Duquesne Campus Again to Host Regional Science Competition
More than 800 middle and high school students will gather on campus on Saturday, Feb. 7, to present results of their science projects as part of the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) Competition.
The 7th- through 12th– graders, coming from nearly 80 private and public schools in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, will share presentations of their scientific studies in the PJAS Region 7 competition, being held for a second consecutive year at Duquesne.
“This competition brings together a natural partnership between PJAS, which is working with some of the region’s brightest young science students, and the University,” said Dr. Philip Reeder, dean of the Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences. “Together, we are working to strengthen the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) capabilities of our region and making sure students are aware of opportunities to develop in this critically important and rewarding field.”
Sarah Richards, a Bayer Scholar and senior chemistry major at Duquesne, has made the transition from former science competition contestant to judge.
“Being part of a science competition from such an early age showed me what it was like to do individual research,” said Richards, one of the many Duquesne student volunteers. “Encouraging younger students to participate is so important because we hope that we can inspire younger students in the way that we were inspired.”
Opportunities such as PJAS help to grow a pipeline for STEM fields that carries through to higher education, industry and academia. “Just by the sheer fact of having a diverse set of stakeholders from the Pittsburgh region—not just K-12, but higher education and industry, large and small—raises the visibility of Pittsburgh’s growth and commitment in STEM education and business development,” said event coordinator Dr. Jeff Evanseck, who is a professor of chemistry and biochemistry and the John V. Crable Chair of Undergraduate Research at Duquesne.
“The PJAS science competition aligns perfectly with our initiatives to advance STEM education through a strong business-academia partnership,” added Karl Haider, research fellow at Bayer MaterialScience LLC. “This event reflects a deeper commitment to building a robust STEM-educated workforce, which is critical to driving innovation that extends beyond the Pittsburgh community.”
Students have been preparing for this big moment since the beginning of the school year, some since the summer, according to Susan Morgan, director of PJAS Region 7.
“We’re seeing a renewed interest in the PJAS experience,” Morgan said. “This year, five new schools have joined the PJAS science competition, and about 50 more students are participating than last year. Pittsburgh has always been in the forefront of innovative science and technology. This science explosion proves our area will remain in the lead.”