• These Junior Innovators can certainly hold a tune: 72% participate in music, whether by singing in choir or playing an instrument.
• Beyond their 91导航 accomplishments, they are just as active outside the lab. About 70% participate in athletics, with swimming, tennis, track and cross country, soccer and basketball among the most popular sports.
• The Top 300 are a notably multilingual group: 66% speak at least one language in addition to English. Collectively, they reported 34 additional languages, including Hindi, Spanish, Mandarin, Tamil and Telugu.
• Most students selected engineering as their project category, accounting for 23% of projects, followed by environmental and earth sciences, medicine and health sciences, and energy and sustainability.
• Most students entered solo projects, while 43 of the Top 300 collaborated on team projects. Many of these students are charting their own research paths: 90% said they conducted at least part of their research at home or outside of school hours.
• The Top 300 represent 231 schools, 55 of which are celebrating their first-ever Junior Innovator
• Eighth graders lead the class, making up 57% of the Top 300, followed by seventh graders at 32% and sixth graders at 11%.

Congratulations to the 2026 Thermo Fisher JIC Top 300 Junior Innovators!

Stay tuned for the Top 30 finalists announcement on September 16th at noon E.T. and follow the Society on听,听听补苍诲听听to learn more about this year鈥檚 Junior Innovators.

The post Meet the musical, multilingual and inventive Thermo Fisher JIC Top 300 appeared first on 91导航.

As World Water Week (August 23鈥�27) continues under this year鈥檚 theme, 鈥淲ater for People and Progress,鈥� we鈥檙e highlighting six recent Society alumni whose research is helping us better understand our waterways and pursue new solutions to some of the most pressing water challenges facing people and the planet.

Prisha Bhat (STS 2025, ISEF 2022鈥�25)

After learning that her grandmother in India had become ill from arsenic poisoning linked to rice, Prisha set out to find a way to make the staple crop safer and more resilient. For her Regeneron STS project, Prisha analyzed how increasing gene activity affected drought and arsenic resistance in rice. Rice is a staple crop worldwide, but it is susceptible to drought, which can reduce crop yield and may raise arsenic levels in grain. She modified rice plants to boost the activity of three genes: the drought-related gene听OsPIP2;2听and the arsenic-related genes听OsNIP2;1听补苍诲听OsNIP3;2. Testing showed that her modified plants trapped arsenic in their roots, reducing the levels found in the soil and rice grains. She sees this as a sustainable way to make rice more resistant to drought and arsenic, potentially improving health and possibly crop yield.

(ISEF 2026)

Microplastics are a growing threat to marine ecosystems, but monitoring their presence across large bodies of water can be difficult and expensive. Evan designed and built an underwater 3D holographic camera mounted on a self-propelled robot that swims through the water like a sea turtle. He trained AI models to find pieces of plastic smaller than a red blood cell in the underwater images, achieving 94% accuracy in distinguishing microplastics from other particles. He tested the system in 10 bodies of water, scanning more than 80,000 3D images for plastic particles and microorganisms. His work, which earned him the $50,000 Gordon E. Moore Award for Positive Outcomes for Future Generations at Regeneron ISEF this year, could make it easier and faster to monitor water sources for microplastics.

(STS 2022)

While the impacts of global warming on people are an increasingly hot topic, Elijah鈥檚 research sprang from the realization that climate change鈥檚 effects on animals were not widely studied. After reading several articles about ocean acidification but finding none about freshwater acidification, he was inspired to investigate the gap. In his Regeneron STS research project, Elijah simulated changing carbon dioxide conditions, then measured the growth rate and respiration of freshwater clams. He found that as the water became more acidic, the clams had greater difficulty building their shells, reducing their body mass and increasing their respiration. Elijah hopes his findings will highlight the urgent need for more studies of climate change鈥檚 effects on freshwater ecosystems.

