Dear Readers,
We are thrilled to announce the publication of the tenth edition of the Columbia Junior Science Journal (CJSJ)—a milestone that reflects a decade of rigorous research, intellectual curiosity, and the dedication of young scientists pushing the boundaries of knowledge. CJSJ began as a spin-off of the Columbia Undergraduate Science Journal (CUSJ), an open-access, professional-level science journal committed to publishing high-caliber scientific research and analysis. Since its establishment in 2005, CUSJ has upheld a tradition of excellence, with each manuscript undergoing a thorough peer-review process by its editorial board. Recognizing the need to foster scientific inquiry at an even earlier stage, CUSJ leadership launched CJSJ in 2015 to provide high school students with the opportunity to showcase their research at a professional level. Since then, CJSJ has grown immensely, publishing ten volumes as of Spring 2025 and continually setting a higher standard with each edition.
This year, we are proud to present the work of eleven exceptional high school researchers whose studies span a broad range of disciplines, including medicine, political science, mathematics, meteorology, botany, and technology. These students have dedicated months to refining their research through our editorial process, ensuring that their work contributes meaningfully to the broader scientific community. We commend their commitment to scientific inquiry and are honored to showcase their contributions in this edition.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the Columbia Undergraduate Science Journal and its associated journals for their invaluable input and editorial support throughout the review process. We also sincerely thank the CJSJ editorial committee for their patience, attention to detail, and tireless efforts in making the 2024-2025 publication a testament to young scientific exploration. Most importantly, we thank our eleven authors for their dedication and enthusiasm—we are delighted to welcome them into our scientific community at Columbia University.
As we celebrate this tenth edition, we look forward to the continued growth of CJSJ and the next generation of scientists who will contribute to shaping the future of research. Thank you for your support, and we hope you enjoy this year’s publication. It has been an honor serving as the 2024-2025 editors-in-chief of the Columbia Junior Science Journal.
Sincerely,
Joanna Lin (Columbia College ‘26) and Anita Raj (Columbia Engineering ‘27)
Editors-in-Chief, Columbia Junior Science Journal