Alumni Archive
Here you can find information on past years of the International Science and Engineering Fair, Science Talent Search, and our middle school competitions. Our expansive archive chronicles over eighty years of our world-class science competitions. Look here for names of finalists, lists of award recipients, press releases, photos and videos of programming, and more.
Science Talent Search
Since 1942, the Science Talent Search — now sponsored by Regeneron — has rewarded talented high schools seniors who dedicate countless hours to original research projects and write up their results in reports that resemble graduate school theses. Collectively, they have received millions of dollars in scholarships and gone on, in later years, to capture Nobel Prizes, Fields Medals, MacArthur Fellowships, and numerous other accolades.
While attending the 1939 New York World’s Fair, G. Edward Pendray, a Westinghouse executive, and Watson Davis, director of Science Service (now Society for Science) began discussing ways to encourage more students to pursue science careers. They decided to create a national competition called the Westinghouse Science Talent Search, administered by Science Service with prize money and expenses covered by Westinghouse.
In 1998, Intel Corporation became the title sponsor of the competition, continuing what has become an American institution designed to encourage young people to pursue careers in science, math, engineering, and medicine. In 2016, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals became the next sponsor to carry on the Science Talent Search.
Science Talent Search by Year
International Science and Engineering Fair
The International Science and Engineering Fair began as the National Science Fair in 1950 and has been an international fair since 1958, when Japan, Canada, and Germany joined the competition. ISEF now brings together over 1,800 high school students from more than 75 countries all over the world to compete and showcase their cutting-edge research projects. These participants are selected through a rigorous process involving local, regional, and national science fairs.
ISEF provides a unique platform for students to present their work to a panel of esteemed judges, including award-winning academics and industry experts. The competition covers a wide range of scientific disciplines, with categories ranging from Biochemistry to Mathematics to Environmental Engineering and more. Finalists compete for nearly $9 million in awards, and more than 45 professional organizations give out Special Awards at Regeneron ISEF.
Alongside the competition, ISEF features a robust programming schedule including panels, symposia, and networking sessions with esteemed STEM professionals and entrepreneurs.
ISEF by Year
| 2024: Los Angeles, CA – Affiliated Fairs: xxx, Finalists: x,xxx 2023: Dallas, TX – Affiliated Fairs: 372, Finalists: 1,638 2022: Atlanta, GA – Affiliated Fairs: 390, Finalists: 1,750 2021: Virtual – Affiliated Fairs: 389, Finalists: 1,834 2020: Virtual – Affiliated Fairs: 423, Finalists: 1,351 2019: Phoenix, AZ – Affiliated Fairs: 423, Finalists: 1,837 2018: Pittsburgh, PA – Affiliated Fairs: 420, Finalists: 1,769 2017: Los Angeles, CA – Affiliated Fairs: 421, Finalists: 1,774 2016: Phoenix, AZ – Affiliated Fairs: 419, Finalists: 1,759 2015: Pittsburgh, PA – Affiliated Fairs: 422, Finalists: 1,702 2014: Los Angeles, CA – Affiliated Fairs: 426, Finalists: 1,748 2013: Phoenix, AZ – Affiliated Fairs: 436, Finalists: 1,581 2012: Pittsburgh, PA – Affiliated Fairs: 446, Finalists: 1,530 2011: Los Angeles, CA – Affiliated Fairs: 443, Finalists: 1,511 2010: San Jose, CA – Affiliated Fairs: 559, Finalists: 1,594 2009: Reno, NV – Affiliated Fairs: 550, Finalists: 1,502 2008: Atlanta, GA – Affiliated Fairs: 553, Finalists: 1,529 2007: Albuquerque, NM – Affiliated Fairs: 556, Finalists: 1,492 2006: Indianapolis, IN – Affiliated Fairs: 558, Finalists: 1,470 2005: Phoenix, AZ – Affiliated Fairs: 556, Finalists: 1,419 2004: Portland, OR – Affiliated Fairs: 543, Finalists: 1,409 2003: Cleveland, OH – Affiliated Fairs: 518, Finalists: 1,279 2002: Louisville, KY – Affiliated Fairs: 493, Finalists: 1,259 2001: San Jose, CA – Affiliated Fairs: 490, Finalists: 1,230 2000: Detroit, MI – Affiliated Fairs: 502, Finalists: 1,224 1999: Philadelphia, PA – Affiliated Fairs: 477, Finalists: 1,159 1998: Fort Worth, TX – Affiliated Fairs: 454, Finalists: 1,125 1997: Louisville, KY – Affiliated Fairs: 440, Finalists: 1,089 1996: Tucson, AZ – Affiliated Fairs: 482, Finalists: 1,067 1995: Hamilton, Canada – Affiliated Fairs: 481, Finalists: 1,028 1994: Birmingham, AL – Affiliated Fairs: 431, Finalists: 929 1993: Mississippi Beach, MS – Affiliated Fairs: 416, Finalists: 831 1992: Nashville, TN – Affiliated Fairs: 394, Finalists: 753 1991: Orlando, FL – Affiliated Fairs: 395, Finalists: 748 1990: Tulsa, OK – Affiliated Fairs: 398, Finalists: 754 1989: Pittsburgh, PA – Affiliated Fairs: 395, Finalists: 746 1988: Knoxville, TN – Affiliated Fairs: 381, Finalists: 721 1987: San Juan, Puerto Rico – Affiliated Fairs: 360, Finalists: 680 |