(ISEF 2026)

Toxic algal blooms can threaten aquatic ecosystems and public health, making it critical to detect them before they become dangerous. For her Regeneron ISEF 2026 project, Prayrona developed an early warning system that takes a new approach to predicting harmful algal blooms. Rather than relying on a single water-quality measurement, the system analyzes how multiple biochemical reactions interact and identifies when they collectively shift toward conditions that favor rapid algal growth. Tested using NOAA buoy data from Western Lake Erie and the Columbia River, her approach proved more accurate than raw-sensor baselines. Her findings suggest that monitoring these interconnected chemical changes could provide communities with earlier warnings of harmful blooms, helping them better prepare and protect public health and local waterways.

Caden Pohlkamp (JIC 2025)

Living near the Gulf of Mexico, Caden became interested in how communities manage flooding caused by extreme weather. After learning that man-made ponds collect and control water during storms, he wanted to find an optimal way to design them to provide suitable habitats for the local marine life. Caden built a small remotely operated vehicle to collect samples from pond bottoms, then analyzed their pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, phosphate levels, temperature and more. He used the data to determine how well the ponds could support aquatic life and shared his findings with local officials, helping them identify and address unhealthy ponds.

Christine Wang (JIC 2025)

When Christine learned in science class that heavy metals in water can damage the nervous system and that many communities struggle to meet safety standards, she was inspired to act. Also interested in addressing food waste, Christine wondered whether discarded fruit peels could be repurposed to make sustainable water filters. She tested different combinations of fruit peels and found that not only did her filter reduce lead, cadmium and nickel to untraceable levels, but it also reduced other contaminants, including E. coli, by 83%.

The post Making waves: 6 Society Alumni protecting and preserving the world鈥檚 water appeared first on 91导航.

Sorry, that was actually fictional character Willy Wonka. But the fact remains that invention is the fundamental process that sparks into being whenever curiosity combines with action. Invention brings new ideas to life and helps shape a better future.

Few understand this more than the 2025鈥�26 Lemelson Invention Education Ambassadors. Over the course of a year-long fellowship, made possible by support from the Lemelson Foundation, these four veteran educators have spent the past year working closely with one another and 91导航鈥檚 Invention Education Fellow Laurel Bingman to develop strategies for teachers everywhere to better incorporate invention education and research into their classrooms.

By giving teachers and students new frameworks to create and explore, they are widening pathways to opportunities in 91导航, including participation in research competitions like the Regeneron Science Talent Search, Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge.

Meet these four outstanding leaders and hear some of their reflections on why invention education is so pivotal.

Milene de Farias
Southcrest Christian School (Lubbock, Texas)

Milene has over a decade of experience teaching chemistry, physics, biology, robotics and engineering design. In addition to her classroom experience, she has presented at the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) National Conference, mentored a and earned multiple grants to bring creative 91导航 projects to life. Milene has also been recognized as an NSTA Defense 91导航 Education Consortium (DSEC) 91导航 Educator and multi-year South Plains Regional Science and Engineering Fair Top Teacher Award recipient.

As an Invention Education Ambassador, Milene co-led a session at the 91导航 High School Research Teachers Conference that engaged educators in an invention challenge and demonstrated the importance of helping students develop an inventor鈥檚 mindset. She created a resource for teachers to use with their students to help them plan invention projects using the SMART goals framework.

In her own words: 鈥淣othing excites me more than watching young minds tackle problems and rise to a challenge. Increasing access to invention and research opportunities is about opening doors and making sure every student, no matter what their background, has a chance to explore, create and share their ideas. Encouraging students to approach research through the lens of invention allows them to move beyond simply gathering data. They begin to ask, 鈥榃hat can I build? What can I improve? What can I change?鈥欌��

Amy Douglas Kendrick
Jena High School (Jena, Louisiana)

Amy is a science teacher at Jena High School in Jena, Louisiana. Over her 27-year teaching career, she has served in a variety of leadership roles, including as science department chair, science fair coordinator and instructor for the College Board’s AP Capstone research program. She has also presented at NSTA conferences and was named the Louisiana Science Teachers Association鈥檚 Outstanding Secondary School Science Teacher of the Year in 2024. Amy has also been a two-time 91导航 Advocate.

