Youth STEM Journal Club

Free · Online · Grades 6–9 · Sign up by June 12

Read real science.
Together.

The Youth STEM Journal Club is a free, online summer program for rising 6th–9th graders that turns video‑game time into productive STEM discovery. With no homework or grades, learn to dissect real research papers through hands‑on exploration with experienced Mission San Jose mentors.

Sign up for Summer 2026 Watch the intro video
  • 0subjects
  • 0scholars
  • 0papers analyzed
  • 0weeks

Check out the video to learn more.

  • Builds critical thinking & research skills
  • Prepares students for high school STEM
  • Small groups, flexible scheduling
  • 100% free — no fees, ever

Starting

Summer 2026

Format, dates, and what to expect from the four-week online cohort.

Read program details

The Archive

The 2025 Journal

Volume 1 — six literature reviews written by last year's cohort scholars.

Open the journal

The Team

Meet the mentors

The high school students who lead each cohort.

Meet the team

How it works

Four-week rhythm.

Two 1-hour Zoom sessions per week. Mentors lead. Students read, discuss, and present.

  1. Day 1 — Introduction to research literature

    Anatomy of a research paper. Types of research. Breakout rooms by subject to meet your mentor.

  2. Day 2 — Your first paper

    Mentors introduce your cohort's first paper and walk you into the methods. Guided reading begins.

Source: YSJC 2026 Program Outline (PDF)

Subjects

Six fields. One way of thinking.

Each cohort is small, mentor-led, and built around real research papers in its field.

Computer Science & AI Mathematics Biology Chemistry Psychology Physics

See all subjects

Last summer

Photos from Showcase Day.

Newark Library Community Room — July 26, 2025.

YSJC 2025 cohort — students, mentors, and parents at Showcase Day, Newark Library.
Wide view of the Newark Library Community Room — families seated, CS cohort presenting Attention Is All You Need.
Families seated in the Community Room's glass atrium, sunlight streaming in.
Biology cohort presenting their analysis of biological resilience to the audience.
Chemistry cohort presenting their methodology slide on heavy metals in green tea.
Computer Science cohort presenting Attention Is All You Need with the audience looking on.
Psychology cohort presenting their analysis of Milgram's Obedience Study.
Presenters at the 'Thank you' slide closing their final presentation.

100% free · Sign up by June 12

Registration is open.

Spots run out quickly. Sign up now to claim your place in the Summer 2026 cohort — we'll follow up with the parent meeting Zoom link for the weekend of June 13–14.

Sign up now See what you're signing up for

tinyurl.com/ysjc2026 · Questions? Email ysjcteam@gmail.com