What are your favorite memories from ISEF?

The whole ISEF experience was outstanding. I鈥檝e never been to anything so big and diverse. Being in Albuquerque, N.M., for ISEF was exciting, and I think I remember hearing there were more than 50 countries represented. What was even more incredible was the intellectual density. I felt like everyone I met was an expert in some obscure field, even though we were all high schoolers. My project, for example, focused on a math concept called full reptend primes, which are prime numbers (P) where 1/P repeats only after P-1 digits.

You鈥檝e spent your career at Jane Street, a market maker. What is a market maker?

A market maker helps connect buyers and sellers by simultaneously offering to buy or sell various assets to meet natural demand. My go-to example is a college bookstore. When most textbooks were still physical books, people would go to their school bookstore to buy and sell their used textbooks. Students could try to find each other directly鈥夆�斺�塧nd sometimes they succeeded. But there were often significant gaps in both time and space between the sellers and the buyers, and it would be a lot of work for any one person. The bookstore provided this service by buying textbooks from students looking to sell and then holding onto that inventory for when students are looking to buy. A market maker provides a similar service but for tradable financial instruments, such as stocks, bonds, exchange traded funds (ETFs) and other securities.

What is your role at Jane Street?

We don鈥檛 have proper titles at Jane Street. There are no VPs or managing directors or head of this or that, which helps to encourage a flat culture. People feel more independence to pursue ideas or chime in on conversations. I feel like it helps instill a sense of entrepreneurship and autonomy. I enjoy the flexibility of my role. I鈥檓 a software engineer, and I focus on a variety of projects across areas. My role involves managing the international ETF desk developer team. I also help to coordinate a number of cross-desk initiatives. The technological design challenges I think about every day are fascinating.

To be honest, when I was in college, I never thought that a trading firm was a viable path for a theoretical math major. I thought that working in trading would mean shouting a lot and taking huge, risky bets based on gut intuition. In reality, places like Jane Street are very mathematical and rigorous in how we approach trading, and the culture is a great mix of welcoming and intellectual. The day-to-day is much more about collaboration and problem-solving.

Many fields are being transformed by emergent technologies such as AI. What do you foresee for the future of quantitative trading?

There鈥檚 no question that AI has and will continue transforming finance. However, I think people underestimate the difficulty of applying AI successfully in financial markets. These technologies have been very successful at solving deeply complex problems, but the shifting rules and relationships in markets pose a unique challenge that has taken a lot of time to overcome.

That said, machine learning is pushing the boundaries of what鈥檚 possible in quantitative trading. There is a new wave of technologies changing the business by developing a deeper understanding of the massive universe of relationships between tradable assets, for example. It鈥檚 difficult to say what exactly this means for the future of trading. It鈥檚 possible that AI and machine learning will lead to fundamental changes in how markets operate, but I鈥檓 hopeful that it helps us access increasingly efficient markets.

For a decade, you鈥檝e been heavily involved with Resolution Project. Tell me about that work and why it鈥檚 important to you.

Resolution Project is a youth leadership program that helps fund, accelerate and support social ventures founded by college students. Over the last 10-plus years, I鈥檝e served as a mentor, a board member and a judge at the Social Venture Challenges, business plan鈥搒tyle competitions, where we select our fellows.

I feel like the similarities between Resolution Project and ISEF are numerous. Both programs center on bringing young leaders together and unleashing their potential for breakthrough thinking. Both take great pride in fostering a lifelong passion for innovation from an early age.

Through Resolution Project and your involvement with other social impact ventures, you鈥檝e collaborated with many rising social entrepreneurs. What are the most important traits for those working to build something new?

Most successful social entrepreneurs I know did not set out to start a venture. They became hyperfocused on a problem, searched for an existing solution and eventually realized that the only way to solve it would be to start a new venture. The commitment and dedication required to succeed as a social entrepreneur is huge and requires a lot of sweat equity to succeed. It can be all-consuming, it can feel impossible and it can be lonely. That is why I care so deeply about programs that provide support and mentorship to young innovators and entrepreneurs because having support at those moments is so critical.

Who inspired you when you were younger and who inspires you today?

Growing up, I was lucky to have mentors who encouraged me to care deeply about my work and to push myself. My high school math teacher taught me that math could be fun and encouraged me to enter my local science fair, which led to ISEF.