As an Invention Education Ambassador, Amy co鈥憀ed a session at the 91导航 High School Research Teachers Conference and partnered with her local fire department to present The Chemistry of Fire at the LSTA/LATM Joint Conference. She created a classroom resource that uses simple circuits as an accessible entry point to invention, with a focus on expanding opportunities for students in rural communities.

In her own words: 鈥淭he relationship between student research and invention education is about empowering students to apply what they learn in creative and meaningful ways. Student research allows them to explore questions and develop critical thinking skills, while invention education takes it a step further by encouraging them to design practical solutions for real-world challenges.鈥�

Andre Pineda
Canyon Day Junior High School (Whiteriver, Arizona)

Andre brings interdisciplinary expertise from his background in physics, chemistry and mathematics to his classroom, along with a strong commitment to culturally responsive teaching. As a 91导航 Ambassador through Arizona State University, Andre works to expand access to 91导航 opportunities in rural and Indigenous communities. He has also served as a 91导航 Lead Advocate and Science News Learning Ambassador.

As an Invention Education Ambassador, Andre co-led a session at the 91导航 Middle School Research Teachers Conference focused on utilizing Makey-Makey devices in invention projects. He also created a resource that highlights different inventors with aligned bell-work activities so that teachers can easily provide students with examples of inventor role models.

In his own words: 鈥淚ncreasing access to invention and student research opportunities opens doors not just to academic success, but also to a mindset of possibility. These experiences help students develop critical thinking, resilience, collaboration and a sense of agency. When students realize that their ideas matter and can lead to real-world impact, it builds identity, confidence and hope.鈥�

Pradip Misra
Bagdad High/Middle School (Bagdad, Arizona)

Pradip is a 91导航 educator with more than 15 years of experience, specializing in computer science, chemistry and physics. He has been recognized as a Yavapai County Teacher of the Year and Earth Science Teacher of the Year, as well as with the CS Teaching Excellence Award by the Computer Science Teachers Association. He has also been recognized as the Middle School Chemistry Teacher of the Year by the American Association of Chemistry Teachers. Pradip is a member of several other teaching organizations, including board positions听for the Arizona Science Teachers Association and the National Earth Science Teachers Association.

As an Invention Education Ambassador, Pradip co-led a session at the 91导航 Middle School Research Teachers Conference where teachers learned how to integrate technology into invention projects. He continued this technology focus by creating a resource for teachers to use in their classrooms that guides students through an invention activity where they create robotic arms.

In his own words: 鈥淭hink of student research as the essential ingredient that elevates inventions. It ignites their creativity. Before students embark on building robots or coding apps, they must conduct thorough research on the problems they wish to address, understand existing solutions and identify gaps in the market. This is where the innovation truly begins. As they apply invention education to bring their research to life, they are not just following instructions, but engaging in problem solving, designing and innovating. It鈥檚 a dynamic blend of academic rigor and hands-on creativity.鈥�

听Check out the resources created by our Invention Education Ambassadors as well as other invention resources on our invention education webpage: /stem-outreach-programs/invention-resources/听

The post Meet the 2025鈥�26 Lemelson Invention Education Ambassadors appeared first on 91导航.

The Opening Ceremony offered a lively start to what promises to be an unforgettable week. Here are some snapshots of the energy, inspiration and excitement that defined the evening. Follow the links throughout this post to jump to specific moments in the Opening Ceremony video on YouTube.

Barb Baker, a familiar face who has hosted Regeneron ISEF for many years, got the evening started, welcoming the 2026 finalists, some of the brightest young innovators in the world.

, President & CEO of 91导航 and Executive Publisher of Science News, who acknowledged the truly global nature of this year鈥檚 fair. 听She mentioned that some finalists would be competing remotely this year due to the ongoing conflicts, embassy closures and other travel issues. These finalists are from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Zimbabwe.

