December 19, 2023

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Society for Science added six impressive alumni to our “Notable Alumni” list, which highlights alumni of our Science Talent Search (STS), International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and middle school STEM competition who embody the principles of leadership, innovation and global impact.

The webpage, which can be viewed here, includes individual profiles with contemporary assets highlighting lasting contributions these alumni have made to their field, as well as archival Society content from their competition experience. The list was launched in March 2022, with more than 100 alumni, and the Society plans to add to this list as the organization’s more than 70,000 alumni continue to contribute to their fields.

The additions are:

• Physicist Charles H. Bennett, who is considered one of the founding fathers of quantum information theory and won the 2023 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics;
• Software developer and entrepreneur Greg Brockman, who is one of the leading voices in AI technology and cofounded OpenAI;
• Physicist John Clauser, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2022 for his work in quantum entanglement;
• Louise Schmir Hay, a celebrated mathematician best known for her work in mathematical logic, recursive enumerable sets and computational complexity theory;
• Four-star Admiral Cecil D. Haney, who held several command positions throughout his service; and
• Microsoft Computer scientist Lester Mackey, who was named a MacArthur Fellow in 2023.

“We are pleased to celebrate the important contributions to science that these six alumni have made,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of the Society for Science and Executive Publisher of Science News. “The Society is honored to have played a role in supporting these distinguished individuals at the beginning of their scientific journeys.”

Each alumnus was named to the list, based on their professional accomplishments and lasting contributions to advancing science and improving the world in which we live. The list was created in celebration of the Society for Science’s centennial year and includes Nobel laureates, entrepreneurs, MacArthur Fellows, pioneers, National Medal of Science and Technology recipients, and even Emmy and Oscar-winners.

About Society for Science 

Society for Science is a champion for science, dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Established in 1921, Society for Science is best known for its award-winning journalism through Science News and Science News Explores, its world-class science research competitions for students, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, and its outreach and equity programming that seeks to ensure that all students have an opportunity to pursue a career in STEM. A 501(c)(3) membership organization, Society for Science is committed to inform, educate and inspire. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (Society4Science)

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – For the eighth year, Science News is spotlighting 10 early- and mid-career scientists with innovative ideas and unique skill sets who are applying their talents to shape our future and our understanding of ourselves. The researchers on this year’s SN 10: Scientists to Watch list are tackling challenges ranging from climate change to Alzheimer’s disease to building a more equitable society.

This year’s scientists come from a pool of more than 100, nominated by members of the National Academy of Sciences, former SN 10 scientists and Science News readers. A team of Science News writers and editors — many experts in their fields — selected the scientists for their potential to shape the science of the future.

“The SN 10 honorees are not only poised to make a tremendous impact on our world but also understand the crucial power of collaboration,” said Nancy Shute, Science News Editor in Chief. “Many of these scientists shared that they have a high regard for the value that multiple perspectives can bring to their work.”

Science News is proud to present this year’s SN 10:

1. Daniel Blanco-Melo, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
2. Róisín Commane, Columbia University
3. Daphne Martschenko, Stanford University
4. Julian Muñoz, University of Texas at Austin
5. Deblina Sarkar, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
6. Lauren Schroeder, University of Toronto
7. Quinton Smith, University of California, Irvine
8. Clara Sousa-Silva, Bard College
9. Berkley Walker, Michigan State University
10. Marjorie Weber, University of Michigan

Each year, Society for Science, which publishes Science News, names one scientist from the SN 10 list as the winner of the $1,000 Jon C. Graff, Ph.D. Prize for Excellence in Science Communication. The 2023 Selection Committee awarded the Graff Prize to Clara Sousa-Silva, Assistant Professor of Physics at Bard College.

The committee, which praised Dr. Sousa-Silva’s dynamic communication style and her ability to explain clearly an often abstract field of science to a range of audiences with enthusiasm, was composed of five alumni of the Society’s science research competitions. A Science News reader since 1974, donor Jon Graff was a pioneer in digital cryptography. Graff died in 2021 and through his estate created an endowed fund that will support this annual prize in perpetuity.

