You have to DREAM BIG – that’s the motto of Weronika Woińska, our Year 12 student, who has just been accepted to The Junior Academy of The New York Academy of Sciences!

Weronika is one of the new members of this year’s edition of the Academy chosen out of 17000 applicants from around the world. The Junior Academy is an elite group of problem solvers made up of talented students, STEM experts, and companies around the world dedicated to designing innovative solutions to global challenges.

“I strongly believe that this programme will teach me valuable skills, such as creative process, critical thinking, teamwork, and project design. Moreover, it could give me a chance to meet amazing people from all around the world connected by their common passions and understanding of each other. I would also love to create solutions for real-life problems, which truly matter and can help other people. Furthermore, in last years I have gained knowledge from areas such as personal development, motivation, and design thinking. This programme could be a chance for me to practice my knowledge and share it with my group and NYAoS community.” – Weronika wrote in her Junior Academy’s application.

Young members of The Junior Academy develop advanced research, innovation, and collaboration skills with best-in-class learning resources and leverage these skills to compete in 70-day challenges sponsored by industry-leading companies.

The topics of the challenge range from Nutrition, Agriculture, and Food Systems, and Education, through Sustainability and Climate Change, to Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, and Security and Resilience.

Each summer, Junior Academy participants will gather at the New York Academy of Sciences in New York City for the annual Global STEM Alliance Summit. Challenge winners will receive all-expense-paid trips to attend the Summit, as well as prizes and special recognition at the event. The two-day Summit will include a variety of New York City cultural experiences, as well as opportunities to build useful connections with STEM mentors and professionals.