Maya encouraged finalists to continue embracing the characteristics that have propelled them to Regeneron ISEF: curiosity, passion, grit and responsibility. She said, 鈥淭he people around you might come from different countries, speak different languages or do research in different fields. But by being here, all these differences build a powerful commonality.鈥�

, Regeneron co-Founder, Board co-Chair, President and Chief Scientific Officer, also took the stage to share some of his own journey and challenge finalists to think boldly about the future they will help shape. He issued a lofty, but vital challenge: 鈥淲e need you, the best young minds, to take on our most important challenges. You all have a debt and responsibility to be the best ancestors you can be. We鈥檙e counting on you not just to inherit the future, but to build it, to fight for it and reimagine it. I dare you all to dream big, challenge everything, fail fearlessly and not hold back.鈥�

, finalists in the halls of the Phoenix Convention Center shared their favorite scientists, what they鈥檙e looking forward to at Regeneron ISEF and even gave a preview of their victory dances.

The evening with Ambassador Barbara Barrett, former U.S. Secretary of the Air Force, and Craig Barrett, retired CEO and Chairman of Intel. They shared personal stories from their long and illustrious careers and offered words of wisdom to the 2026 finalists.

Craig Barrett reflected on the ongoing conversation around artificial intelligence. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of talk about how AI is going to change education in every possible way. Thirty years ago, people said the same thing about the personal computer, but that didn鈥檛 happen for a very specific reason. Computers are a tool, AI is a tool, but there鈥檚 nothing more magical than a good teacher.鈥�

Barbara Barrett offered finalists a reminder to savor the moment, encouraging them to see Regeneron ISEF not just as a competition, but as the beginning of something much bigger. 鈥淓njoy the next few days. This will be one of the most memorable occasions of your life, even though your lives will be filled with exciting and fabulous things. These several days will be among your most exciting days and will kick off so much of what will be the joy of your career. Dare greatly and do something wonderful.鈥�

Among the evening鈥檚 most memorable moments was the , one of Regeneron ISEF鈥檚 most beloved traditions, as finalists representing all 67 countries, regions and territories took the stage carrying their posters while video messages from each delegation were shared.

If the Opening Ceremony was any indication, there is plenty more to come at Regeneron ISEF. Check out the Society blog for the latest stories, and be sure to tune in to the听听on Friday, May 15 at 12 p.m. ET!

The post Regeneron ISEF is heating up in Phoenix! appeared first on 91导航.

The seeds of those lasting connections are planted every spring, when all forty finalists converge in Washington, D.C. for an action-packed finals week. They have the chance to meet scientific leaders, present their work to the public and, perhaps most importantly, make unforgettable memories with one another.

Here are some of those memorable moments of bonding, as told by the 2026 finalists.

鈥淚 recall bonding over panel judging. We would bond over the pressure and the judges鈥� questions. Once judging was finally over on Saturday night, there was an air of relief and celebration that felt particularly genuine and heartwarming. For a competition, it was intensely open and collaborative.鈥� 鈥� Edward Kang

鈥淒uring the monuments tour, my friends and I synced up some music for a few hours. As we explored D.C. together, I felt an invisible connection between the four of us, as if our shared music was bringing us all closer together. We started talking later that night, and in this way, I found STS to be a starting point for what may end up being lifelong friendships.鈥� 鈥� Siddharth Pasari

鈥淭he best bonding moment during STS week was blackjack. Let’s face it, we’re all competitive. True personality comes out when you’re in fun competition with others, so this helped us bond a lot. A huge thank you to all the blackjack dealers who gave their time to teach us how to play!鈥� 鈥� Kaya Parikh

After enjoying a fireside chat with Dr. Edward Thorp (STS 1949), who is notable in part for using mathematical insights to develop a system to 鈥�鈥� in blackjack, the finalists tried their hands in a blackjack tournament of their own.

