Tom Leighton
Science Talent Search – 1974
International Science and Engineering Fair – 1972, 1973
About Tom Leighton
After competing in ISEF from 1972–1973, Tom Leighton placed second in the 1974 STS for developing a formula to predict prime number sequences using a computer program he designed. Today, Leighton is a professor of applied mathematics at MIT and a leading authority on algorithms for network applications. In 1998, he co-founded Akamai Technologies, a global content delivery network company, where he is the CEO and a member of the Board of Directors. Leighton is also a recipient of the Marconi Prize for pioneering the content delivery network services industry. He remains involved at the Society and is a former member of the Society’s Board of Trustees.
Science Talent Search 1974
Leighton with his STS project in 1974.
![Notable Alumni - Tom Leighton](https://www.societyforscience.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Leighton-STS-Project.jpg)
A Memorable Experience
Leighton’s thank you letter to Science Service (now called Society for Science) for his experience at STS.
![Notable Alumni - Tom Leighton](https://www.societyforscience.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Leighton-37-1000-1-960x1144.png)
Leighton holds more than 40 U.S. patents involving network algorithms, content delivery, internet protocols, cryptography and digital rights management.
![Notable Alumni - Tom Leighton](https://www.societyforscience.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Leighton_CEO_Akamai_1000-960x1115.jpg)
Leighton at the Society’s Give to Science Day event in 2018.
![Notable Alumni - Tom Leighton](https://www.societyforscience.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Leighton-Give-to-Science-960x1195.jpg)