“Congratulations to the SN 10 honorees and to Dr. Sousa-Silva for winning the Jon C. Graff, Ph.D. Prize for Excellence in Science Communication,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of Society for Science and Executive Publisher of Science News. “These pioneering scientists are leading the way in groundbreaking discoveries. I look forward to following their careers and learning about their latest achievements.”

About Science News

Science News has been covering the latest discoveries in science, technology and medicine since 1921, and is published by Society for Science. It offers readers award-winning news and features, commentary, multimedia and access to archives dating back to 1921. Concise, current and comprehensive, the magazine provides an approachable overview of all fields and applications of science and technology.

Science News Media Group also includes Science News Explores, which makes science accessible for people ages 9 and up as well as Science News Learning, which brings Science News lesson plans to classrooms across the country.

For more information about Science News, please visit sciencenews.org or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Society for Science 

Society for Science is a champion for science, dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Established in 1921, Society for Science is best known for its award-winning journalism through Science News and Science News Explores, its world-class science research competitions for students, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, and its outreach and equity programming that seeks to ensure that all students have an opportunity to pursue a career in STEM. A 501(c)(3) membership organization, Society for Science is committed to inform, educate and inspire. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (Society4Science)

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Established in 1950, Regeneron ISEF gives the world’s best and brightest young scientists a global stage to share their outstanding science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) research and compete for more than $8 million in awards, prizes and scholarships. Each year, over 175,000 students compete in the Society’s 400 affiliated high school science fairs around the world. Top winners earn the right to compete at Regeneron ISEF where nearly 2,000 finalists, half of whom are young female scientists, are judged in 22 different categories.

The subject of two documentaries that launched at the Sundance Film Festival and a docuseries on Disney +, Regeneron ISEF plays a pivotal role in directing students toward STEM fields.

“The Columbus scientific community has welcomed Society for Science and the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair with open arms, and we look forward to returning there after more than 40 years,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of Society for Science and Executive Publisher of Science News Media Group. “Home to Ohio State University and a thriving technology and healthcare community, I look forward to introducing young scientists from around the world to this incredible city.”

Each year the Society works with a local organization that will play a key role in organizing the event, including recruiting volunteers, interpreters and local businesses to support Regeneron ISEF.  In Columbus, the Society will partner with the Ohio Academy of Science. These volunteers and businesses will help the Society inform, educate and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. More than 1,000 volunteers and 200 interpreters across a spectrum of activities will be needed.

“The Ohio Academy of Science is thrilled to welcome brilliant young minds from around the world to Columbus, Ohio, in 2025,” said Michael Woytek, Executive Director, Ohio Academy of Science. “We eagerly anticipate showcasing the cutting-edge innovation flourishing in the Buckeye State.”

Experience Columbus, the destination marketing organization for Columbus, anticipates a total of 10,000 attendees from around the world will visit Columbus for the event, leaving a huge impact on the local community. Tourism officials anticipate $9.2 million in direct visitor spend will be invested back into the local community as a result of the six-day event.

“It is an honor for Columbus to be selected to host this world-class event featuring the best and brightest in STEM,” said Brian Ross, President and CEO of Experience Columbus. “We can’t wait to showcase how the city has become an innovation hub with one of the most dynamic life science industries in the country since Society for Science was last here. We hope attendees will make time to explore all that Ohio’s capital has to offer, including visiting our unique attractions such as the Center of Science and Industry, or COSI, named the best science museum in the country for four consecutive years by USA Today 10Best.”

About Society for Science
Society for Science is a champion for science, dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Established in 1921, Society for Science is best known for its award-winning journalism through Science News and Science News Explores, its world-class science research competitions for students, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, and its outreach and equity programming that seeks to ensure that all students have an opportunity to pursue a career in STEM. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Snapchat (Society4Science).