1986: Fort Worth, TX – Affiliated Fairs: 352, Finalists: 656 1985: Shreveport/Bossier, LA – Affiliated Fairs: 334, Finalists: 613 1984: Columbus, OH – Affiliated Fairs: 314, Finalists: 581 1983: Albuquerque, NM – Affiliated Fairs: 305, Finalists: 560 1982: Houston, TX – Affiliated Fairs: 288, Finalists: 525 1981: Milwaukee, WI – Affiliated Fairs: 264, Finalists: 481 1980: St. Paul, MN – Affiliated Fairs: 255, Finalists: 458 1979: San Antonio, TX – Affiliated Fairs: 252, Finalists: 458 1978: Orange County, CA – Affiliated Fairs: 248, Finalists: 451 1977: Cleveland, OH – Affiliated Fairs: 230, Finalists: 416 1976: Denver, CO – Affiliated Fairs: 227, Finalists: 407 1975: Oklahoma City, OK – Affiliated Fairs: 220, Finalists: 396 1974: Notre Dame, IN – Affiliated Fairs: 214, Finalists: 379 1973: San Diego, CA – Affiliated Fairs: 217, Finalists: 374 1972: New Orleans, LA – Affiliated Fairs: 208, Finalists: 378 1971: Kansas City, MO – Affiliated Fairs: 215, Finalists: 399 1970: Baltimore, MD – Affiliated Fairs: 219, Finalists: 404 1969: Fort Worth, TX – Affiliated Fairs: 214, Finalists: 391 1968: Detroit, MI – Affiliated Fairs: 226, Finalists: 415 1967: San Francisco, CA – Affiliated Fairs: 228, Finalists: 425 1966: Dallas, TX – Affiliated Fairs: 225, Finalists: 419 1965: St. Louis, MO – Affiliated Fairs: 221, Finalists: 418 1964: Baltimore, MD – Affiliated Fairs: 222, Finalists: 419 1963: Albuquerque, NM – Affiliated Fairs: 219, Finalists: 411 1962: Seattle, WA – Affiliated Fairs: 208, Finalists: 387 1961: Kansas City, MO – Affiliated Fairs: 200, Finalists: 385 1960: Indianapolis, IN – Affiliated Fairs: 193, Finalists: 356 1959: Hartford, CT – Affiliated Fairs: 168, Finalists: 320 1958: Flint, MI – Affiliated Fairs: 146, Finalists: 281 1957: Los Angeles, CA – Affiliated Fairs: 122, Finalists: 233 1956: Oklahoma City, OK – Affiliated Fairs: 110, Finalists: 213 1955: Cleveland, OH – Affiliated Fairs: 71, Finalists: 136 1954: Lafayette, IN – Affiliated Fairs: 50, Finalists: 95 1953: Oak Ridge, TN – Affiliated Fairs: 30, Finalists: 71 1952: Washington, DC – Affiliated Fairs: 19, Finalists: 42 1951: St. Louis, MO – Affiliated Fairs: 15, Finalists: 30 1950: Philadelphia, PA – Affiliated Fairs: 13, Finalists: 30 |
Middle School Competitions
The Society’s middle school science program was first launched in 1999 to encourage achievement and communication in science and math at a younger age and to serve as the nation’s premier STEM research competition for middle school students.
Today, and with the generous support of title sponsor and partner Thermo Fisher Scientific, Society for Science is pleased to host the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge.
Prior programs include the Broadcom MASTERS (2011-2022), Broadcom MASTERS International (2012-2022), the Society’s Middle School Program (2008), and the Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge (1999-2007).
Middle School Competitions by Year
White House Photo Gallery
Visit the Society's White House Photo Gallery for photos of STS and JIC finalists dating back to 1942.
President Harry Truman meets with STS finalists in the Oval Office in 1947. The top winner that year, Martin Karplus (second row, fourth from right), later became a member of the Society’s Honorary Board and won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2013.
President John F. Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson address the 1961 STS finalists in the White House Rose Garden. Finalist Mary Sue Coleman (front row, left) went on to become president of the University of Michigan and chairwoman of the Society’s Board of Trustees.
2012 STS finalists pose for a photo with President Barack Obama at the White House. During their visit to Washington, D.C., the students also met with members of Congress from their home states.
