Nearly 1,700 of the brightest high school students from around the world are heading to Columbus this week to compete in the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2025. The event, marking its 75th anniversary, will take place from May 11-16 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center and is recognized as the world’s largest pre-college STEM competition.
Participants from the United States and various other countries will present research addressing critical societal issues, including natural disasters, mental health, and disease prevention.
The competition will award nearly $9 million in prizes, with top winners receiving between $75,000 to $100,000 each to further their research.
Several finalists hail from the Columbus area.
Anuki Mudalige, a 9th grader from Lewis Center, Ohio, developed an AI-powered wearable device designed to guide users through breathing exercises to enhance mental well-being and reduce stress.
Owen Medved, a 10th grader from Mentor, Ohio, conducted a study on how rising temperatures affect butterfly development by raising caterpillars under different conditions to observe the impact of global warming on their growth cycles.
Prem Koshal, an 11th grader from Athens, Ohio, used computer simulations to explore methods to prevent onions from causing tears.
Thursday is public visitation day, and the event will culminate with the Grand Awards Ceremony on Friday.