My life was also greatly impacted by my grandfathers. My maternal grandfather was a strong, serious man with a 鈥渨ork to live鈥� mentality. He was a successful small-business owner, but his job didn鈥檛 define him. He taught me to focus on what matters most, to put family first and to approach things with a healthy dose of common sense. My paternal grandfather was a brilliant businessman and entrepreneur, who taught me the value of creativity, of hard work and of being willing to chart my own path.

What books are you reading now, and what books impacted you as a young person?

Right now, I鈥檓 reading Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green. It鈥檚 a fascinating and fairly depressing book about the history and continued impact of one of the deadliest diseases of all time. It鈥檚 a painful reminder that many treatable illnesses are still killing millions of people. A book that made a big impact on me early in my career is Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. If you want to understand how your own mind processes and responds to information, this is a must-read book. Finally, a book that I wish I had read much earlier in life is Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can鈥檛 Stop Talking by Susan Cain. As someone who鈥檚 always needed more alone time and can find certain environments overstimulating, the book gave me a better understanding of myself.

There are many challenges facing the world today. What鈥檚 keeping you up at night and what gives you hope for the future?

We talked about AI and productivity, and I鈥檓 frightened about the consequences of enabling rapid development of technology by people who might not understand or even read the code that they produce. As these systems become increasingly complicated and tightly coupled with other pieces of infrastructure, we risk scary scenarios that will be difficult to prepare for or even predict. Progress is a double-edged sword. I鈥檓 excited about what these technologies will enable, but I also imagine that there are going to be challenges along the way that we鈥檒l have to overcome.

I think the thing that gives me hope is the ingenuity of young people. Students and young professionals are often the ones who have the most energy, the most idealism and the most enthusiasm to tackle the world鈥檚 problems. I believe that they should be helping to lead right now, whether or not the rest of us think they鈥檙e ready.

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(NASDAQ: REGN) and 91导航 (the Society) announced that Matteo Paz, 18, of Pasadena, California, won the top award of $250,000 in the 2025 , the U.S.鈥檚 oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.听听

Now in its 84th year, the competition celebrates and rewards young innovators who are applying their Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (91导航) talent and leadership skills to push the boundaries of discovery and address today鈥檚 pressing challenges.听

Forty finalists, including Matteo, were honored this evening during an award ceremony at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C, where they were awarded more than $1.8 million in prizes for their groundbreaking research, exceptional problem-solving skills and potential to shape the future of 91导航.听

• Matteo Paz, 18, of Pasadena, California, won first place and $250,000 for designing machine-learning algorithms to efficiently comb through 200 billion entries of raw NEOWISE infrared full-sky data. By analyzing tiny changes in infrared radiation, the AI sorted the objects into 10 classes. He found 1.5 million new potential objects.听

• Second place and $175,000 went to Ava Grace Cummings, 18, of Smithfield, North Carolina, for creating a fruit fly model of STAC3 disorder, or Native American myopathy (a rare genetic muscle disease). She found that the common nettle herb, alone or combined with the experimental drug Tirasemtiv, improved movement in both adult flies and larvae.听听

• Third place and $150,000 went to Owen Jianwen Zhang, 18, of Bellevue, Washington, who solved a long-standing math problem about objects called 3-uniform hypergraphs. He proved a maximum value for how many 3-uniform hypergraphs can have similar structures but differing connections. Owen’s results have applications in computer science.听听

“Congratulations to the winners of this year’s Regeneron Science Talent Search,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO, 91导航 and Executive Publisher, Science News. “The remarkable creativity and dedication of these students bring renewed hope for our future. Driven by their ingenuity, these young scientists are developing groundbreaking solutions that have the potential to transform our world and propel society forward.”听听

The Regeneron Science Talent Search provides a national platform for high school seniors to showcase original, innovative 91导航 research that proposes novel solutions to real-world issues. Finalists are evaluated for their scientific rigor, originality, critical thinking, leadership potential and commitment to drive meaningful impact across crucial 91导航 fields.听