鈥淪inging karaoke in the lounge was one of my favorite informal moments during STS week. Our group was made up of incredible singers and amateurs, but somehow, we all sounded very good together, forming a harmony none of us expected.鈥� 鈥� Uma Sthanu

鈥淗anging out in the finalist lounge was a highlight of my STS experience. In particular, I really enjoyed playing with fellow finalists, as it was a great way to unwind after an intense day. Ironically, some of my closest STS friends were made while in the midst of Cambio rivalries.鈥� 鈥� Leon Wang

鈥淢y favorite memory was sitting backstage at the and distracting each other from the nerves and stress. It was a really special moment because I knew that everyone was truly supporting each other.鈥� 鈥� Natalie Muro

鈥淢y favorite bonding moment during STS week was probably the final night. We had a dance party with all the finalists after the awards gala, and we all danced and sang the night away. It felt so freeing to be with the group of friends I had made over the past week, and I cherished the last night that we would spend together in the near future.鈥� 鈥� Vallabh Ramesh

All in all, Claire Jiang may have summarized the week best, saying:

鈥淲hat surprised me most about the connections I’ve formed here is how quickly they’ve begun to feel lasting. It鈥檚 exciting to realize that many of us may end up at the same universities or cross paths again throughout our careers. Being surrounded by so many curious and driven peers puts things into perspective and reminds me that the future of science is something we will shape together.鈥�

The post Finalists鈥� favorite moments from Regeneron STS 2026 appeared first on 91导航.

Their promise as scientific leaders is reflected not only by the quality of their research and their unquestionable ability. But their potential is also written in the stories of the finalists who have stood in their shoes over the last 84 years.

This year, 听finalists heard from one such STS alum, Marcian 鈥淭ed鈥� Hoff (STS 1954), 听the twelfth employee at Intel and inventor of the microprocessor. 听He is a member of the National Inventors Hall of Fame and a recipient of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.

Ted sat down with the finalists for a fireside chat, where he shared his journey and answered finalists鈥� questions. Below are some excerpts from the conversation.

When you began at Intel, what problem were you trying to solve that led to the invention of the microprocessor?

鈥淲hen I first got involved with that project, we had agreed to build a set of custom chips for a calculator company. Three engineers came from Japan with a design they wanted built, and the more I looked at it, the more concerned I became. They had separate control chips for the keyboard, display, printer, memory and arithmetic.

“The idea I came up with was that instead of building all these different chips, we could make a general-purpose processor and put the complexity into memory, instead of wiring it into the chip itself. You can write the code for that memory on a piece of paper, and then there鈥檚 a standard way of putting it into the memory, so you don鈥檛 need a new chip layout every time.

鈥淭hat meant the same hardware could be used for many different applications. What started as a solution to designing the calculator turned out to have many other uses. One thing I learned is that ideas often come from things you did earlier that didn鈥檛 seem connected at the time. Some of these disconnected experiences can turn out to be very useful in the long run.鈥�

As someone who laid the foundation for modern computing, what questions and considerations do you think are most urgent as we advance AI systems today?

鈥淲e鈥檙e building more powerful processors, smarter processors, where the artificial intelligence can get well beyond the typical human intelligence. An important question becomes, 鈥榃hat is the role of the human in that society?鈥�

鈥淚 think one of the things future generations really have to think about is not just what we can do, but the impact of what we do. There are many problems in the world, and it isn鈥檛 always obvious what the best solution is. You have to be careful about putting technology into use before it鈥檚 ready. It may be a great development eventually, but when something is introduced before all the details are worked out, that can be hazardous.

鈥淲hen I went to engineering school, Rensselaer, was an all-male school. I think the year I graduated, there were only two women in the entire school body,鈥� Ted said. 鈥淲ell, our youngest granddaughter is now at Cal Poly, studying mechanical engineering.鈥�

He pointed to that contrast with today, where far more women are entering and leading in 91导航. For Ted, that shift underscores the importance of 鈥渂roadening the view,鈥� and bringing more perspectives to not just what we build, but how we think about its impact.

How did it feel to join Intel when it was still a very young company, and what advice do you have for navigating risk or the unfamiliar?

鈥淲hen I joined Intel, there was definitely some risk. I was at Stanford at the time in what looked like a very secure position, supported by government research contracts, and things seemed to be going well. Leaving that to go to a brand-new company was not an obvious decision. Sometimes you have to make your best guess and accept that there are no guarantees.