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Knell is Senior Advisor for Media and Social Impact at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Executive Chairman of Common Sense Networks. From 2014 through 2018, Knell served as president and CEO of the National Geographic Society, where he oversaw the organization’s nonprofit activities in science exploration, education and media innovation. Prior to that, he served as President and CEO of National Public Radio (NPR). He was also President and CEO of Sesame Workshop, where he was instrumental in groundbreaking international coproductions promoting public health, conflict resolution and basic childhood education. He also served as Senior Vice President at WNET/THIRTEEN in New York and served as Counsel to the US Senate Governmental Affairs and Judiciary Committees.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from UCLA in political science (where he was Editorial Director of the UCLA Daily Bruin) and a JD from Loyola Law School, as well as honorary degrees from Kenyon College, Mercy College and Franklin University in Switzerland.

“I’m excited to join the Board of Trustees of the Society to support an organization focused on one of the most important challenges in our world: Translating science to the public through inspiration, education and example,” said Knell. “I look forward to helping Maya and her team reach great heights ahead.”

About Society for Science 

Society for Science is a champion for science, dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Established in 1921, Society for Science is best known for its award-winning journalism through Science News and Science News Explores, its world-class science research competitions for students, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, and its outreach and equity programming that seeks to ensure that all students have an opportunity to pursue a career in STEM. A 501(c)(3) membership organization, Society for Science is committed to inform, educate and inspire. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (Society4Science)

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Each year, over 175,000 students participate in the Society’s affiliated high school science fairs around the world to earn the right to compete in Regeneron ISEF, where 1,600 finalists vie for almost $8 million in awards, prizes and scholarships

Regeneron is also lead sponsor of the Society’s Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS), the nation’s oldest and most prestigious high school science and mathematics competition

These programs, along with many other Regeneron-supported and driven STEM programs – including the recently announced Together for CHANGE^TM initiative and a $5 million investment in Nashville’s STEM ecosystem – are engaging and inspiring the next generation of scientific leaders and innovators

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. and WASHINGTON, D.C., November 13, 2023 – Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) and Society for Science (Society) today announced that Regeneron is increasing and extending its commitment as the title sponsor of the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world’s largest high school science and engineering competition, with a total investment of approximately $34 million over a five-year period.

Established in 1950, Regeneron ISEF gives the world’s best and brightest young scientists a global stage to share their outstanding science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) research and compete for nearly $8 million in awards, prizes and scholarships. Each year, over 175,000 students compete in the Society’s 400 affiliated high school science fairs around the world. Top winners earn the right to compete at Regeneron ISEF where nearly 1,600 finalists, half of whom are young female scientists, are judged in 22 different categories.

The renewed sponsorship builds on Regeneron and the Society’s long-standing partnership to advance STEM education, including through Regeneron’s $100 million, ten-year commitment to the Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS), the nation’s oldest and most prestigious high school science and mathematics competition.

These high school science competitions play a pivotal role in directing high school students towards STEM careers. According to a study from the International Journal of Science Education, the more STEM competitions students engage in, the higher their likelihood of expressing interest in STEM-related careers by the end of high school — even when factoring in their prior career interests.

“My life-long commitment to using science to fight back against disease started in high school, and was profoundly shaped by my participation in the very competitions we now sponsor,” said George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., co-Founder, co-Chair, President, and Chief Scientific Officer at Regeneron, and a principal inventor of several of the world’s leading medicines. “I see it as our duty to engage and inspire the next generation of young scientists. Our renewed commitment and increased investment in Regeneron ISEF are a testament to our belief in these young visionaries who will push the boundaries of science to help change and improve the world.”

The renewed sponsorship includes a $10 million increase from its previous commitment level, allowing Regeneron and the Society to raise the top ISEF award, the George D. Yancopoulos Innovator Award, to $100,000 (up from $75,000), the two second place awards, the Regeneron Young Scientist Awards, to $75,000 each (up from $50,000 each) and increase all category awards by 20 percent. This increase will take effect during Regeneron ISEF 2025. Since Regeneron assumed title sponsorship in 2019, Regeneron ISEF has welcomed over 5,000 high school students representing 64 countries and distributed a total of nearly $22 million in awards, prizes and scholarships to the top young scientists in the world. Regeneron ISEF competitors join the Society’s international network of 60,000 ISEF alumni, which provides networking opportunities and other support to help alumni grow, collaborate and improve our world.