鈥淭he Science Talent Search changed my life. At my high school, STS winners were treated like star athletes, and I never imagined I would belong in such an amazing group of kids who were operating at a whole different level than I had ever seen,鈥� said George D. Yancopoulos, co-Founder, Board co-Chair, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Regeneron and a 1976 Science Talent Search finalist and top winner. 鈥淭he experience of competing in STS and being named a top winner gave me the confidence to devote my life to science. So, congratulations to this year鈥檚 finalists and winners, you are America鈥檚 best and brightest. I hope this moment inspires you to push boundaries, challenge assumptions and use your brilliance to change the world.鈥�听

Other top honors from the competition include:听

• Fourth Place: Logan Lee, 18, of Honolulu, Hawaii received a $100,000 award for helping sterile male mosquitoes survive in the wild. These males are important in mosquito control. Logan improved their survival by giving them a transplant of wild mosquito bacteria. His transplant helped the sterile mosquitoes grow faster and survive better in the wild.

• Fifth Place: Rivka Lipkovitz, 18, of San Francisco, California received a $90,000 award for using statistical modeling to study U.S. voter ID laws. She found that presidential election turnout dropped by 2.4% in states that passed strict laws after 2008. Turnout for midterm elections increased. Knowing how laws affect turnout can help shape future policies.听听听

• Sixth Place: Melody Heeju Hong, 17, of Wantagh, New York received a $80,000 award for developing a powerful, flexible statistical model for mapping sites called trans-methylation quantitative trait loci (trans-mQTL) within the human genome. These sites are key to understanding the interplay between genes and environment in disease and aging.听

• Seventh Place: Kevin Shen, 18, of Olympia, Washington received a $70,000 award for building a custom flight computer to control a 3D-printed airplane with oblique wings. These aircraft can be more fuel-efficient but are hard to control. His oblique-wing aircraft and flight computer improved flight efficiency by 9.2%.听

• Eighth Place: Minghao Zou, 18, of Santa Clara, California received a $60,000 award for simulating protons to probe environments that produce subatomic particles called neutrinos. He created an algorithm mimicking extreme astrophysical conditions, such as electromagnetic and gravitational forces and interactions with nearby particles. He verified it using known cases of particle motion.听

• Ninth Place: Thanush Patlolla, 17, of Cary, North Carolina received a $50,000 award for approximating the density of electrons using a finite nuclear model. Using a mathematical strategy called a density function, he created a model to map electrons in a nuclear simulation. The map increased the accuracy of energy distribution predictions by 0.6%.

• Tenth Place: Ray Zhang, 17, of Chantilly, Virginia received a $40,000 award for studying how to better treat drug-resistant Fusarium fungal infections. Ray studied how the fungus builds sticky communities of cells that resist drug treatment. He also found that using a combination of drugs better controlled the fungus. 听

• Akilan Sankaran, 17, of Albuquerque, New Mexico was named the Seaborg Award winner and selected to speak on behalf of the Regeneron Science Talent Search Class of 2025. The 40 finalists chose Akilan as the student who best exemplifies their class and the legacy of nuclear chemist Glenn T. Seaborg, who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1951 and served on the Society鈥檚 Board of Trustees for 30 years.听听

All other finalists received $25,000. All 40 finalists join a distinguished group of Science Talent Search alumni, many of whom have gone on to achieve world-changing careers in 91导航, with some earning esteemed honors, including the Nobel Prize, National Medal of Science, and MacArthur Fellowship. In total, Regeneron awarded $3.1 million in prizes, including $2,000 to each top scholar and their school.听

Learn more about Regeneron Science Talent Search at /regeneron-sts/ and learn about all their research projects at our Virtual Public Showcase.听

For media resources, visit听 /2025-regeneron-science-talent-search-media-kit听

The post Regeneron Science Talent Search 2025 awards more than $1.8 million to high school seniors for innovative research on classifying celestial objects, treating a rare muscle disease and solving a long-standing math problem appeared first on 91导航.

This multimedia collection includes interactive digital stories, classroom posters and teaching guides that showcase pathways and possibilities in 91导航 careers. The collection debuts on February 11, 2025, coinciding with the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, highlighting the crucial role of representation in inspiring the next generation of scientists.

