Each year, an estimated 7 million students from 75 countries participate in affiliated local, regional, and national science fairs that serve as feeders to ISEF, with roughly 1,800 finalists (about 0.03%) advancing to the international competition.[7][8] Each May, finalists compete in the fair for scholarships, tuition grants, internships, scientific field trips and the grand prizes, including one $100,000 and two $75,000 college scholarships. All prizes together amount to over $9,000,000.[9][10] Two major awards ceremonies are the Special Awards Organization Presentation and the Grand Awards Ceremony.
History
The International Science and Engineering Fair was founded in 1950 by Science Service (now the Society for Science) and was sponsored by Intel from 1997 to 2019.[11][12]
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals became the title sponsor for ISEF in 2020,[13] but the event was cancelled that year and replaced with an online version due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 ISEF[14] was a fully virtual event while 2022 was held online and in-person in Atlanta, GA,[15] and 2023 was in person in Dallas, TX. The 2024 ISEF was held in person in Los Angeles, CA, the 2025 ISEF in Columbus, OH, and the 2026 in Phoenix, AZ. The 2027 ISEF will be held in Los Angeles, CA.[16][17]
Contestants and competition
Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair logo
Contestants are selected from regional, district, and state ISEF affiliated fairs. These fairs usually encompass multiple states or entire regions of a country. The regional fair committee is responsible for managing the fair when their city hosts the event.
Individual science projects and team science projects both compete for prizes. Teams are composed of two to as many as four high school students (grades 9–12). In addition to the judging of projects and an open session for the public to view them, there is time set aside for students to experience the host city with tours and activities. A significant component of the program is social, as students interact with each other during mixers and ceremonies. Throughout much of the week, various seminars are also held for students, mentors and teachers.
Projects and judging are divided into 22 subject categories.
Prizes and honors
George Yancopoulos Innovator Award: $100,000 scholarship, given to the top of the Best of Category Award winners, selected on the basis of innovative research and potential of the project to have an impact in the particular field and the world as a whole.
Regeneron Young Scientist Awards: $75,000 awards presented by Regeneron and SSP to two Best in Category projects. Previous winners include Henry Lin and Eesha Khare.
The Gordon E. Moore Award for Positive Outcomes for Future Generations: In recognition of Gordon E. Moore's continued legacy of honoring the best at the International Science and Engineering Fair, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation is providing the $50,000 for the award.
Craig R. Barrett Award for Innovation: A $10,000 award given to the finalist who best demonstrates an innovation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, recognizing that research and innovation are dependent on the integration of these disciplines, as well as the impact they collectively have on our everyday lives
H. Robert Horvitz Prize for Fundamental Research: $10,000 is given to the project that represents the best in fundamental research that furthers our understanding of science and/or mathematics and promotes the understanding of natural phenomena without clearly defined applications towards processes or products in mind.
Peggy Scripps Award for Science Communication: A $10,000 award honoring Peggy Scripps who was a science journalist who served as a writer and editor of Science Newsletter for many years. This award is given to the finalist who is best able to communicate their project to the lay public, explaining both the science and its potential impact on society.
The Regeneron ISEF Finalist Medal is given to about 1800 students from 75 countries each year, which are participating at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, which is owned and administered by the Society for Science, a 501(c)(3)non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. In 2013 there were 1611 finalists at the Intel ISEF in Phoenix, Arizona.
The medal has a diameter of 48mm and is golden galvanized. The obverse shows the official logo of the Regeneron ISEF, the reverse shows the year of participation and the location of that year's Regeneron ISEF.
The ribbon bar is blue with a width of 40mm and has a golden romanic 1 in the middle.
When Intel began sponsoring ISEF in 1997, the Grand Awards were replaced with the Intel Foundation Young Scientist Awards, awarded to the top three projects.[11] In 2010, the top award was renamed for Intel co-founder Gordon E. Moore.[28]
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and replaced with a virtual fair. Because some qualifier events did not name winners, the fair was not judged and prizes were not awarded.[51]
ISEF 2021 (VIRTUAL) "Regeneron ISEF 2021". September 13, 2023.
George D. Yancopoulos Innovator Award: Michelle Hua (Troy, MI)
Young Scientist Award: Catherine Kim (Jericho, NY)
Young Scientist Award: Daniel Shen (Cary, NC)
Gordon E. Moore Award for Positive Outcomes for Future Generations: John Benedict Estrada (Fresno, CA)
Craig R. Barrett Award for Innovation: Arya Tschand (Marlboro, NJ)
H. Robert Horvitz Prize for Fundamental Research: Neha Mani (Bronx, NY)
Peggy Scripps Award for Science Communication: Franklin Wang (Palo Alto, CA)
ISEF 2022 (Atlanta, Georgia) "Regeneron ISEF 2022". 13 May 2022.
George D. Yancopoulos Innovator Award: Robert Sansone (Fort Pierce, FL)
Young Scientist Award: Rishab Jain (Portland, OR)
Young Scientist Award: Abdullah Al-Ghamdi (Dammam, Saudi Arabia)
Gordon E. Moore Award for Positive Outcomes for Future Generations: Chris Tidtijumreonpon, Napassorn Litchiowong & Wattanapong Uttayota (Chiang Mai, Thailand)
Craig R. Barrett Award for Innovation: Amon Schumann (Berlin, Germany)
H. Robert Horvitz Prize for Fundamental Research: Rebecca Cho (Jericho, NY)
Peggy Scripps Award for Science Communication: Anika Puri (Chappaqua, NY)
ISEF 2023 (Dallas, Texas) "Regeneron ISEF 2023". 19 May 2023.
