Learn from past winners and explore the guides and courses that helped them win at ISEF 2024. These projects and ideas can help you in future years.
The 2024 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) once again showcased the talent and innovation of young scientists. Held in Los Angeles in May 2024, the Grand Awards celebrated some groundbreaking projects. Here are the top winning projects and the students behind them.
George D. Yancopoulos Innovator Award: Grace Sun
- Project: Novel Chemical Doping Strategy to Enhance N-Type Organic Electrochemical Transistors
Grace Sun, from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington, Kentucky, won the top prize, the George D. Yancopoulos Innovator Award ($75,000), for her work on enhancing N-type organic electrochemical transistors. Her novel chemical doping strategy significantly improves their efficiency and performance, with potential for advancing flexible electronics and energy-efficient technologies.
The work could lead to more energy-efficient, adaptable electronics and opens new avenues in organic electronics research, potentially shaping next-generation devices.
Regeneron Young Scientist Award: Michelle Wei
- Project: Solving Second-Order Cone Programs in Matrix Multiplication Time
Michelle Wei, from The Harker School in San Jose, California, received the Regeneron Young Scientist Award ($50,000) for her work optimizing second-order cone programs. Her new algorithm performs the computation in record time, which could enhance applications across engineering and data science.
The broader impact reaches industries that rely on optimization and computing power, from logistics and supply chains to faster machine learning model training.
Gordon E. Moore Award for Positive Outcomes for Future Generations: Justin Huang and Victoria Ou
- Project: Acoustic Filtration: Harnessing Ultrasonic Technology for the Streamlined Removal of Microplastic Particles From Water Flow
Justin Huang and Victoria Ou, from College Park High School in The Woodlands, Texas, earned the Gordon E. Moore Award ($50,000) for their solution to microplastic pollution. Their prototype uses ultrasonic technology to remove microplastics from water, a practical, scalable approach to a pressing environmental challenge.
Their method could be used in water treatment plants and environmental cleanup, helping protect aquatic ecosystems and marine life.
Craig R. Barrett Award for Innovation: Ingrid Chan
- Project: MMRTD: Multi-Sensory Mixed Reality Therapy for Dementia
Ingrid Chan, from German Swiss International School in Hong Kong, won the Craig R. Barrett Award. Her project uses mixed reality and sensory stimulation for dementia therapy, creating a supportive environment that aims to improve cognitive function and quality of life. It could help patients with daily living, support caregivers, and open new possibilities for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
H. Robert Horvitz Prize for Fundamental Research: Tanishka Aglave
- Project: Advancing Sustainable Citrus Greening Disease Management
Tanishka Aglave, from Strawberry Crest High School in Florida, received the H. Robert Horvitz Prize for her approach to managing citrus greening disease. Her research uses eco-friendly methods and precision agriculture tools to combat the disease, offering a sustainable solution that could benefit agriculture and food security.
Peggy Scripps Award for Science Communication: Maddux Springer
- Project: Determining the Distribution of Arginine in Gracilaria salicornia and Codium edule and Fibropapillomatosis Rates in Chelonia mydas in Kāneʻohe Bay
Maddux Springer, from Iolani School in Hawaii, received the Peggy Scripps Award for his ability to communicate complex science clearly. His project explores the distribution of arginine in marine algae and its correlation with fibropapillomatosis in green sea turtles, shedding light on key ecological interactions.
Dudley R. Herschbach SIYSS Award winners
The Dudley R. Herschbach SIYSS Award sends exceptional young scientists on an all-expenses-paid trip to the Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar during Nobel Week.
Ria Kamat from Bergen County Academies, NJ, won for “The Relationship Between Tumor-Induced Osteoclastogenesis and Osteoprotegerin,” exploring how tumors affect bone metabolism, with insights that could improve cancer treatment.
Anna Oliva of Carnegie Vanguard High School, TX, was recognized for “Symmetry, Fixed Points, and Quantum Billiards: A Confluence of Ideas,” examining the interplay of symmetry and fixed points in quantum systems.
Shuhan Luo from Worcester Academy, MA, received the award for “A Novel Hadronization Model Explaining Charm-Quark Hadronization in Different Collision Systems,” advancing knowledge of charm-quark behavior in high-energy collisions.
Resources to win science fairs
Rishab Jain, who won the Regeneron Young Scientist Award at ISEF, has succeeded across many research competitions. For students eager to start, Rishab offers science fair coaching, through which multiple students placed at the 2024 ISEF, plus a YouTube playlist on how to do research, where he shares his winning strategies.
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