The collection, which can be viewed in full , features four ISEF alumni:

• (ISEF 2011), game developer
• (ISEF 2001), immersive designer
• (ISEF 2006-2008), gut microbiologist
• (ISEF 2016), applied data scientist

Launched in 2020, I Am A Scientist was developed through extensive research and educator collaboration 听to challenge stereotypes and reimagine how students engage with 91导航 careers. By bringing real stories into classrooms nationwide, the initiative now reaches more than 1 million students annually, showing the diverse faces and pathways of modern science.

The free collection includes:

• Interactive digital portals featuring scientists’ personal stories and career paths
• Downloadable classroom posters highlighting scientists’ unique interests and pursuits
• Comprehensive teaching resources for educators
• Profiles of diverse 91导航 professionals who combine science with interests like ballroom dancing, gardening, linguistics and running

This initiative builds on 91导航’s long legacy of championing science education and The Plenary, Co.’s mission to democratize knowledge and imagination. Drawing from 91导航’s prestigious ISEF, which brings together students from over 60 countries annually, the collection highlights the intersection of creativity and personal interests with scientific careers鈥攃hallenging traditional stereotypes about who can be a scientist.

The post The Plenary, Co. and 91导航 launch new 91导航 educational resources to inspire the next generation of scientists appeared first on 91导航.

Born on March 15, 1930, in Vienna, Austria, Karplus and his family fled to the United States in 1938 to escape Nazi-occupied Austria. Nine years later, in 1947, Karplus competed in the Science Talent Search.

In his autobiographical essay, 鈥淪pinach on the Ceiling: A Theoretical Chemist鈥檚 Return to Biology,鈥� Karplus shared that his interest in science began when his brother Bob was given a chemistry set and, while Karplus had asked for a chemistry set of us own, his parents gave him a microscope instead. 鈥淚 had found an exciting new world and looked through my microscope whenever I was free,鈥� Karplus said.

Karplus received support from his mother, father, elementary school and junior high school, when it came to his interest in science. When he entered Newton High School in 1944, Karplus did not have the same supportive environment. Karplus noted that his teachers didn鈥檛 think he would be able to measure up to his brother, who had done 鈥渆xceedingly well鈥� in high school.

Karplus wrote, 鈥淲hen my brother suggested I compete in the Westinghouse Science Talent Search, the chemistry teacher, who was in charge of organizing such applications, told me that it was a waste of time for me to enter and that it was really too bad that Bob had not tried instead. However, I talked to the high school principal, and he gave me permission to go ahead with the application. I managed to obtain all the necessary papers without encouragement from anyone in the school.鈥�

Karplus was named a top 40 Science Talent Search finalist and was invited to participate in the finals week competition in Washington, DC. Karplus鈥檚 research project focused on the lives of alcids, which are seabirds such as puffins. Karplus was chosen as one of two top winners 鈥� at the time, there was one male winner and one female winner. 鈥淲inning the Westinghouse Talent Search,鈥� Karplus wrote, 鈥渕ade up for the discouraging interactions with some of my high school teachers.鈥�

Karplus went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts from Harvard College and then completed his Ph.D. at the California Institute of Technology under the mentorship of Linus Pauling. In his essay, Karplus noted he chose to attend Caltech at the recommendation of J.R. Oppenheimer, who he met while visiting his brother Bob, who was working with Oppenheimer at the Institute of Advanced Studies.

Throughout his distinguished career, Karplus held positions at University of Illinois, Columbia University, Harvard University, Universit茅 of Paris and Universit茅 de Strasbourg, which is where he did his Nobel Prize-winning work 鈥渇or the development of multiscale models for complex chemical systems.鈥�

鈥淭he early recognition of his immense talent at the Westinghouse Science Talent Search certainly boosted Dr. Karplus鈥檚 confidence,鈥� commented Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of Science for Science and Executive Publisher, Science News. 鈥淚 had the wonderful opportunity to meet him in 2016, and he shared the extraordinary impact the Science Talent Search (STS) had on the trajectory of his life. Dr. Karplus never forgot his STS experience and remained a steadfast advocate for supporting young scientists, especially those facing skepticism or barriers.鈥�

That experience likely impacted Karplus鈥檚 remarks during the Society鈥檚 STS Alumni Conference in 2016, where he said, 鈥淗aving faith in yourself is very important, faith in spite of discouragement.鈥�

Karplus is survived by his wife, Marci, three children, and one grandchild. His legacy lives on not only in his scientific contributions but also in the countless young scientists he inspired to pursue their passion for discovery.