“For over 70 years, ISEF has inspired young STEM enthusiasts from around the globe. This renewed commitment and award increase not only amplifies the grandeur of this global stage but also echoes our shared vision of creating a brighter, science-driven future,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of Society for Science and Executive Publisher of Science News. “Witnessing Regeneron’s passionate support over the years has been heartening, and their increased investment will undeniably help us nurture dreams, catalyze innovation and embolden the next generation of STEM talent in the years ahead.”

Regeneron is proud to support programs and initiatives focused on fostering the next generation of scientific innovators who can solve society’s greatest challenges. The company directs more than 93 percent of its community investments to supporting STEM education locally, nationally and internationally. The increased and extended commitment to Regeneron ISEF follows two other recent STEM-related announcements by Regeneron, including its founding membership of the Together for CHANGE^TM initiative, a national health and education equity initiative established by Meharry Medical College, as well as a five-year, $5 million strategic investment to bolster Nashville, Tennessee’s STEM ecosystem. In Nashville, Regeneron will support existing STEM programs and adapt new initiatives that have proven successful in its New York high school community, as evidenced by student success in competitions like Regeneron ISEF and Regeneron STS.

About Regeneron 

Regeneron (NASDAQ: REGN) is a leading biotechnology company that invents life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases. Founded and led for 35 years by physician-scientists, our unique ability to repeatedly and consistently translate science into medicine has led to numerous FDA-approved treatments and product candidates in development, almost all of which were homegrown in our laboratories. Regeneron’s medicines and pipeline are designed to help patients with eye diseases, allergic and inflammatory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, hematologic conditions, infectious diseases and rare diseases.

Regeneron believes that operating as a good corporate citizen is crucial to delivering on our mission. We approach corporate responsibility with three goals in mind: to improve the lives of people with serious diseases, to foster a culture of integrity and excellence and to build sustainable communities. Regeneron is proud to be included on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and the Civic 50 list of the most “community-minded” companies in the United States. Throughout the year, Regeneron empowers and supports employees to give back through our volunteering, pro-bono and matching gift programs. Our most significant philanthropic commitments are in the area of science education, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search and Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.

For additional information about Regeneron, please visit www.regeneron.com or follow Regeneron on LinkedIn.

About Society for Science 

Society for Science is a champion for science, dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Established in 1921, Society for Science is best known for its award-winning journalism through Science News and Science News Explores, its world-class science research competitions for students, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, and its outreach and equity programming that seeks to ensure that all students have an opportunity to pursue a career in STEM. A 501(c)(3) membership organization, Society for Science is committed to inform, educate and inspire. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (Society4Science)

Media Contacts:

Joseph Brown, Regeneron
386-283-1323
Joseph.Brown2@regeneron.com

Gayle Kansagor, Society for Science
703-489-1131
gkansagor@societyforscience.org

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Thermo Fisher Scientific and Society for Science today announced the winners of the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (Thermo Fisher JIC), the nation’s premier middle school science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competition. Shanya Gill, 12, from San Jose, California; won the $25,000 Thermo Fisher Scientific ASCEND (Aspiring Scientists Cultivating Exciting New Discoveries) Award, the top prize in the competition.

In the summer of 2022, a fire destroyed a restaurant behind Shanya’s house. That incident inspired her to create a fire-detection system that involved connecting an affordable thermal camera to a compact computer. She then programmed the system to differentiate between people–which were identified as warm objects moving horizontally–and heat sources, such as an active gas burner, which were identified as hot objects that remained stationary. Shanya then programmed the system to send a text message when it detected a heat source but no human presence for a continuous 10-minute period. Shanya’s system accurately detected human presence 98% of the time and heat sources 97% of the time.

The Thermo Fisher JIC, a program of Society for Science, reaches 65,000 middle schoolers nationwide and inspires them to follow their personal STEM passions to exciting college and career paths. The 30 finalists are counted among the nation’s brightest students, with several, including Shanya, collectively accepting more than $100,000 at tonight’s award ceremony at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Thermo Fisher’s sponsorship of the Junior Innovators Challenge continues the company’s longstanding commitment to widespread and equitable access to STEM education. Together with Society for Science, Thermo Fisher is helping to increase the number of students who enter the competition and nurture a future STEM talent pool that is more diverse than ever.

