Press Release For Immediate Release

May 22, 2024

                                                                  

Arizona Students Win $1 Million in Scholarships and Awards at 2024 International STEM Competition
Eighteen Arizona Students Competed in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles

 

PHOENIX, AZ – Last weekend, Arizona Science Center traveled with 18 local students ranging in grades from ninth to 12th to Los Angeles to compete at the 2024 International Science and Engineering Fair. In total, Arizona students earned over $1,000,000 in awards with 15 out of 18 students receiving honors. Second-order cone programming, microplastic filtration and multi-sensory therapy for dementia were among the winning topics for projects throughout the weekend. The top winners were honored during two award ceremonies: the Special Awards on May 16 and the Grand Awards Ceremony on the morning of May 17. Overall, more than $9 million was awarded to the finalists based on their projects’ creativity, innovation and depth of scientific inquiry. The competition featured 1,700  young scientists representing 49 U.S. states and nearly 70 countries, regions, and territories across the world. 

“I look forward to this event each year. The talent and ability of these students is truly remarkable,” said Beth Nickel, Chief Academic Officer, Arizona Science Center. “ISEF allows students to showcase amazing and innovative solutions for the world's most challenging problems.”

Students from all backgrounds demonstrated their knowledge and skill in a range of creative and rigorous projects that involve research and analysis, and engage students’ curiosity and passion.

Arizona's representatives secured over $1,000,000 in awards, with 15 out of 18 students receiving honors.

The following students from Arizona received awards at ISEF:

  • Amal Fayad, a senior from Arizona College Prep Academy, won first place in, Physical Science Award presented by Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society ($1,200), 3rd Place, Material Science ($1,000), and a scholarship to the University of Arizona, for “Enhancing Tea-Waste Based Biopolymer Nanocomposite Performance through a Novel Synthetic Cuticular Hydrocarbon Bilayer Coating: A Sustainable Packaging Alternative.”
  • Siyaa Poddar, a sophomore from Arizona College Prep Academy won first place in,  Physical Science Award presented by Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society ($1,200), 3rd Place, Material Science ($1,000), and a scholarship to the University of Arizona, for “Enhancing Tea-Waste Based Biopolymer Nanocomposite Performance through a Novel Synthetic Cuticular Hydrocarbon Bilayer Coating: A Sustainable Packaging Alternative.”
  • Aditya Lakshminarasimhan, a junior at Basis Scottsdale won second place in, Computational Biology & Bioinformatics ($1500), a scholarship to the University of Texas, Dallas ($20,000), and a scholarship to the University of Arizona ($58,000),  for “Elucidating RSV F-Fusion Protein-Host Interactions: Graph Attention Networks (GAN) and Structural Visualization.”
  • Brad Wu, a sophomore at Arizona College Prep Academy, won third place in, Biomedical Engineering ($1,000) and a scholarship to the University of Arizona ($58,000), for “A Rigid-Elastic Hybrid Finger Exoskeleton Rehabilitation System (FERS) for Stroke Patients with Motor Impairment.”
  • Baochan Fan, a senior from Hamilton High School, won fourth place in Biomedical and Health Sciences ($500) and the China Association of Science and Technology (CAST) Award ($1,200), for - “A novel identification of the epigenetic enzyme JMJD1a in neuroinflammation.”
  • Rishabh Sreepathy, a sophomore from Desert Mountain High School, won fourth place in, Biomedical and Health Sciences ($500), and a scholarship to the University of Arizona ($58,000), for -  “Detection of Fungal Infection via Macroscopic Fluorescence of DNA/RNA using Non-Toxic SYBR-safe Dyes for a New, Accurate, Fast, Handheld, Small Blood Volume Diagnostic (SBVD) Device: FungiBug™.”
  • Yuvan Senthil, a junior from Basis Peoria, won fourth place, in Engineering Technology: Statics and Dynamics ($500), Missouri University Science & Technology Summer Camp Scholarship ($1,500), a scholarship to the University of Arizona ($58,000), and a scholarship to Arizona State University ($58,000), for “I.D.A.S - Interlocking Drone Aerial Swarm: Enhancing Thrust and Battery Configuration Flexibility.”

The following students were awarded scholarships from Arizona universities:

  • Andrea Betancourt, Harvest Prep Academy, Yuma, for “Bacterial Acoustic: Investigating the Impact of White Noise on the Growth of E. Coli.”
  • Diane Ladino, Harvest Prep Academy, Yuma, for “Bacterial Acoustic: Investigating the Impact of White Noise on the Growth of E. Coli.”
  • Diana Navarro Ruiz, Harvest Prep Academy, Yuma, for “Bacterial Acoustic: Investigating the Impact of White Noise on the Growth of E. Coli.”
  • Jishnu Nayak, Arizona College Prep Academy, Chandler, for -“Investigating the Apoptotic Induction Potential of Various Chemical Food Preservatives on Caenorhabditis elegans.”
  • Ohm Patel, Arizona College Prep Academy, Chandler, for “Investigating the Apoptotic Induction Potential of Various Chemical Food Preservatives on Caenorhabditis elegans.”
  • Mallika Sinha, Basis Peoria, Peoria, for ”Aquatic Toxicity of Sunscreen Ingredients in Freshwater Ecosystems.”
  • Prithika Chauhan, Hamilton High School, Chandler, for “Beyond the Stars: A Data-driven Approach to Exoplanet Categorization.”
  • Ella Walsh, University High School, Tucson, for “A Prickly Project.” 

“I’m so proud of the work of these winners and all the students who participated,” said Guy Labine, The Hazel A. Hare President & CEO, Arizona Science Center. “Four of the local students attended a recent Board meeting to present their project. It was inspiring for Board Members to witness their incredible talent and energy.”

Regeneron ISEF is the world’s largest global high school competition, providing a global stage for the best and brightest young scientists and engineers around the world. Founded on the belief that advances in science are key to solving global challenges, Regeneron ISEF supports and invests in the next generation of leading STEM thinkers who are generating ideas and acting as catalysts for the change needed to improve the well-being of all people and the planet.

For more information about Arizona Science Center, visit azscience.org. For more information about Regeneron ISEF, visit www.societyforscience.org/isef.

 

About Arizona Science Center

Located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona Science Center features more than 300 hands-on exhibits, a five-story giant-screen theater, live demonstrations, traveling exhibitions, and exciting science programs. The Center offers programs for all ages, including Science on Wheels, CAMP INNOVATION, Teen programs, Professional Development, and Adults’ Night Out: Science With A Twist. Whether onsite or at your location–get ready to embark on a hands-on STEM learning journey you’ll never forget. To learn more or to reserve tickets, visit azscience.org or call 602.716.2000.

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