Celebrating Martin Karplus: Winning the Science Talent Search

Celebrating Martin Karplus: snapshots of his inspiring involvement in 91导航 alumni events.

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How did participating in STS impact your life? Do you have any favorite memories from that competition?

I have several memories that I fondly remember. When I visited Washington, D.C., to compete in STS, I visited the U.S. Capitol, a place I had never visited before. It was such an amazing experience. I also met Nobel Prize winners during the competition. I鈥檓 a kid from Queens. I鈥檓 not supposed to meet Nobel Prize winners. The whole experience was just incredibly inspirational.

Beyond the event itself, the two years that led up to it were impactful, from researching my project to learning how to write a high-caliber paper that other scientists could read. I would say that, in some ways, STS set my life on its trajectory.

What led you to pursue science?

I鈥檓 from Guyana, a small country near Venezuela that very few people have ever heard of. I came to the United States when I was 11, and we didn鈥檛 have much. Everything was new; everything was different. In some ways, the fact that I came from such a humble background and was able to compete in STS is one of the wonderful things about STS. It finds students wherever they are.

 

We moved to Queens when we came to the United States, and I went to junior high school and high school. I struggled with my language-based classes, but numbers were the same in any language. So, math and physics became my friends. One of my teachers in junior high school suggested that I apply to Stuyvesant High School, one of New York City鈥檚 specialized high schools. While at Stuyvesant, a woodshop teacher encouraged me to get involved in scientific research. I started doing solar-focused projects and eventually, he recommended that I do a project that the STS program could be interested in.

I decided to do a fusion project, but I wasn鈥檛 clear on how one could do a fusion project while in high school. My teacher recommended that I call some people at Columbia University to see if anyone was working on the subject, and I ended up connecting with Michael E. Mauel, who still teaches at Columbia today. He said I could work with him, and we started building a machine to simulate how particles would behave in a magnetic field. Then we ran experiments that were the basis for a paper.

In some ways, it was a series of accidents, from meeting that teacher in junior high school to meeting my woodshop teacher to having the good luck of Mauel inviting me to his lab. All of those accidental meetings, combined with the fact that people were willing to help me, had a huge impact on my life鈥檚 path.

Over the course of your career, you鈥檝e worked on the leading edge of both technology and industry. Can you tell us a little bit about your professional journey?

After STS, I went on to Stanford University, and then I worked for a neural network start-up. Then, I joined IBM for 14 years. I worked elsewhere in the industry, including HP, Carbonite and IDG, for the next 14 years, and now I鈥檓 back at IBM where I鈥檓 working on neural networks and AI. The company鈥檚 interest in generative AI technology and new quantum computing technologies is such an exciting opportunity. Personally, I think IBM is leading the world in quantum computing. I鈥檓 very excited to see what kinds of problems quantum computing can solve for humanity.

What excites you most about the changing AI landscape?

I am most excited about the problems that these new technologies are going to be able to solve. Of course, that鈥檚 both a good thing and a bad thing. Tremendous technologies in the wrong hands or not managed responsibly could be used for purposes that are not for the betterment of society.

That is part of why I came back to IBM. The technologies that are coming to the world now are extraordinarily powerful, and I want to work on them for a company that I believe prioritizes ethics. Leveraging these extraordinarily powerful AI and quantum technologies in a responsible way, where we know how the AI models are trained, we know where the data comes from and we know what kind of biases are present, we can put bounds on the decisions that can be made. We need these kinds of powerful technologies to solve problems like climate change.

You鈥檝e been an outspoken advocate for increasing diversity in tech. Why do you think this is important?

In some ways it鈥檚 personal. I came from an underserved community, and because of the teachers that I encountered and because of institutions like Stuyvesant and STS, I got an 鈥渁t bat.鈥� I got an opportunity to contribute. The world would be a much better place if everyone was able to bring their best and contribute. There is a very good chance that the cure for cancer lies in the brain of a child in one of our poorest communities. We need to give that kid a chance to bring that cure to society. After having lived it, I see the value of giving opportunities to everyone who is willing to take them.