Each of the 30 finalists participated in team challenges in addition to being judged on their science research projects. The challenges leveraged project-based learning and tested their critical thinking, communication, creativity and collaboration skills in each of the STEM areas. During the team challenges, the finalists designed devices to study the Chesapeake Bay’s oyster reef ecosystem and investigated the spread of a “zombie pathogen” to find solutions and identify mitigation or eradication strategies. The finalists also employed block coding and construction skills to create an interactive minigolf hole.

“The top winners of the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge have exhibited boundless curiosity,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of Society for Science and Executive Publisher of Science News Media Group. “Their remarkable research not only reflects their talent but also paves the way for an exciting new future.”

Shanya Gill, 12, San Jose, Calif.; won the $25,000 ASCEND Award for her project designing a fire detection system as well as the leadership, collaboration and critical thinking skills she demonstrated through the course of her research project and Finals Week challenges.

Keshvee Sekhda, 14, Sugar Hill, Ga.; won the $10,000 Broadcom Coding with Commitment^TM Award for combining coding with STEM knowledge to create a solution that improves one’s community and aligns with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Keshvee and her teammate Nyambura Sallinen developed a smartphone app called IdentiCan to identify breast, lung and skin cancer. It uses photos or health scans, sound clips and personal health information to predict diagnoses.

Maya Gandhi, 14, Anaheim, Calif.; won the $10,000 DoD STEM Talent Award for demonstrating excellence in science, technology, engineering or math, along with the leadership and technical skills necessary to excel in the 21^st Century STEM workforce and build a better community for tomorrow. Maya explored different substances to boost energy output of plant microbial fuel cells, which generate electricity using living plants and microbes.

Adyant Bhavsar, 13, San Jose, Calif.; won the $10,000 Lemelson Award for Invention, awarded by The Lemelson Foundation to a young inventor creating promising product-based solutions to real-world problems. Adyant created a low-cost, eco-friendly version of a triboelectric nanogenerator. This device generates electricity from the mechanical energy of two touching objects when they separate.

Elizabeth (Ellie Lou) Olvera, 13, Goleta, Calif.; won the $10,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement, which recognizes the student whose work and performance shows the most promise in health-related fields and demonstrates an understanding of the many social factors that affect health. Ellie Lou identified an eco-friendly fabric suitable for creating affordable and reusable menstrual pads.

“Congratulations to our inaugural class of Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge winners!” said Dr. Karen Nelson, Chief Scientific Officer, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “These exceptional students are future changemakers in their chosen fields, and they are also role models for all young learners who aspire to improve society through STEM. We are honored to celebrate their extraordinary talent and passion and look forward to seeing how their projects positively impact our world.”

Thermo Fisher JIC winners were chosen from the 30 finalists, who were selected from nearly 2,000 applicants from 49 states, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico. Winners were selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, engineers and educators. All the finalists’ schools also receive a $1,000 grant to support STEM programming.

In addition to the top prizes, Thermo Fisher and the Society announced first- and second-place winners in each of the STEM categories of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math; as well as the competition’s Team Award.

First- and second-place winners of STEM Awards demonstrated acumen and promise in science, technology, engineering and math. First-place winners were awarded $3,500 and second-place winners received $2,500 to support their choice of a STEM summer camp experience in the U.S. All STEM Award winners received an iPad.

Science Award:

• First place: Veronica Howard, Pesticide Residue on Organic versus Conventional Produce and the Effect of Simple Washing Techniques
• Second place: Elizabeth Shen, Diffusion-Only Water Transport and How to Modulate Its Speed

Technology Award:

• First place: Advait Badrish, HeartNN: A High-Accuracy Neural Network for Cardiac Auscultation
• Second place: Chloe Svetlana Fierro, Therma-Q: Analyzing the Thermal Performance of a Quercus Suber Insulation

Engineering Award:

