on mathematics, or projects proving mathematical theories. Computer Science Projects Consists of projects that test computer programs, algorithms, computer languages, and hardware. Engineering Projects Consists of projects aimed to solve practical problems, focused in electrical, civil, and mechanical engineering. Can also include projects dealing with energy engineering, nanoengineering, and data engineering. The Engineering category was first introduced in the 2015 PJAS season. Regional Meetings Each of the 12 PJAS regions hold a private science competition between January and March of each year where students present their research to a panel of judges. The students are scored against a rubric, not judged against each other. Some regions host an awards ceremony or other events to celebrate and announce the results for every student participant. Students receive a certificate and a bar with the color of their award (See Pin & Bars). Some regions may receive donations or funding to offer special awards for students. State Meeting The PJAS State Meeting is a multi-day event occurring from a Sunday to Tuesday in mid-May at Pennsylvania State University's Park campus. Students who earned a 1st Award at their Regional Meeting are invited to present their research again where additional monetary awards and scholarships can be earned. Students stay in university dorms and eat in the dining halls. Pin & Bars The PJAS pin and bars are unique to the organization. With the exception of honorable mention awards, students earn a small bar that is colored to reflect their performance. Students can earn bars at each Regional and State Meeting they present their project. The bars can be connected together to form a chain showcasing the student's history in the organization. The bar attached to the pin is the oldest project and the newest project is at the bottom. Students earning a First Award Perfect Score earn two bars – one bar for their first award, and a second bar noting the perfect score. The bars also note which meeting the award was earned: bars earned at the State Meeting have "STATE", while those earned at a Regional Meeting contain no text. Scoring Rubric PJAS judges presentations individually against a rubric instead of comparing projects like a normal science fair. Rubrics vary between the four major project types, but they contain similar elements: There are five categories, each with a maximum score of 5.00 points. Each judge's individual scores are combined and averaged to