What advice do you have for young people just starting out in higher education or their careers?

I can only speak from my own experience and what worked for me, but I would say this: Study hard and enjoy it. You don鈥檛 know what you don鈥檛 know. That鈥檚 a complicated sentence, but for me I always thought I knew everything. But I didn鈥檛. Learning helps you discover those things. Some of the things that you are going to discover will change your life dramatically 鈥� hopefully for the better. Learn as much as you can and keep learning all your life.

Who inspired you as a young person, and who inspires you today?

I was inspired by the great scientists: Einstein, Ada Lovelace and Marie Curie. They all wanted to solve problems and make the world a better place. Today it鈥檚 very similar. I am inspired by all the people who are working to solve hard problems with science and then bring those solutions to society in a responsible way.

IBM has committed to training 2 million people, primarily from underserved communities, in AI over the next three years. You can be concerned about AI, or you can embrace it, put it in your tool set and become even more valuable than you are today. Many companies like ours that are leading scientific innovation are embracing AI in a way that helps society, which I think is inspirational.

There are many challenges facing the world today. What keeps you up at night, and what gives you hope for the future?

There are a lot of challenges: global geopolitical instability and war, for example. We have more war now than we鈥檝e had in a while. And people are migrating because of war and because of climate change.

Once again, my response is informed by my own background of growing up in a poor community. Now that I can afford to give back, I contribute to organizations like Oxfam, where I served on the board of directors for 10 years. Those kinds of organizations give me hope, knowing that there are people out there working hard to make our world a better place.

Sometimes it鈥檚 a little scary that humanity waits until it reaches a precipice before it starts acting. But time and time again, we have acted as a human race. I tend to be just an inherently hopeful person, and given the capabilities that I see in the world brought by science and technology, I am hopeful.

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The new members are:

Charles H. Bennett
Fellow, IBM Thomas J Watson Research Center, IBM Corporation
Science Talent Search 1960

Martin Chalfie
University Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University
Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2008
Former member of 91导航 Board of Trustees

Sylvester James Gates, Jr.
John S. Toll Professor of Physics
Clark Leadership Chair in Science
Distinguished University Professor
Professor of Physics
Professor of Public Policy in the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy
Former member of 91导航 Board of Trustees

Shirley Ann Jackson
President Emerita, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Joe Palca
Freelance science journalist.
Former NPR Science Correspondent
Former member of 91导航 Board of Trustees

“The invaluable expertise and leadership brought by our new members to our Honorary Board will be pivotal in propelling the Society’s mission forward, empowering us to inform, educate, and inspire the next generation of 91导航 leaders. I eagerly anticipate collaborating with them as we further enhance scientific literacy and broaden access to our 91导航 programs,” said Maya Ajmera, President & CEO, 91导航 and Executive Publisher, Science News.

鈥淚 am delighted to welcome these five exceptional leaders to the Society鈥檚 Honorary Board. I look forward to working with them as we seek to reach greater heights of excellence and impact,鈥� said Mary Sue Coleman, 91导航 Board of Trustees Chair.

The Honorary Board assists the Society in thinking through strategic organizational questions and speaking to students who compete in our science competitions.

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Macdonald wants to change this practice and offer sustainable electricity to Africa.

鈥淚 want to solve the shortage of sustainable electricity and energy in my community using locally available resources,鈥� Macdonald explained.

Macdonald’s concerns about the natural environment have led him to build and test a , which is a large tank that can convert organic waste into cooking oil and electricity. The contraption produces biogas, which is created by the breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. His project uses readily available resources, like animal waste and an invasive plant. More specifically, Macdonald used methanogenic bacteria found in the fibrous roots of live water hyacinth, an invasive plant species in his community, and generated electricity by heating a thermoelectric module using the biogas produced. Macdonald explained that the resulting biogas can successfully heat thermoelectric modules, and can then be simultaneously cooled by a water cooling system he designed.

His work was selected by his local science fair for recognition as a 91导航 & the Public Community Innovation Award winner. This award honors students participating in science fairs around the world who are making a difference in their communities. In 2018, the Society rewarded 20 young scientists with $500 prizes听鈥� and Macdonald was one of them.