• First place: Krishna Bhatt, A Novel Wearable for Active Prevention of Falls Through GRU-Based Gyroscopic Inference and Center of Mass Manipulation
• Second place: Claire Xu, The Future of Fashion and Functionality: Transforming Produce Waste and Lignocellulosic Fibers into Sustainable Vegan Leather

Mathematics Award:

• First place: Tate D. Plohr, The Stability of Solar Flares
• Second place: Amritha Praveen, Improving Mental Health Using Artificial Intelligence-Powered Music Therapy

Team Award, sponsored by TIES: Each member of the Finals Week challenge team that best demonstrates their ability to work together and solve problems through shared decision making, communication and scientific and engineering collaboration received a $200 science supply company gift card to support their interests in STEM.

Silver Team: Colin Beckner, Adyant Bhavsar, Shanya Gill, Akshadha Mehta, Venice Parnell

Thermo Fisher Scientific Leadership Award: Bestowed upon one finalist, this award recognizes the student elected by their peers to speak on behalf of their Thermo Fisher JIC class at the Awards Ceremony. The Class Speaker demonstrates the collegiality and spirited leadership that has earned the collective esteem of the class and united them around common goals.

• Maya Gandhi, Optimizing Plant Microbial Fuel Cell Energy Output: The Effect of Anodic Substance and Configuration

Media Kit: https://www.societyforscience.org/thermo-fisher-jic-2023-media-kit/

About Society for Science
Society for Science is a champion for science, dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Established in 1921, Society for Science is best known for its award-winning journalism through Science News and Science News Explores, its world-class science research competitions for students, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, and its outreach and equity programming that seeks to ensure that all students have an opportunity to pursue a career in STEM. A 501(c)(3) membership organization, Society for Science is committed to inform, educate and inspire. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Snapchat (Society4Science).

About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue of approximately $40 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, increasing productivity in their laboratories, improving patient health through diagnostics or the development and manufacture of life-changing therapies, we are here to support them. Our global team delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services, Patheon and PPD. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Society for Science today announced a new category in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) that highlights the growing role that technology plays in the arts. The new category, Technology Enhances the Arts (TECA), will focus on projects that incorporate “the use of technology to ignite new concepts, visualization tools and/or media to enhance our enjoyment of the arts.”

“Innovation knows no bounds and with the introduction of the Regeneron ISEF Technology Enhances the Arts category, we are paving the way for creativity to flourish in the digital age,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of Society for Science and Executive Publisher, Science News Media Group.

The new Technology Enhances the Arts category brings the number of categories up to 22. The 21 other categories range from Animal Sciences, to Biomedical Engineering, to Chemistry, to Earth & Environmental Sciences to Mathematics to Microbiology.

The category will incorporate the following topics:

• Display Technology (DSP): New presentation technology to enhance the realism and excitement in entertainment.
• Human Information Exchange (HIE): Technologies that enhance linguistic communications between people to include languages, interpretations, and narrations.
• Music and Image Manipulation (MIM): The use of waveform manipulation technology to create, enhance or improve the enjoyment and/or selection of music or images.
• Games (GAM): Technology that creates or enhances the interactive sensory environments for competition.
• 3D Modeling (MOD): Technologies based on additive processes to produce new 3D art works.
• Engineering Effects (ENG): The use of autonomous devices to enhance the human artistic experience.

Regeneron ISEF’s categories have changed over the years to better reflect the changes in scientific research and to be able to match judge expertise with the disciplines of the over 1,400 projects at Regeneron ISEF each year.

The Technology Enhances the Arts category will improve the judging experience for projects involving art-related technology, encouraging more students to become engaged in independent research.  Previous changes to the categories included expanding computer science being into several categories, such as Embedded Systems, Systems Software and Computational Biology and Bioinformatics.  Similarly, environmental sciences was expanded to become Earth and Environmental Sciences, Environmental Engineering and Energy: Sustainable Materials and Design while the Medicine and Health category was split to become Biomedical and Health Sciences, Biomedical Engineering and Translational Medical Science.

