Nebraska Junior Academy of Sciences (Njas)

NEBRASKA JUNIOR ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (NJAS)

MISSION

The Board of the Nebraska Junior Academy of Sciences strongly believes that Science as Inquiry is an integral part of science education and that students doing experimental research exemplifies what is intended by both the State and national Science Standards. To that end the Nebraska Junior Academy of Sciences provides support for students to problem solve, plan and conduct research investigations, and use appropriate tools to gather and analyze data. The Regional Science Fairs of the Junior Academy provide a general audience of peers, interested adults, and working scientists for the students to communicate the results of their investigations. in addition, the Academy offers opportunities for students to present their research findings at the State and National levels.

LEVELS OF STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

Local: To identify 6th-12th grade students for regional competition.

Regional: To identify the top five high school and top five middle school projects for state competition.

State: To identify the top five senior high school students for national presentation of research and to recognize the top middle school students.

National: To participate in:

Presentation of research
Interaction with peers
Interaction with internationally renowned scientists
Attend sessions at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) National Meeting

NJAS PRESIDENT

Must be involved in science education within Nebraska
Must be an Academy member in good standing
Member of the NJAS Board of Directors
Member of the NAS Executive Committee

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Have general charge of the affairs of NJAS, under the direction of the Board of Directors

2. Preside at all NJAS board and business meetings

3. Implement the policies and general activities of the Junior Academy as per the constitution

of the Academy

4. Represent the Junior Academy whenever possible at other state, regional, and national

meetings

5. Appoint the chairman and members of all committees

6. Carry out the directives on the Board of Directors

7. Vote on all matters of business along with other members of the Board of Directors

8. Chaperone or designate a chaperone for the NJAS students attending the AAAS/AJAS

National Meeting

9. May be authorized to sign checks for NJAS

10. May be authorized to sign legal documents for NJAS

11. Work with the advisor to adopt and follow a budget

12. Work with the secretary to keep an accurate record of the minutes, policies and actions of

the division

13. Maintain close contact with the president and executive director of NAS

14. Send notices of regular and special meeting of the Board of Directors

15. Maintain all files related to NJAS history

NJAS TREASURER

Must be an Academy member in good standing
Must be involved in science education in Nebraska
Member of the NJAS Board of Directors

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Keep an accurate record of the finances following the Nebraska Academy of Sciences

accounting procedure.

2. Provide a financial report at each meeting of the Board of Directors

3. Assist the president in keeping records of all dues paid by the membership and of all expenses

of the Junior Academy

4. Co-sign pay vouchers in excess of $50 with the president of NJAS before disbursement of

funds from the NAS office

NJAS SECRETARY

Must be involved in science education in Nebraska
Must be an Academy member in good standing
Member of the NJAS Board of Directors

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Keep an accurate record of the proceedings of the division and of the Board of Directors*

2. Maintain documents generated during joint strategic planning sessions (with NAS, NATS or

other division), special committee meetings, and other activities

3. Correspond with individuals as directed by the president and the board

*A copy of the minutes to be sent to the NAS office

NJAS REGIONAL DIRECTORS

Must be involved in science education in Nebraska
Must be Academy members in good standing
Member of the NJAS Board

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Conduct all business transactions of the NJAS. All business transactions must be approved

by two-thirds of the members present at a regularly scheduled board meeting

2. Select a president, a secretary, and a treasurer

3. Plan the overall program of the division

4. Establish policies for the division

5. Make recommendations regarding proposed amendments to the Bylaws

6. Promote, organize, and host the Regional Science Fairs

BYLAWS OF THE NEBRASKA JUNIOR ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

ARTICLE I

NAME

Section 1: The name shall be Nebraska Junior Academy of Sciences (identified as NJAS or Junior Academy).

Section 2. It is a division of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences (NAS).

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE

Section 1. The purpose of NJAS shall be to encourage and support student involvement in scientific pursuits at the 6th – 12th grade levels.

Section 2. NJAS shall not engage in any activity, which would be inconsistent with the status of an educational, charitable, and scientific organization as defined by Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or any successor provision thereto.

ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Students

Any student in grade levels 6th – 12th in the state of Nebraska interested in science may become a member by paying required annual dues.

Section 2. Adults

Teachers and other adults who are members of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences serve as directors of the Junior Academy. Only students may be members of the Junior Academy, but the adults are encouraged to join the Academy (NAS).

ARTICLE IV

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1: The Board of Directors shall consist of the president, two directors from each NJAS Region, and the advisor.

A. The directors shall include two adults from each NJAS Regional –one

representing the college or university hosting a Regional Science Fair and a

teacher whose students participate in the Regional Science Fair.

B. Each Science Fair Region is responsible for selecting two directors for the board.

C. New directors assume their duties at the time of their selection.

D. The advisor shall be an ex-officio member of the board and shall be the same as

the science consultant of the Nebraska Department of Education.

E. A secretary and a treasurer for the NJAS shall be selected by the Board of

Directors.

Section 2: Only adults directly involved in science education/research within the state of Nebraska and members of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences in good standing shall be eligible to be on the Board of Directors, or serve as chairperson of a standing committee.

Section 3: The president shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

Section 4: The meetings shall be open. The Board of Directors may meet in closed session to discuss personnel, negotiations, or litigations.

ARTICLE V

NJAS REGIONS

The Board of Directors shall define regions of the NJAS.

ARTICLE VI

STUDENT SCIENCE FAIR COMPETITIONS

Section 1: A Regional Science Fair Competition shall be held by each region. Each region shall be responsible for organizing and conducting the competition. The primary purpose of this competition shall be the presentation of student research papers. Students eligible to compete at the State Competition shall be identified at this competition.

Section 2: Regional registration fees shall be determined by each NJAS region.

Section 3: The Nebraska Junior Academy of Sciences State Competition shall be held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences. The primary purpose of this competition shall be the presentation of student research papers representing each of the Regionals. Students eligible to present their research at the AAAS/AJAS national meeting are identified at this competition.

ARTICLE VIII

STUDENT MEMBER DUES

Section 1: Annual dues for students in grade levels 6 – 12 shall be set by the Nebraska Junior Academy of Sciences Board of Directors.

Section 2: The treasurer of the Board of Directors shall submit the annual dues to the Nebraska Academy of Science office according to the Nebraska Academy of Sciences accounting procedure.

ARTICLE VIII

MEETINGS FOR ADULTS

There shall be an annual meeting for teachers and other adults interested in the Nebraska Junior Academy of Sciences. This meeting shall be held in conjunction with the NJAS state competition. Additional meetings may be called at the discretion of the president or a majority of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IX

QUORUM

A majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum of the board.

ARTICLE X

FISCAL YEAR

The fiscal year will be from January 1 through December 31.

ARTICLE XI

PARLIAMENTAY AUTHORITY

In all questions of Parliamentary Law not covered by the Bylaws, Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall prevail.

ARTICLE XII

BYLAWS

Section 1: Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Bylaws must be consistent with the Constitution of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences.

ARTICLE XIII

DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION

In the event of termination or dissolution of the Nebraska Junior Academy of Sciences, the Board of Directors shall distribute the remaining assets of the division to one or more of the following: the Nebraska Academy of Sciences, or the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science, or any other organization devoted to the carrying on of K-12 scientific education through the investigation and dissemination of scientific knowledge and that are exempt from taxation under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue code of 1954 (or successor provision thereto).