鈥淚 found that the fibrous root system of the water hyacinth plant facilitates and promotes the growth of methanogen bacteria, which plays a vital role in the breakdown of biodegradable materials,鈥� Macdonald explained.

鈥淏iogas has the potential to provide clean renewable energy and to facilitate sustainable development of energy supply for Zimbabwe and Africa at large,鈥� Macdonald said. 鈥淚鈥檓 happy that my innovation has made an impact in my community. This award will encourage other students to find solutions to problems being faced in their communities.鈥�

The electricity generated can be used for lighting as well as cooking, which is critical, 鈥渆specially in rural areas, where most households are not yet connected to the national grid,鈥� Macdonald explained. 鈥淚t can also be used in urban areas as a backup power source.鈥�

Macdonald first became interested in science when he learned that most of the problems in the world are being solved using 91导航. 鈥淪cience and math are the ultimate keys to all the problems we鈥檙e facing in the 21st century,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 want to see more of my peers pursue advanced degrees and careers in 91导航 fields.”

Macdonald believes governments in Africa should support science fairs. 鈥淭hey give us an opportunity and platform to showcase our scientific ideas and talents,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his contributes to building self-confidence.鈥�

Macdonald encourages other young people to believe in themselves and have fun with science, since, 鈥�… it allows us to play with our imagination 鈥� As Einstein so eloquently put it, 鈥榠magination is more important than knowledge.鈥欌��

鈥淚t鈥檚 that creativity, that imagination, that ability to find a new approach to a problem everyone else is working on that will make you a great scientist,鈥� he said.

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On Sunday night, finalists and student observers attended the Pin Exchange, an annual Intel ISEF tradition where students exchange pins from their fairs, hometowns, or countries with students from around the world.

On Monday night, attendees participated in the Opening Ceremony, where keynote speaker Mick Ebeling, Founder & CEO, of Not Impossible, Inc. talked about his efforts to allow a graffiti artist with ALS to draw again by creating the EyeWriter and his work in Sudan setting up 3-D printers to use in creating prosthetic arms with Project Daniel.

On Tuesday night, Intel ISEF took over the LA Live complex in downtown Los Angeles and on Wednesday, attendees took a field trip out to Universal Studios, where they had the park to themselves for the night. We caught up with finalists and student observers at Universal Studios, where we asked them what their favorite part of the week had been so far. Here are their responses:

Natalie- 鈥淭he best thing has been the people. It鈥檚 been an amazing experience, this is the second time we鈥檝e been to Intel ISEF, and getting to meet the people from around the world is a once in a lifetime experience. Shawn and I were lucky enough to experience it twice.鈥�

Sarah from Indiana- 鈥淭he opening ceremony was really fun, and it was a nice ego boost before our projects got judged. There were good speakers who were very inspirations, especially the keynote speaker talking about the Daniel Project. The painter in the preshow, who did paintings so fast, was also really cool.鈥�

Serahn from Wisconsin- 鈥淭he best part was meeting Dr. Chalfie and going to the Nobel Panel. Also, during judging I had the chance to talk to the girl at the booth next to me, who was from Israel, and the guy at the booth听across from me, who was from Sri Lanka. It was great to learn more about people from different countries.鈥�

Alexandria, Shannon, and Chloe from Indiana- 鈥淢y favorite part was the Pin Exchange. We鈥檝e done a lot in the last few days. The international aspect of the event is great; yesterday I was in between two groups, one speaking Italian and one speaking Spanish. I felt immersed in culture.鈥�

Michael from New Mexico- 鈥淚鈥檝e never been to Universal Studios, so that鈥檚 cool. I also like the dance party and bowling.鈥�

Rajara from New Mexico- 鈥淚 liked meeting people from around the world, and sharing stories and experiences. I鈥檓 also excited to see who wins.鈥�

Marek, Michael, and Robin from the Czech Republic- 鈥淟A Live last night, and the free ice cream.鈥�

Emma and Darienne from South Dakota- 鈥淲e enjoyed meeting new people from all over the world. It makes me want to travel and try harder to accomplish bigger things after seeing all the projects.鈥�

Ethan from the Virgin Islands- 鈥淭he Expo was really cool, because it had all these interesting companies and it was fun to talk to all the reps about what they are doing.鈥�

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