George D. Yancopoulos Innovator Award: Kaitlyn Wang (San José, CA)
Young Scientist Award: Saathvik Kannan (Columbia, MO)
The Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge,[55] previously known as Broadcom MASTERS ("Math, Applied Science, Technology, & Engineering for Rising Stars").[56]
References
↑"International Science and Engineering Fair". 6 February 2024.
↑"Background on the Exhibits, Students and Competitions at the White House Science Fair". whitehouse.gov. 2012-02-06. Retrieved 2026-01-28. Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, a program of Society for Science &the Public, is the premier science competition in the world
↑US EPA, ORD. "Intel International Science and Engineering Fair". 19january2017snapshot.epa.gov. Retrieved 2026-01-28. (Intel ISEF), is the world's largest international pre-college science competition. It is the premier global science competition for students in grades 9–12.
↑"Intel, ACS Award Prizes at Science Fair". American Chemical Society: Chemical & Engineering News. 2025-01-21. Retrieved 2026-01-28. ISEF, a joint project of the Society for Science & the Public (SSP) and the Intel Foundation, is the most prestigious high school science fair in the world
↑McFall-Johnsen, Jenny McGrath, Morgan. "The CEO behind the world's biggest science and engineering fair says the biggest mistake parents make is putting too much pressure on their kids". Business Insider. Retrieved 2026-01-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
12Bellinger, Robert (June 9, 1997). "Intel exec decries latest labor trend". Electronic Engineering Times. No.957. p.130. ...the company became the key sponsor of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), recently held in Louisville, Ky.
↑Lohr, Steve (February 14, 2017). "Intel Drops Its Sponsorship of Science Fairs, Prompting an Identity Crisis". The New York Times.
↑Jackson, Jon (December 12, 2019). "Regeneron Announces Opening of DNA Learning Center with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Becoming Sponsor of World's Biggest Science Fair". River Journal.
↑"Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair". 6 February 2024.
↑"Society for Science to host 2025 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Columbus, Ohio". Society for Science. 2023-12-12. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
↑"Intel ISEF People's Choice Awards". Intel ISEF. Archived from the original on July 13, 2009. Retrieved July 12, 2009.
↑"Conversations with Maya: Kristina Johnson". Society for Science. June 28, 2018. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
↑"This MacArthur Fellow researches how bacteria shaped the Earth". Society for Science and the Public.
↑"Feng Zhang becomes Society Board Member". Society for Science and the Public. September 28, 2017.
↑"Conversations with Maya: Lester Mackey | Science News". 9 October 2019.
↑King, Georgia Frances (December 1, 2018). "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won a prestigious science-fair prize for research involving free radicals". Quartz.
↑"Texas Teen Wins Top Honors at Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, World's Largest Pre-College Science Competition". Intel. May 14, 2010.
12345678910"Intel Foundation Young Scientist Awards". Science Service. Archived from the original on September 23, 2006. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
↑"Over $2 Million in Scholarships and Grants Awarded at 1998 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair". Intel.
↑"Intel International Science And Engineering Fair Awards $3 Million In Scholarships And Prizes To Young Scientists And Inventors From Around The World". Intel. May 11, 2001.
↑"Young Scientists From Around The World Receive Total Of $3 Million In Scholarships And Prizes". Intel. May 17, 2002.
↑"Young Scientists From Around The World Receive Total Of $3 Million In Scholarships And Prizes". Intel. May 16, 2003.
↑"Next Generation Of Brilliant Thinkers Awarded $3 Million In Scholarships And Prizes". Intel. May 14, 2004.
↑"Photos from Intel ISEF 2005". Intel. May 13, 2005.
↑"Top Young Scientists From Around The World Awarded $4 Million In Scholarships". Intel. May 12, 2006.
↑"Intel Announces Winners of World's Largest Science Fair". Intel. May 18, 2007.
↑"Intel Announces Winners of World's Largest Pre-College Science Fair". Intel. May 16, 2008.
↑"Three Young Women Win Top Honors at World's Largest Pre-College Science Competition". Intel. May 15, 2009.
↑"Texas Teen Wins Top Honors at Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, World's Largest Pre-College Science Competition". Intel. May 14, 2010.
↑"Intel ISEF 2011". Society for Science. September 13, 2023.
↑"Intel ISEF 2012". Society for Science. September 13, 2023.
↑"Intel ISEF 2013". Society for Science. September 13, 2023. Archived from the original on January 12, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
↑"Intel ISEF 2014". Society for Science. September 13, 2023. Archived from the original on January 12, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
↑"Intel ISEF 2015". Society for Science. September 13, 2023. Archived from the original on January 12, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
↑"Intel ISEF 2015". Society for Science. September 13, 2023. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
↑"Intel ISEF 2017". Society for Science. September 13, 2023.
↑"Intel ISEF 2018". Society for Science. September 13, 2023.
↑"Intel ISEF 2019". Society for Science. September 13, 2023.
↑"Regeneron ISEF 2020". Society for Science. September 13, 2023.
↑KAUFFMAN, BRENNEN (15 May 2020). "Local students ready for online global science fair". Post Register. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
1234"More than $9 Million Awarded to High School Scientists and Engineers at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair 2024". Yahoo Finance. May 17, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
↑Prillaman, McKenzie (May 17, 2024). "Bioelectronics research wins top award at 2024 Regeneron ISEF". Science News Explores. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
↑"Intel Science Talent Search". Society for Science. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
↑"Thermo Fisher Scientific and Society for Science Launch Junior Innovators Challenge to Inspire More Than 65,000 Future STEM Leaders Nationwide". Society for Science. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
↑"Broadcom MASTERS". Society for Science. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
External links
Official website
ISEF Awards
Society for Science: 100 Years of Impact
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Society for Science & the Public
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