The JMU Anatomy Open House is a no-cost opportunity for high school students to spend a Saturday with JMU anatomy students, professors, and their fellow anatomy-enthused peers building community and learning together. As a participant, you will:

• Explore models, specimens, and other anatomical tools to better understand form & function and how we apply that understanding to address critical questions surrounding topics such as human health, animal behavior, and natural history.
• Learn about anatomy-related careers from JMU students who are currently navigating those paths.
• Engage in conversations with anatomy professors to learn about their research.
• With advanced registration, compete in the optional Anato-bee competition hosted at JMU (see below for details).

In addition to complementary brunch, students will receive an official "JMU Anatomy" T-shirt.

This event is hosted by the JMU Center for STEM Education & Outreach in partnership with the JMU Department of Biology faculty.

Date: Saturday January 24, 2026

Location: JMU’s East Campus

Time: Tentatively 8:30 AM-12 PM

Registration Deadline: January 9th, 2026 or until full. Space is limited and priority will be given to local participants by order of registration.

Registration Form: Registration for the anatomy expo will become available November 1st, 2025 at 8:00 AM ET

Additional open house details including the agenda, locations, parking, accessibility, and permission form access will be sent via email to registered students and their parents/guardians at least two weeks prior to the event. For questions, please contact: Dr. Kerry Cresawn, STEM Center director, cresawko@jmu.edu

• Students can be dropped off at the front entrance to the Bioscience building during the check-in window (tentatively 8:30-9:15 AM). There, students will be greeted by one of our JMU student volunteers and directed to the check-in table.
• Students under the age of 18 will be required to provide a permission form at check-in. This form must be hand-signed by a parent or guardian. We will have copies of this form available at check-in and make them available to download, print, and sign prior to the event.
• Students under the age of 18 must be signed-out by a parent, guardian, or other authorized adult (designated on the permission form).
• The optional Anato-bee competition at JMU will take place tentatively at 12-2 PM in a campus computer lab. This is an optional event that we are hosting in tandem with the expo. Only competitors registered with the national Anato-Bee organization will be permitted in the computer lab during this part of the event.
• We encourage teachers to bring their students for additional learning enrichment but advise not to use this event for credit or grading in relation to their science curriculum.

The Anato-Bee competition is a national outreach initiative led by a team of anatomy educators from the American Association of Anatomy, in which high school students learn about anatomical sciences through a nationwide competition. Registered participants will have free access to a series of virtual tutoring sessions led by current medical students, a human anatomy dissector app, and other study materials. Students first compete through a virtual platform hosted by a local college or university on January 24 at no cost; top placing students are invited to compete in their respective regional weekend competitions. More details regarding the 2026 regional competition format will be provided in the near future by the Anato-Bee national organization.

Students who want to compete in the Anato-bee must register with the national organization by January 12th. Click here to register with the national organization; please write in JMU as your local chapter to compete on January 24.

JMU-assigned participants will have the option to compete remotely or at JMU. On January 24^th (tentatively 12-2:00pm ET), on-campus participants will compete on a computer in one of our computer labs alongside other local competitors. Members of the JMU Anato-bee team will be present to supervise and provide technical support. Remote participants will use their own device at home (or another suitable location). On-campus participants will also have the opportunity to register for the in-person JMU Anatomy Expo that will take place before the competition (see above for details).  

Anato-Bee Registration 

Registration Deadline: January 12th at midnight ET

Registration Form: Register for the anato-bee competition. Note, this form is different from the anatomy expo registration form. Students interested in both the expo and anato-bee must register for each event separately.