance, watch them present their research, ask questions, and complete a judging rubric.  After presentations, judges get to eat dinner with the students.

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Who can judge?  We welcome those with a bachelors degree that work in a STEM field and/or are familiar or have past familiarity with academic or industry research in STEM. For example, graduate students, educators teaching advanced STEM topics, professionals that use and apply STEM, or anyone who had advanced training/education in a STEM topic.  Part of the role of a judge is having dinner with students to share your pathways or current career in STEM.

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These categories of research are judged at NCSAS: Behavioral Science || Biological Science || Biotechnology || Chemistry || Computer Science || Earth/Space Science || Environmental Science  || Mathematics || Physical Science/Physics || Technology/Engineering

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About Us.    NC Student Academy of Science is affiliated with the NC Academy of Science, National Associations of Academies of Science and AAAS.  High School first place winners attend the American Junior Academy of Science at AAAS the following year.  NCSSM has served as the sponsoring organizer and fiscal agent for the NC Student Academy of Science for decades.

State Judging Process

At the State Event, students are divided by age category (middle and high school) and by topic.  Ideally we will place you in a classroom overlapping with your expertise, but NCSAS judging focuses on science communication (and explaining their methodology clearly)---and we may need you to judge another category.


Judges will receive the student papers about 5-7 days ahead of the event; judges will need to read each paper (typically 5-15 pages double spaced, depending on student) before the event.  On judging day, we will train judges on our scoring rubric and answer any questions.

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Students are judged into 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place categories.  High school first place winners do not receive a cash prize, but instead are invited to attend, with support of NCSSM, the NC Science, Math, and Technology Center, and Burroughs Wellcome Fund, to attend the National American Junior Academy of Science meeting held jointly with the AAAS professional conference. 

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If you have judged for a Science and Engineering Fair, this differs in students do not create a poster, and instead write a paper and present in a classroom or conference room.  Students have more opportunity to interact with judges informally. 

 

Note: NCSAS is separate from the North Carolina Science and Engineering Fair judging---their state competition is held the following day.

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Regional Judging

Regional judging is similar but may not include informal time to meet presenters.  If you want to judge regionally, look at our regional events and contact the region director.

State Judging Timeline

Durham Event.  January-March 12 2025.  Judge recruitment.  Judges confirm via registration system

Morganton Event. January-April 10 2025.  Judge Recruitment. Judges confirm via registration system

Week Before Event.  Judge Training sessions (required of new judges)  .

March 18, 2025.  Judge update and tentative placement for Durham Event

April 15, 2025.  Judge update and tentative placement for Morganton Event

 Those that completed optional judge training or judged last year can arrive before  4 p.m.  We welcome judges to stay for the ceremony 8-8:30  PM to congratulate the winners.

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Volunteer to Judge / Judge Support

Past judges can re-register.  New judges click the button below THEN click registration and select the judge role.

  • NCSAS can provide a letter to recognize your service.

  • For our Durham campus, we will ask if you need transportation support for graduate students without transportation.  We have helped to arrange carpooling or reimburse rideshares. 

 

Parking is free at both campuses

NCSSM Campus Location

The state NC Student Academy of Science event is held at two locations on two different dates in 2025.

  • March 28, 2025 for students in Triangle and east at NCSSM Durham

  • April 25, 2025 for students in Triad and west at NCSSM Morganton

Directions to either campus

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