diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 3a3339bd31..00179dd6dc 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -373,13 +373,24 @@
 
     <!-- end local repo dependencies-->
 
-    <!-- https://mvnrepository.com/artifact/org.junit.jupiter/junit-jupiter-api -->
-    <dependency>
+<dependency>
       <groupId>org.junit.jupiter</groupId>
       <artifactId>junit-jupiter-api</artifactId>
-      <version>5.8.0-M1</version>
+      <version>5.11.0</version>
       <scope>test</scope>
-    </dependency>
+  </dependency>
+  <dependency>
+      <groupId>org.junit.jupiter</groupId>
+      <artifactId>junit-jupiter-engine</artifactId>
+      <version>5.11.0</version>
+      <scope>test</scope>
+  </dependency>
+  <dependency>
+      <groupId>org.junit.platform</groupId>
+      <artifactId>junit-platform-launcher</artifactId>
+      <version>1.11.0</version>
+      <scope>test</scope>
+  </dependency>
 
     <dependency>
       <groupId>org.geotools</groupId>
@@ -559,6 +570,18 @@
         <version>3.6.1</version>
       </plugin>
 
+<plugin>
+        <artifactId>maven-surefire-plugin</artifactId>
+        <version>2.19</version>
+        <dependencies>
+            <dependency>
+                <groupId>org.junit.platform</groupId>
+                <artifactId>junit-platform-surefire-provider</artifactId>
+                <version>1.0.0</version>
+            </dependency>
+        </dependencies>
+    </plugin>
+
       <plugin>
         <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
         <artifactId>exec-maven-plugin</artifactId>
diff --git a/src/test/README.md b/src/test/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..65a33e2632
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# Testing in Wildbook
+
+## JUnit for Unit Testing
+
+Wildbook uses [JUnit 5](https://junit.org/junit5/docs/current/user-guide/) for backend unit testing. All unit tests _must run and pass_ in order for changes to be
+incorporated into the Wildbook codebase. Tests should be run automatically with maven when executing `mvn clean install`.
+
+**All new code** should have appropriate unit tests written to validate all components of the new code are working as expected. Take care to also test
+invalid data cases and failure/exception cases.
+
+Tests should be created under the `src/test/java/org/ecocean/` directories, corresponding to the java class which are testing. The test class name should follow
+the convention of adding the suffix `Test` to the java class name, such as `AnnotationTest.java` for tests of code within `Annotation.java`.
+
+Eventually, almost all Wildbook java classes will have a corresponding `*Test.java` class. If one does not exist to add new tests to, it should be created
+using the above naming convention. That being said, edits to existing classes may not require full understanding of a class, while testing does. If you choose
+not to make a unit test for an existing class, make a note of that choice in the PR and explain why.
+
+There are many tutorials and guides to using JUnit online, such as [this one](https://www.vogella.com/tutorials/JUnit/article.html).
+
+### Running tests without compiling
+
+To test only specific test classes/methods, you can use the following with maven:
+
+```
+mvn test                                # run all tests but no compiling
+
+mvn test -Dtest=TestClass1,TestClass2   # only these two classes
+
+mvn test -Dtest=TestClass#method        # test a specific method
+```
+
+
+## Integration Testing, Frontend Testing
+
+TODO
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/ecocean/AnnotationTest.java b/src/test/java/org/ecocean/AnnotationTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8fd67f6907
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/java/org/ecocean/AnnotationTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+package org.ecocean;
+
+import org.ecocean.Annotation;
+import org.ecocean.media.*;
+import org.json.JSONObject;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import static org.junit.Assert.*;
+
+class AnnotationTest {
+/*
+    to create a (real) MediaAsset or a Feature we need to have a Shepherd!
+    TODO extend to this with mockito/Shepherd
+    https://semaphoreci.com/community/tutorials/stubbing-and-mocking-with-mockito-2-and-junit
+ */
+    @Test void createAnnotation() {
+        AssetStore store = null; // see note above
+        MediaAsset ma = new MediaAsset(store, null);
+        Annotation ann = new Annotation("species", ma);
+
+        assertNotNull(ann);
+        assertTrue(ann.isTrivial());
+        assertEquals(ann.getMediaAsset(), ma);
+    }
+}