This fall, five BASIS Charter School students from Arizona and Texas earned national recognition in the 2025 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (JIC), the nation’s premier STEM competition for middle school students.
Out of nearly 1,900 projects submitted nationwide, our students were selected among the Top 300 Junior Innovators. This honor highlights our students’ ability to solve real-world problems using principles of science and engineering.
Congratulations to our Junior Innovators!
A tradition of innovation
Run by the Society for Science, the Thermo Fisher JIC is a renowned academic competition for students in 6th grade, 7th grade, and 8th grade. Founded as Science Service in 1921, the Society for Science has been dedicated to expanding scientific literacy and access to STEM education for more than 100 years.
To enter the competition, students must first compete in a science fair affiliated with the Society. Students who place within the top 10% of their local science fair can move on to the prestigious Thermo Fisher JIC.
The Thermo Fisher JIC inspires students to take on complex challenges in science, technology, engineering, and math. From tackling sustainability challenges to improving health outcomes, the projects submitted to the Thermo Fisher JIC explore solutions for some of the most pressing issues facing our world today.
Meet Our Junior Innovators
We are proud to celebrate the accomplishments of these five young scientists:
Katelyn A. – 8th grade, BASIS San Antonio Shavano
Fair: Texas Science and Engineering Fair (USTX50)
Project: Impact of Phaseolus vulgaris (Red Silk Bean) Seed Priming on Drought Tolerance
Sharon A. – 8th grade, BASIS Pflugerville
Fair: Greater Austin Regional Science and Engineering Fair (USTX13)
Project: Investigating Genetic Mutations in Glioblastoma Multiforme: Understanding Tumor Progression and Identifying Targets for Effective Therapies
Akshay L. – 7th grade, BASIS Scottsdale
Fair: Arizona Science and Engineering Fair (USAZ50)
Project: Exploring the Interplay Between Earth’s Magnetic Field, Solar Activity, Climate Variability, and Human Settlements (1750–2024)
Arin P. – 7th grade, BASIS Cedar Park
Fair: Greater Austin Regional Science and Engineering Fair (USTX13)
Project: Unmuddle the Water — Water Temperature and Chitosan Performance!
Nishka R. – 6th grade, BASIS San Antonio Shavano
Fair: Alamo Regional Science and Engineering Fair (USTX11)
Project: Can We Predict Immunotherapy Outcomes in Cancer Patients? Exploring Gene Signatures
Curiosity, hard work, and creativity
These students represent the creativity, rigor, and innovation fostered by the BASIS Charter Schools academic program.
“At BASIS Charter Schools, we believe that every child has the potential to make meaningful contributions to the world through curiosity, hard work, and creativity,” said Tyler Garvey, head of school at BASIS Scottsdale. “Being recognized as Top 300 Junior Innovators is a reflection not only of our students’ brilliance, but also of the families, teachers, and communities who support them each day. These honors underscore the power of a strong school community working together to inspire the next generation of problem solvers and innovators.”
All Top 300 honorees receive a $125 award from DoD STEM, as well as a prize package that includes STEM tools, resources, and a subscription to Wolfram Mathematica software.
We couldn’t be prouder of our Junior Innovators, and we look forward to following their journeys as they continue to ask bold questions and create innovative solutions in high school and beyond.
To learn more about how BASIS Charter Schools inspire students through advanced STEM education, explore our Curriculum page. To see our classrooms in action, take a school tour of your local campus. We have over 40 tuition-free charter schools located across Arizona, Louisiana, Texas, and Washington, D.C.