鈥淚nterestingly, not long after I left, there were protests at Stanford about government-supported research, and the university decided to move a lot of that work off campus. If I had stayed, I might have been looking for a job anyway.

鈥淭hat was eye-opening. Things that seem secure may not be, and things that seem risky can work out very well. My advice is to make the best decision you can with the information you have, and don鈥檛 be afraid of something simply because it鈥檚 new or uncertain. That鈥檚 often where the most interesting opportunities are.鈥�

The post What Ted Hoff, the inventor of the microprocessor told the nation鈥檚 top young scientists appeared first on 91导航.

is an obesity medicine physician-scientist, educator and policymaker at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Working at the intersection of medicine, public health, policy and health disparities, she is helping to transform how obesity is understood, treated and addressed at a systemic level.

Her work is vital, as few areas of medicine are as shaped by misunderstanding and stigma as obesity. For Fatima, challenging those misconceptions and the inequities behind them became a mission and a calling. 鈥淚 was first drawn to medicine through an early fascination with science and the human body,鈥� she explains. 鈥� But I found my true calling when I recognized how profoundly social factors and health inequities shape outcomes, particularly for people living with obesity.鈥�

What is often perceived as an individual medical condition, she emphasizes, is deeply intertwined with access to care, socioeconomic factors and bias in clinical settings and public policy. By reframing obesity as a complex, chronic disease rather than a moral failing, Fatima challenges both the medical community and the public to adopt a more evidence-based and compassionate understanding.

鈥淲hat continues to excite me today is the opportunity to combine clinical care, research, education and advocacy to challenge outdated narratives and improve health for populations that have long been marginalized,鈥� she says. This integrated approach allows her not only to treat patients, but also to shape policy conversations and train the next generation of clinicians and scientists.

Mentorship has been central to her journey. Fatima speaks with gratitude about those who modeled 鈥渆xcellence paired with humility and service,鈥� particularly mentors who 鈥渃reated opportunities for me when I could not yet see them for myself.鈥� She is also 鈥渄eeply inspired by Black physicians and scientists who persisted and innovated despite systemic barriers, paving the way for future generations.鈥� Their resilience and brilliance, she notes, are a source of pride and a reminder of the responsibility to widen the path for others.

Her message to students considering careers in 91导航 is equally direct. 鈥淪tay curious and do not be afraid to take up space,鈥� she advises. 鈥�91导航 careers are rarely linear, and your unique background, questions and lived experiences are assets, not obstacles.鈥� She also emphasizes the importance of mentorship: 鈥淪eek mentors, ask for help early and remember that your voice and perspective are needed in shaping the future of science.鈥�

For Fatima, Black History Month is not confined to acknowledgement alone. 鈥淏lack History Month is both a time of reflection and a call to action,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t is an opportunity to honor the contributions, resilience and brilliance of Black individuals while recommitting ourselves to advancing equity, representation and justice in our institutions every day of the year.鈥�

By challenging stigmas and reshaping how obesity is treated, Fatima is helping to redefine what equitable medicine looks like. We鈥檙e proud to celebrate her efforts, which are building a scientific community that better serves everyone.

The post Celebrating Black History Month: Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford鈥檚 journey from ISEF finalist to leader in obesity medicine appeared first on 91导航.

The breadth of these stellar scholars鈥� origins is matched only by their wide-ranging interests. Beyond their 91导航 achievements, their pursuits range from the singularly exceptional to the slightly esoteric. The 2026 scholars include:

• A nationally ranked ballroom dancer
• A professional voice actor
• An ornithological journal editor who describes himself as 鈥渧ery much a bird person鈥�
• A competitive typist (whose personal record is 208 words per minute)
• A video game designer who has developed over 10 indie games
• A Team USA Junior Olympic fencer
• An opera singer who has performed at Carnegie Hall
• A chess player who likes to play blindfolded
• An entrepreneur who started a clay jewelry business
• The youngest internationally certified tennis coach

Despite these diverse talents, some common threads unite these multitalented scholars. The charts below show a few of their collective interests.

