After months of anticipation and preparation, the American Junior Academy of Science (AJAS) 2025 conference had officially begun. This wasn’t just another science fair—this was an event that brought together 162 of the top high school researchers from across the country, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the professional world of science.
For four days, we attended AAAS sessions, toured some of the top research institutions in Boston (MIT, Harvard, Northeastern, BU, and the New England Aquarium), participated in scientific discussions, and presented our research at the AJAS poster session in the AAAS Exhibit Hall. It was the kind of experience where every moment was packed with learning, networking, and being surrounded by people who shared the same curiosity and drive for research.
In this post, I’ll take you through my experience at AJAS—from the moment I arrived in Boston after a long drive, to the research roundtable discussions, the MIT tour, the AAAS plenary sessions, and everything in between.
Arriving in Boston & AJAS Registration
I drove to Boston instead of flying, which meant a 4.5-hour drive to Cambridge. I arrived around 5:20 PM on February 12th, just in time to check into my hotel and settle in before the conference fully started. While most AJAS delegates stayed at The Kendall Hotel, I had to book a different place since the Kendall filled up quickly and, honestly, I found a cheaper hotel option nearby.
The Kendall Hotel is the official AJAS accommodation because it’s right next to MIT and close to the Hynes Convention Center, where most of the AAAS sessions were happening. AJAS also offered a discounted rate for delegates staying there, which was helpful for those who managed to book it in time.
After checking in, I went straight to registration at The Kendall Hotel lobby, where we picked up our AJAS badges, conference materials, and a 7-day unlimited subway pass (which was honestly a lifesaver since we traveled all over Cambridge and Boston for the next few days).
The MIT Tour – My Favorite Part of AJAS
The next morning, I went on the MIT lab tours—which, without a doubt, was one of the best parts of the entire conference.
Since there were multiple tours happening at once (Harvard, Northeastern, BU, the New England Aquarium, and MIT), we all had assigned times for breakfast at The Kendall Hotel before heading out. My breakfast time was 8:50 AM - 9:20 AM, and after meeting with my tour group, we walked to MIT's Brain and Cognitive Sciences Building, where our tour began.
The only downside? It was raining. Walking around MIT’s campus in the rain was not exactly fun, but it was still incredible to see the different research facilities up close.
Visiting MIT’s Biomedical Labs
The tour included visits to several MIT research labs, focusing on biomedical engineering, artificial intelligence, and prosthetics. My personal favorite was the prosthetics lab, where we got to see real-world designs for advanced prosthetic limbs—not just in development, but actually being implemented for people to use. It was surreal to see the work being done here and how engineering was actively changing lives.
I also really enjoyed the MIT Media Lab, which had all kinds of interdisciplinary research projects that combined technology, art, and design. One of the exhibits we saw showcased wearable AI technology designed to help people with disabilities interact with their environments more easily.
Exploring the MIT Museum
After the lab tours, we got to visit the MIT Museum, which was another highlight. The museum is filled with exhibits showcasing MIT’s most groundbreaking discoveries in robotics, AI, nanotechnology, and physics. One of the coolest things I saw was a kinetic sculpture that responded to sound and movement, as well as historical artifacts from MIT’s long history of scientific innovation.
AAAS Sessions & The Plenary Address
After the MIT tour, we went straight to the Hynes Convention Center for the AAAS sessions, which were happening all day. Being at the actual AAAS Annual Meeting was completely different from just knowing about it—it was overwhelming in the best way possible.
The AAAS plenary session was one of the most important events of the day. We had to arrive by 4:30 PM sharp, and AJAS students had designated seating right at the front of the hall. The entire session was packed with professionals, researchers, and industry leaders, and it felt surreal to be sitting among them.
Welcome Reception & The Mashed Potatoes Buffet
After the plenary session, we attended the AAAS Welcome Reception, which was a networking event held in Exhibit Hall D. The reception was set up with booths from universities, research companies, and science organizations—some of which included Tsinghua University, biotech startups, and national science societies.
But the most memorable part? The mashed potatoes.
For some reason, the catering included different types of mashed potatoes, and it was surprisingly a big hit. Imagine walking around, talking to professionals from major research institutions, all while carrying a plate of mashed potatoes in various flavors. It was oddly comforting.
Breakfast with Scientists – Meeting Nobel Laureates
The next morning, we had the Breakfast with Scientists event at MIT’s Schwarzman College of Computing. This was probably one of the most meaningful networking experiences of the conference because it wasn’t just a typical seminar—we actually sat down and had real conversations with top scientists.
Each table had around six student delegates and two professional scientists, and in the middle of the event, the scientists switched tables. Some of the scientists present included Dr. Phil Sharp (Nobel Laureate in RNA Biology), Dr. Robert Weinberg (MIT, Cancer Biology), and Dr. Pawan Sinha (MIT, Computer Vision).
I personally got to meet Dr. Sabine Mulepati from Intellia Therapeutics (Gene Editing) and Dr. Heather Keyes from the Whitehead Institute (CRISPR Screen Director), which was an incredible opportunity to ask questions about their work in genetic engineering and biotechnology.
Sigma Xi Presentation & The Formal Honors Banquet at Harvard
After Breakfast with Scientists, we had the Sigma Xi Presentation, which was focused on introducing us to Sigma Xi. Since I was an ISEF finalist, I had already long known about Sigma Xi and received a membership invitation, but hearing from them again was pretty insightful.
That evening, we attended the Formal Honors Banquet at Harvard University’s Northwest Building. The event included:
A panel discussion on AI in college classrooms
Keynote speech from Dr. Jeff W. Lichtman, Dean of Science at Harvard
Dr. Lichtman’s talk was one of the most engaging keynotes I’ve ever heard—he discussed neuroscience, brain mapping, and memory, but what made it stand out was how funny and charismatic he was.
Since New Jersey had the largest delegation, we were the last to take our group photo, which meant a lot of standing around after dinner.
AJAS Research Roundtable – An ISEF Reunion
The next morning, we had the AJAS Research Roundtable at MIT, where we sat in groups of eight students and discussed our research.
Interestingly, four of the people at my table were also ISEF finalists, so it felt like a mini ISEF reunion. We talked about our research challenges, findings, and future directions, and it was fascinating to hear about everyone’s work in fields ranging from bioinformatics and AI to environmental engineering and neuroscience.
AJAS Poster Session & Wrapping Up
A little after the roundtable, we went to the Hynes Convention Center for the AJAS Poster Session. I was scheduled in Poster Session A (12:30 - 1:00 PM), so I presented early.
Since I had to drive back home, I left right after my presentation, missing the last few events, but I heard they were incredible:
AAAS Closing Plenary Reception
AAAS Museum of Science Night
Final Thoughts
The AJAS experience was unforgettable. From MIT tours to the research discussions and presenting at the AAAS Exhibit Hall, this wasn’t just another science conference—it was a look into the future of scientific research.
Next up: Part 3: Reflections—my biggest takeaways from AJAS. Stay tuned!
About the Author:
I'm Jophy Lin, a high school junior and researcher. I blog about a variety of topics, such as STEM research, competitions, shows, and my experiences in the scientific community. If you’re interested in research tips, competition insights, drama reviews, personal reflections on STEM opportunities, and other related topics, subscribe to my newsletter to stay updated!
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