Find your AEOP Pathway
Camp Invention®
A confidence-boosting STEM summer camp where kids build creative inventions and lasting friendships.
- Summer program
- Rising grades K-6
- FREE with AEOP scholarships
- Locations across the country
Junior Solar Sprint (JSS)
A competition where students design, build and race solar-powered cars using hands-on engineering skills and principles of science and math.
- School year competition
- Grades 5-8
- FREE of cost
- Locations across the country
Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science (GEMS)
A summer STEM enrichment program where students experience real-world, hands-on STEM activities at select U.S. Army Research Labs. GEMS also recruits Teachers and Near-Peer Mentors (college students) who receive a stipend for their assistance.
- Summer program
- Rising grades 5-12
- FREE of cost
- Locations across the country
eCYBERMISSION
A virtual STEM competition where students, in teams of 2-4, choose a problem in their community to investigate with science or solve with engineering, competing for Savings Bond prizes.
- School year competition
- Grades 6-9
- FREE of cost
- Virtual program; open to all 50 states, U.S. territories and DoDEA schools worldwide
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)
A DoD-sponsored STEM competition where students submit original research to their regional symposium and compete individually to win scholarships and a chance to advance and compete at the National JSHS.
- School year competition
- Grades 9-12
- FREE of cost
- All 50 states, U.S. territories and DoDEA schools in Europe and the Pacific
Unite
A summer STEM enrichment program held on university campuses where students will learn about STEM careers, collaborate and solve problems as a team, and participate in STEM-related, hands-on and project-based activities.
- Summer program
- Rising grades 9-12
- FREE of cost
- Locations across the country
AEOP Internships
A paid, hands-on research opportunity with real-world STEM experiences alongside renowned scientists and engineers in labs throughout the country.
- Summer and year-round opportunities
- High school and undergraduate students
- Stipended opportunity
- Locations across the country
AEOP Fellowships
A paid, professional research opportunity at U.S. Army Research Labs and Centers.
- Year-round opportunities
- Graduate students, PhD candidates, recent master’s graduate, or postdoctoral students
- Locations across the country
Explore Program Types
STEM Enrichment Activities
STEM Enrichment activities spark student interest in STEM from the earliest grades through high school. They also provide experiential learning opportunities for educators. Our programs are great for all students and teachers, and are designed to complement classroom learning and teaching by providing exciting, engaging, hands-on experiences. EXPLORE
Competitions
STEM Competitions are designed to expose students to scientific research methods and engineering principles in an interactive, hands-on way, and enables them to compete for recognition, scholarships and awards. EXPLORE
Internships & Fellowships
AEOP Internships and Fellowships help you gain the skills and experience you need today to prepare for the STEM careers of tomorrow. As an intern or fellow, you will conduct cutting-edge research in a state-of-the-art facility alongside a professional STEM mentor. EXPLORE
Scholarships & Grants
The Department of Defense provides a variety of opportunities that enable students to pursue STEM education through fellowships, grants and tuition-for-service programs. EXPLORE
23,483
Youth participants in 2020
5,066
Adult participants in 2020
90%
Of participants agreed that AEOP contributed to their STEM confidence and interest
Meet Our Students
AEOP alumni are doing amazing things. Hear what our alumni learned and what they’re up to now.
Harrish Ganesh
Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science (GEMS)
Grade: 10th Grade
Obioma Chukwu
Research Experiences for Stem Educators and Teaches, Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS), eCybermission
Nicole Schnabel
Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program (URAP)
Grade: Undergraduate Student
Are you an AEOP alumni?
Latest Blog Posts
August 25, 2025
Kayla Pagan: A journey from engineering a solar-powered JSS car to designing transmission lines
Kayla Pagan, a recent graduate from Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland, FL, currently works as a transmission engineer at Tampa Electric (TECO).
August 14, 2025
The Science of Sleep: Tips For A Better Night’s Rest
By: AEOP Membership Council Julie Yang I struggled with sleep throughout much of my life. On many nights, I could not fall asleep until hours after going to bed. Some nights, I would wake up in the darkness and lie there, not drifting off again until early dawn.
August 14, 2025
From Plutonium to Peltier: The Future of Space Power
By: AEOP Membership Council Dr. Karl Ochsner What do the Voyager, Curiosity Rover, Cassini, and Pioneer missions all have in common? They are all powered by a remarkable technology called an RPS.
August 14, 2025
A Student’s Journey In Architecture: At Thomas Edison School Of Technology
By: AEOP Membership Council Malaika Wande I’ve always been interested in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) field from a young age. Therefore, my mother devoted much of my time to programs, camps, and workshops that revolved around it.
August 14, 2025
How Los Angeles Wildfires Teach Us to Protect Our Communities
By: AEOP Membership Council Gordon Chen If you ask me, I’d say my favorite city is Los Angeles! I love visiting its beautiful beaches, renowned museums, colleges, and the Hollywood area. Every year, my family goes to the beach at Pacific Palisades.
August 14, 2025
Filling You In (on the History of Dentistry)
By: AEOP Membership Council Ryan Joshi What if the key to improving modern medicine lies in looking back at the past? By studying the history of medicine and science, we can see how cultural, societal, and political contexts have shaped how we practice healthcare today.