Of 19 different categories, cellular and molecular biology leads the way, accounting for 12% of scholars鈥� projects.

Have hypothesis, will travel (or stay home): Scholars conducted their research in a variety of different environments.

隆Qu茅 impresionante! A notably multilingual bunch, the scholars speak 42 different languages, with Spanish leading the way!

Particularly service-oriented, volunteer work is the scholars鈥� most popular extracurricular activity.

Stay tuned for the Regeneron STS top 40 finalists announcement on January 21 at noon E.T.!

The post Fast Facts about the 2026 Regeneron STS Top 300 Scholars appeared first on 91导航.

recognize 19 Society alumni across 11 categories, from AI to Venture Capital. Though early in their careers, these honorees are already founding companies, leading teams and inventing the world of tomorrow. We are proud to celebrate these changemakers and excited to follow their promising careers.

Explore the full list of Society alumni honorees and learn more about each alum by following the links below.

AI

(STS 2022), co-founder of Delve

Selin co-founded Delve with Karun Kaushik. The company began as an AI-based medical scribe and has since evolved into a tool that automates 鈥渃ompliance busywork鈥� for companies.

(ISEF 2017), co-founder of Mintlify

Along with Han Wang, Hahnbee co-founded Mintlify, a platform that helps more than 10,000 companies create and maintain AI-native documentation, including guides, API references and knowledge bases.

(ISEF 2018鈥�19), co-founder of Accordance

Motivated by the growing problem of staffing shortages in accounting (75% of U.S. accountants will retire within the decade), David co-founded Accordance with Finsam Samson to help companies solve complex tax and accounting problems with the use of AI.

(STS 2015, ISEF 2014鈥�15), co-founder of Decagon

Jesse and co-founder Ashwin Sreenivas started Decagon together, which now boasts a $1.5 billion valuation. Decagon builds AI customer service agents to handle a wide range of tasks for an equally wide range of companies.

Energy and Green Tech

(ISEF 2016), co-founder of Maritime Fusion

With co-founder Justin Cohen, Jason started Maritime Fusion, which builds compact fusion reactors to provide emissions-free propulsion systems for commercial and defense ships.

Finance

(ISEF 2014), co-founder of Kobalt Labs

Kalyani and Ashi Agrawal co-founded Kobalt Labs, which uses AI to bring compliance into the machine learning age, helping banks complete important and time-consuming tasks like vetting business partners and responding to security breaches.

Healthcare

(STS 2014, ISEF 2014), general surgery resident physician at Massachusetts General Hospital

Sara is a general surgery resident physician whose research looks at the collective impact of health equity and economics, with the aim of improving health outcomes on a systemic level.

Manufacturing and Industry

(ISEF 2015), founder of NextSet Materials

Yasmeen founded NextSet Materials to develop a recyclable thermoset plastic for advanced manufacturing, aiming to replace materials that contribute more than 65 metric tons of landfill waste each year.听

Media

(BCM 2017), writer at The New York Times

Evan Gorelick is one of the youngest staff writers at The New York Times, where he covers politics, technology, trade and public policy. He writes for The Morning, a newsletter read by more than 16 million subscribers and 5 million unique readers daily.

Science

(ISEF 2022), co-founder of Madlab

With Vienna Sparks, Skye co-founded MadLab, where he has developed affordable and easy-to-use test strips that can detect five drugs that are frequently added to people鈥檚 drinks or other substances.

(STS 2014 scholar), research scientist at Biohub

Claire is a biomedical engineer who has developed multiple tools to help scientists better understand inflammation. Her work has been published in more than 20 peer-reviewed articles.

(STS 2014 scholar), postdoctoral researcher at Harvard Medical School

Duy identified genes that cause congenital hydrocephalus, the most common reason for brain surgery in children. His work has led to non-invasive therapies that are currently in clinical trials.

(ISEF 2014), postdoctoral researcher at Genentech

As a Ph.D. student, Sevahn developed a simple urine test that can analyze urinary and reproductive tract issues in lieu of a biopsy. Her current research examines RNA biology with a goal of creating new medical tools and treatments.

