Perhaps you have heard of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Now known as the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair ISEF. It is the world’s largest international pre-college science competition.
ISEF unites top young scientific minds. They showcase their talents on an international stage. Doctoral level scientists review and judge their work.
ISEF happens each year in a different city. Local Arrangement Committees partner with the Society for Science and Intel. They support the event. This support includes recruiting volunteers and judges. They also organize an education outreach day. This day sees more than 3000 students visit.
Students in grades 9-12 can compete. They must compete in an ISEF affiliated science fair. This fair can be at local, regional, or state levels. Winning earns them a spot at ISEF. Students must be younger than 20 on or before May 1 preceding.
ISEF was founded in 1950. Science Service now the Society for Science founded it. Intel sponsored it from 1997 to 2019. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals became the title sponsor in 2020. The 2020 event was canceled. It was replaced with an online version due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 ISEF was fully virtual. 2022 was online and in-person in Atlanta, GA. 2023 was in person in Dallas, TX. The 2024 ISEF was in Los Angeles, CA. The 2025 ISEF will be in Columbus, OH.
ISEF alumni include many notable scientists. These include Richard Zare, James Gunn, and John Clauser. Also, Paul Modrich, Susan Solomon, and Kristina M Johnson. Dianne Newman, Vamsi Mootha, and Feng Zhang also attended ISEF. Lester Mackey, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Alex Deans, and Eesha Khare are alumni too.
Contestants are selected from affiliated fairs. These fairs cover multiple states or entire regions. Individual and team science projects compete for prizes. Teams have two to four high school students. Students experience the host city with tours and activities. Seminars are held for students, mentors, and teachers.
Projects are judged in 22 subject categories. These include Animal Sciences and Behavioral and Social Sciences. Also, Biochemistry, Biomedical and Health Sciences, and Biomedical Engineering. Other categories are Cellular and Molecular Biology, Chemistry, and Computational Biology and Bioinformatics. Earth and Environmental Sciences, Embedded Systems, and Energy: Sustainable Materials and Design also feature. Furthermore, Engineering Technology: Statics and Dynamics, and Environmental Engineering. Materials Science, Mathematics, and Microbiology are included. Physics and Astronomy, Plant Sciences, and Robotics and Intelligent Machines are further categories. Systems Software, Technology Enhances the Arts, and Translational Medical Science complete the list.
ISEF awards many prizes and honors. The George Yancopoulos Innovator Award gives a $75000 scholarship. Regeneron Young Scientist Awards give $50000 to two projects. The Gordon E Moore Award offers $50000 for positive outcomes.
The Dudley R Herschbach SIYSS Award provides a trip to Stockholm. This includes attending the Nobel Prize ceremonies. The Craig R Barrett Award for Innovation gives $10000. The H Robert Horvitz Prize awards $10000 for fundamental research. The Peggy Scripps Award gives $10000 for science communication.
Since 2001, MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory has named asteroids after ISEF winners. Multiple organizations sponsor special awards.
The Regeneron ISEF Finalist Medal is given to about 1800 students each year. About 7 million students participate in affiliated fairs. The medal has a diameter of 48 mm. The obverse shows the Regeneron ISEF logo. The reverse shows the year and location. The ribbon is blue with a golden Roman 1.
In 2007, six young people represented Uruguay at Intel ISEF in New Mexico. Their projects won the National Science Clubs Fair. John Larzabar and Rodrigo Ferreira won first place. Agustina Rossi and Sebastián Odera won second. Pedro Vignolo and Cristian Silvera won third. Intel funded the young people to participate in the world competition. They competed for scholarships and prizes valued at $4 million.
Located on Rambla Euskal Erría, the ISEF building spans 2000 m2. It doubles the physical plant of the Instituto Superior de Educación Física. The building is within the limits of Zone 6 of Municipality E.