​We empower the next generation to be community ambassadors of science and technology.

Through hands-on science programs, YSA provides an environment for youth to build their STEM expertise and collaborate with other young scientists to solve real-world problems.

Our History

In 2017, the Young Scientist Academy was founded in Wilmington, NC by Dr. Rob Condon when he realized that the standard science curriculum prioritized memorization over problem-solving. With over 20 years as a university science professor, he was especially equipped to lead youth through hands-on lessons, and he recognized that even elementary and middle school students could execute advanced research projects. Thus, the Young Scientist Academy was born.

The organization started small, only serving about 10 students per week. The small, but mighty, group dreamed big and launched YSA's very first weather balloon, taking YSA's research to new heights (pun intended). Since then, YSA young scientists have taken on an assortment of projects with real-world impact, from ionic thrusters to greenspace & heat maps. There are no limits to what our young scientists can achieve!

YSA's impact continues to grow within the Cape Fear region, and in 2023, we expanded internationally and joined the NC-Moldova Bilateral Partnership. Youth in North Carolina and Moldova began collaborating on research projects, creating a cross-pollination of ideas for solutions that are locally and globally significant.

As we expanded our impact, it was clear that the community need for our programs exceeded our team's capacity, so YSA launched our Teach STEM program to equip educators with the skills and resources to elevate their curriculum with the "YSA Way". Educators in both North Carolina and Moldova latched onto this professional development opportunity and have expanded YSA's impact in their classrooms.

YSA serves over 300 youth per week across North Carolina and Moldova, and we are excited to continue empowering the next generation of scientists across the globe.