Social Media

(BCM 2015), founder of NextGen Accessibility Initiative

A disability and accessibility advocate, Alexandra founded NextGen to help Gen Z organizations make their social media content more accessible. The initiative has helped reach over 200,000 young people in 119 countries.

Sports

(ISEF 2016), co-founder of Trainwell

Matt and Gabe Madonna are the co-founders of Trainwell, a tech-enabled personal training company with an app that guides users through customized programs. The company鈥檚 trainers receive salaries, health benefits and retirement benefits, notable in an industry that typically employs trainers as independent contractors.

Transportation and Aerospace

(BCM 2011), co-founder of Mach9

Michael and his three co-founders started Mach9 in 2021. Since then, the company has developed geospatial CAD software that uses AI to create precise maps that support the work of surveyors, engineers and infrastructure owners.

(ISEF 2015鈥�16, BCM 2013), co-founder of Distributed Spectrum

Alex, Ben Harpe and Isaac Struhl are the co-founders behind Distributed Spectrum, which works with the U.S. armed forces to develop an array of applications with the aim of increasing service members鈥� safety and effectiveness.

Venture Capital

(ISEF 2013鈥�14), founder and managing partner at Anansi Capital

With more than a decade of experience in venture capital, Vinay founded Anansi Capital in January 2025. The firm invests in small companies and helps them integrate AI into their business models.

(STS 2016), partner at Greylock

Sophia helps lead Greylock Edge, the firm’s three-month accelerator program, and Greylock Scout, which invites top angel investors to source, support and invest in early-stage startups on the firm鈥檚 behalf.

Want to learn more about our remarkable alumni? Explore our full Notable Alumni page to see how Society alumni are shaping the world.

The post Meet 19 Society alumni named to the 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 List appeared first on 91导航.

Michelle Benson is a retired letter carrier from Minneapolis, Minnesota, who delivered the mail for the U.S. Postal Service for 32 years. Before hanging up her mailbag for the last time in 2012, Michelle encountered Science News, not as a reader, but as a part of her daily route. This unique introduction to what would become one of her favorite publications has fostered a lasting commitment to science.

鈥淲hen I was sorting the mail every morning, there were dozens of magazines coming through,鈥� said Michelle. 鈥淒ifferent magazines jumped out at me and Science News was one of them.听I don鈥檛 remember the first time I noticed Science News, but I鈥檝e been subscribing for over three decades.鈥�

One of the first stories to catch her eye was about dinosaurs, one of her favorite subjects. But she has accumulated no shortage of other favorite articles throughout the years.

She recalled being amazed and asking herself, 鈥淲here else can you learn that , that lived over a million years ago, Marie Antoinette鈥檚 , or that there are in a pound of fat, many more than in bone marrow?鈥�

Michelle credits her father, Peter Benson, who first encouraged her to pursue a career with the USPS, with making education a family priority. That influence helped spur her lifelong curiosity about the natural world, as well as her belief in the power of science and scientific innovation.

鈥淚 believe that if you value something, you should invest in it,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat is why I subscribe to Science News magazine. I believe that science will save this planet and now that we have artificial intelligence, anything is possible. I believe in supporting anyone that has the passion to make this world healthier and more connected.鈥�

Her support goes beyond words. In addition to subscribing to Science News, Michelle has supported the Society鈥檚 work as a member and through generous over the past decade. Support from people like Michelle makes the Society鈥檚 mission possible, ensuring that every young person can strive to become an engineer or scientist.

While Michelle鈥檚 introduction to Science News was unique, we hope the curiosity that has kept her reading all these years is not. Michelle herself is helping to share her interest in science with the world.

鈥淚 often bring Science News to read on the bus,鈥� she said.听鈥淚鈥檝e been known to share, like, 鈥楨xcuse me, do you want to hear something really cool?鈥欌��

We help people see science everywhere. Join 91导航 by December 31 and have your contribution matched! Support the organization that powers the next generation of problem solvers.

The post How one U.S. Postal carrier鈥檚 delivery route led her to science appeared first on 91导航.