About Society for Science

Society for Science is a champion for science, dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Established in 1921, Society for Science is best known for its award-winning journalism through Science News and Science News Explores, its world-class science research competitions for students, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, and its outreach and equity programming that seeks to ensure that all students have an opportunity to pursue a career in STEM. A 501(c)(3) membership organization, Society for Science is committed to inform, educate and inspire. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (Society4Science).

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“I am so honored to be inducted into American Academy of Arts and Sciences with such luminary individuals,” said Ajmera. “I look forward to working with the Academy members to address some of the most pressing issues facing our world.”

In 1780, the Academy’s founders envisioned an organization that would recognize accomplished individuals and engage them in addressing the greatest challenges facing the young nation. The first members included Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. The members elected in 2022 also include historian Heather Cox Richardson, novelist Salman Rushdie and New York Times critic Wesley Morris. The full directory can be viewed here.

Prior to joining Society for Science, Ajmera founded the Global Fund for Children (GFC), a nonprofit a nonprofit organization that invests in innovative, community-based organizations working with some of the world’s most vulnerable children and youth. Under Ajmera’s 18 years of leadership, GCF grew from a vision into one of the largest networks of grassroots organizations working on behalf of vulnerable children.

Ajmera served as the inaugural Social Entrepreneur in Residence for Duke University and Visiting Professor for the Practice of Public Policy at The Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke. She was a Visiting Scholar and Professorial Lecturer at The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University and continues to serve as an adjunct on the faculty of the International Development Program

She is also an award-winning children’s book author of more than 20 titles, including Back to School, Every Breath We Take, Children from Australia to Zimbabwe and To Be a Kid, with more than 5 million readers worldwide.

Ajmera is the recipient of the 2020 National Science Board Public Service Award, recognized for her tremendous contribution to increasing the public’s understanding of science and engineering. She is also a recipient of the Henry Crown Fellowship at the Aspen Institute, the Echoing Green Fellowship, the William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations and the Rotary International Graduate Fellowship.

Ajmera is a board member for Echoing Green, Kids in Need of Defense, Sibley Memorial Hospital/Johns Hopkins Medicine and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Foundation. She holds an A.B. from Bryn Mawr College and an M.P.P. from The Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University.

About Society for Science

Society for Science is a champion for science, dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Established in 1921, Society for Science is best known for its award-winning journalism through Science News and Science News Explores, its world-class science research competitions for students, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, and its outreach and equity programming that seeks to ensure that all students have an opportunity to pursue a career in STEM. A 501(c)(3) membership organization, Society for Science is committed to inform, educate and inspire. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (Society4Science).

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WASHINGTON, DC (Sept. 20, 2023) – Society for Science today announced the 30 finalists in the inaugural Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (Thermo Fisher JIC), the nation’s premier middle school science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) competition. The Thermo Fisher JIC, a program of the Society for Science, seeks to inspire young scientists, engineers and innovators who will solve the grand challenges of the future.

The 30 finalists were selected by a nationwide panel of scientists, engineers and educators from a pool of Top 300 Junior Innovators announced earlier this month. The finalists will attend the Thermo Fisher JIC Finals Week in Washington, D.C. next month, where a panel of judges will evaluate their scientific research and their communication, creativity and collaboration skills during team challenges.

Thermo Fisher’s sponsorship of the Junior Innovators Challenge continues its longstanding commitment to widespread and equitable access to STEM education. Together with Society for Science, Thermo Fisher is helping to increase the number of students who enter the competition and nurture a future STEM talent pool that is more diverse than ever.

“I applaud the top 30 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovator Challenge finalists! I look forward to meeting them in Washington, DC,” said Maya Ajmera, President & CEO of the Society for Science and Executive Publisher of Science News. “These young people are truly inspiring, with many of them seeking to solve problems within their own communities. They give me hope for the future.”

“Congratulations to these 30 finalists, who demonstrate a talent and passion for scientific inquiry that’s far beyond their years,” said Dr. Karen Nelson, Chief Scientific Officer, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “As a company that promotes access and equity in STEM, we are delighted to see this cohort of finalists who have the power to change the face of their fields as they move through their careers.”

