| Event Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026 Applications due Monday, 12/15, 11:59 PM |
| Our apologies if this is a duplicate notification: we’re working from several lists to get the word out! CT AHEC/UConn Health in Farmington will host the Connecticut High School Science and Humanities Symposium (CT HSSHS) on Saturday, February 28, 2026. You can read more about it at h.uconn.edu/ct-hsshs. There is no attendance fee. For many years, Connecticut has hosted a regional event as part of the national Junior Science and Humanities Symposia (JSHS) program. This year, federal funding for that national program has been suspended. CT AHEC/UConn Health will instead host its own statewide symposium for high school students. It will be nearly identical to the CT JSHS of years past, except the winners will not go on to compete at the national level. CT HSSHS is designed to challenge and engage students (grades 9-12) in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM). Individual students compete for scholarship and cash awards and recognition by presenting the results of their original research efforts before a panel of judges and an audience of their peers. At CT HSSHS, CT students compete, exhibit, or simply “observe” the day’s activities. The tentative schedule is as follows: * On Saturday, February 28, the symposium will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at UConn Health in Farmington. * The welcome and keynote address will be followed by three simultaneous tracks involving oral presentation sessions, competitive poster sessions, and a humanities activity. The day concludes with an awards ceremony. * Participants will be provided with a grab-and-go lunch upon dismissal. * The virtual oral and poster competitions will take place on Saturday, February 21 (invitation only). * The virtual STEM poster exhibition (non-competitive) will be held during the week in advance, February 23 through 27. Attending as an “observer” (non-presenter) is an excellent way to strategize for a future application as a competitor, or to experience a fun and enriching day with peers from around the state. Each school can select up to 10 students to register/apply online by December 15, 2025, to attend as presenters or non-presenters. Students under age 18 must be accompanied by a registered chaperone (for one or a group of up to 10) on the day of the symposium. If a school staff member is not available, a parent/guardian can serve as a chaperone.Home-schooled students and Connecticut residents who attend online schools are also welcome. HOW DO STUDENTS AND CHAPERONES REGISTER TO ATTEND? If you are applying to present your research, review and/or download, as needed, the guidance documents and timeline at h.uconn.edu/ct-hsshs. Click here to start the registration process. Student Registration: You may attend as a presenter or an observer (non-presenter): –If you are applying to present, select the participant role “Student Presenter (submitting application to compete)” when you register. –If you are NOT applying to present, select the participant role “Student Non-Presenter (NOT submitting application to compete)”. Those applying to present their research must submit all completed application components by the December 15, 2025, 11:59 PM deadline. Please refer to the application checklist here. The registration system will allow you to save your application/registration until all fields are completed; to do this, Jotform will require you to set up a (free) login (if you don’t have one already). The parent/guardian and chaperone email addresses will be used to obtain permission and school delegation coordination, respectively. You should not wait until the deadline to register in case you experience difficulties with the Jotform (which is new this year). This is a competitive process. Applicants will be informed by January 20, 2026, if they have been selected as a presenter. Teacher Registration (chaperone or other): -If you will be chaperoning students (whether or not you are their mentor), select the participant role “School Chaperone (teacher or other staff member)”. -If you will not be chaperoning students, and you are a participant mentor, select the participant role “Mentor, Non-chaperone (teacher or other)”. -If you will not be chaperoning students, and are not a participant mentor, select the participant role “STEM Professional/Volunteer”. Program Coordinator Registration (chaperone): -Program coordinators (e.g., after-school programs) are welcome to attend as a chaperone with their delegation. -Select the participant role “School Chaperone (teacher or other staff member)”. Parent/Guardian Registration (chaperone as needed): -If a student’s school is not able to provide a chaperone for the school’s delegation, a parent/guardian can be a chaperone. -Select the participant role “Parent/guardian Chaperone (teacher or other staff member is not available to chaperone your student)”. Questions? Contact Ellen at ravensseger@uchc.edu or Dr. Knight at ctjshs.knight@gmail.com. |
