Competitions & Awards

NSTA Competitions and Awards brings science to life with programs and awards which empower teachers and inspire K–12 students. In partnership with Army STEM, Shell, and Toshiba, NSTA offers hands-on competitions, engaging learning experiences, educator recognition, and professional development that sparks curiosity, fuels creativity, and nurtures a lasting love of discovery.

Competitions for Teachers

Shell Science Lab

The Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge encourages science teachers (grades K-12) in select communities located throughout the United States who have found innovative ways to deliver quality lab experiences utilizing limited school and laboratory resources to apply for a chance to win up to $330,000 in prizes, including school science lab makeover support packages valued at $15,000 for elementary level and $20,000 for middle and high school levels.

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Shell

eCYBERMISSION Teacher

eCYBERMISSION is a free, virtual STEM competition for grades 6-9. Students form teams of 2-4, led by an adult Team Advisor, and select a community problem to investigate with science or solve with engineering. Team Advisors can be teachers, parents, after-school program leaders, or something else. eCYBERMISSION provides free STEM resources like lesson plans and activity sheets, STEM mentorship via our Mission Mentors, and a Mini-Grant for teachers who implement the program in their classrooms and schools.

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GEMS Teacher

GEMS logo

Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science (GEMS) is a free, weeklong, summer STEM program for rising 5th-12th graders that takes place in U.S. Army research laboratories and engineering centers. Paid staff positions are available for Near-Peer Mentors (college and high school students 16 and up) and Teachers.

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Competitions for Students

eCYBERMISSION is a free, virtual STEM competition for grades 6-9. Students form teams of 2-4, led by an adult Team Advisor, and select a community problem to investigate with science or solve with engineering. With eCYBERMISSION, students discover how they can have an impact on their community and what STEM is like in the real world while competing for prizes at the state, regional, and national level.

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The Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision science competition for K–12 students, engages the next generation in real world problem solving with a strong emphasis on STEM. ExploraVision challenges students to envision and communicate a new technology 10 or more years in the future through collaborative brainstorming and research of current science and technology. Beyond engaging your students in problem solving, team-based learning, critical thinking, and communication skills, ExploraVision aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards.

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ExploraVision

GEMS logo

GEMS is a free, weeklong, summer STEM program for rising 5th-12th graders that takes place in U.S. Army research laboratories and engineering centers. Students experience STEM in a hands-on, lab-based environment - no textbooks required! Plus, students who complete the weeklong program receive a stipend.

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Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) is a free 9-12 grade STEM research competition sponsored by the Department of War (U.S. Office of the Secretary of War and the U.S. Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force). At JSHS, students submit their individual, original STEM research to compete for over $400,000 in scholarships and cash awards.

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Awards

Angela Award Honors a female student in grades 5–8 with a strong connection to science.
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Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award for New Teachers Provides teachers in their first five years of teaching with funds to attend the annual National Conference on Science Education.
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Robert E. Yager Exemplary Teaching Award Recognizes teachers who successfully use innovation and excellence in their classroom.
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Shell Science Teaching Award Recognizes a teacher who has had a positive impact through exemplary classroom science teaching.
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Shell Urban Science Educators Development Award Awards seven educators in pursuit of professional development and serves to increase the science educator talent pool in STEM teaching.
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Sylvia Shugrue Award for Elementary School Teachers Honors an elementary school teacher who has established an interdisciplinary, inquiry-based lesson plan.
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