November 3, 2022 – Thermo Fisher Scientific and Society for Science announced the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, the nation’s premier middle school science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competition. The Society named Thermo Fisher as the new title sponsor of the organization’s middle school STEM competition in August.
Nearly 300 school, state and regional middle school science fairs across the country have affiliated with the Society’s science fair network and will be nominating students to compete in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge. Sixth, seventh and eighth grade students who place in the top 10% of their science fairs are eligible to compete in the Junior Innovators Challenge, previously known as the Broadcom MASTERS. Finalists will have the opportunity to showcase their projects in Washington, D.C., compete in teams, visit historical sites and organizations that celebrate innovation, and vie for more than $100,000 in awards, including a top prize of $25,000.
The Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge builds on the company’s longstanding commitment to widespread and equitable access to STEM education through skills-based colleague engagement and a focus on outreach and equity programs—ensuring that students served, teachers reached and nominees converted to national competitors are more representative of the U.S. population.
The announcement of the Junior Innovators Challenge aligns with Thermo Fisher’s annual STEM Education Month campaign, which runs throughout November. More than 125,000 global colleagues are encouraged to volunteer their time to explore STEM education, engage with their local communities and inspire young learners to pursue STEM.