Thermo Fisher JIC Finalist Fast Facts:

• More than half of this year’s finalists identify as female
• The top project category is Engineering
• The finalists come from 12 states, led by California, Texas and Georgia
• More than half of the finalists attend public school

A full list of the finalists can be viewed here: https://www.societyforscience.org/jic/2023-finalists/.

The Thermo Fisher JIC reaches 65,000 students annually through the Society’s Affiliated Fair network. Students who are named in the top 10% of their local affiliated science fair are eligible to enter the Thermo Fisher JIC, the only middle school STEM competition that leverages Society-affiliated science fairs as a critical component of the STEM talent pipeline. All finalists receive a $500 cash award and will participate in the Thermo Fisher JIC Finals Week in Washington, DC, where they will compete for the following awards:

• $25,000 Thermo Fisher Scientific ASCEND (Aspiring Scientists Cultivating Exciting New Discoveries) Award, which will go to the student who demonstrates mastery of all STEM fields and exemplifies how research, innovation and teamwork come together to impact our everyday lives.

• $10,000 Broadcom Coding with Commitment Award ^TM, presented to a finalist whose project and performance combines expert STEM knowledge and passion for helping or improving one’s community through computation/coding.
• $10,000 DoD STEM Talent Award, which will be awarded to a finalist who demonstrates excellence in science, technology, engineering or math, along with the leadership and technical skills necessary to excel in the 21^st century STEM workforce.
• $10,000 Lemelson Award for Invention, awarded by The Lemelson Foundation to a young inventor creating promising solutions to real-world problems.
• $10,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement, which recognizes the student whose work and performance show the most promise in health-related fields and demonstrates an understanding of the many social factors that affect the health of communities.
• First and Second Place Awards issued in each category of STEM of $3,500 or $2,500, respectively, to be used toward a STEM summer camp experience.
• Team Award, sponsored by Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM (TIES), which awards a $200 gift card to a science supply company in support of their interests in STEM to each member of the team that best demonstrates their ability to work together and solve problems through shared decision making, communication and scientific and engineering collaboration.

The Thermo Fisher JIC recognizes finalists’ schools with $1,000 each to use toward STEM activities.

About Society for Science

Society for Science is a champion for science, dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Established in 1921, Society for Science is best known for its award-winning journalism through Science News and Science News Explores, its world-class science research competitions for students, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, and its outreach and equity programming that seeks to ensure that all students have an opportunity to pursue a career in STEM. A 501(c)(3) membership organization, Society for Science is committed to inform, educate and inspire. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (Society4Science).

The post Thirty Exceptional Young Scientists Named Finalists in Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge appeared first on Society for Science.

“I am thrilled to welcome David to the Society for Science,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO, Society for Science and Executive Publisher, Science News. “David brings exceptional financial acumen and experience in addition to proven judgement, making him an invaluable asset to our executive team as we guide the Society forward.”

During his tenure at The Climate Reality Project, Jenkins implemented a disciplined budgeting process and saw the organization’s net assets increase by $20 million. He previously held a number of financial executive leadership roles, including Director of Finance at K12, Chief Operating Officer of the Albany Charter School Network, Corporate Accounting Manager at Imagine Schools and Chief Financial Officer of Grace Covenant Churches of Metro Washington D.C.

“I am excited to join the Society and support this next phase of its rich history,” Jenkins said. “Inspiring young students to make new discoveries in STEM will enrich their lives and the world at large. I’m passionate about education because I believe in its power to impact the legacies of families and communities.”

Jenkins also served as an Advisory Group Member of The Age of Learning Foundation and on the Board of Directors of ECS Learning Systems, and Excellent Options. His professional journey began at Deloitte, where he served as an auditor and Senior Consultant for Enterprise Risk Services.

Jenkins earned a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Accounting and in Management Information Systems from the University of South Carolina. He is also a Certified Public Accountant.

About Society for Science

Society for Science is a champion for science, dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Established in 1921, Society for Science is best known for its award-winning journalism through Science News and Science News Explores, its world-class science research competitions for students, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, and its outreach and equity programming that seeks to ensure that all students have an opportunity to pursue a career in STEM. A 501(c)(3) membership organization, Society for Science is committed to inform, educate and inspire. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (Society4Science).

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