Annual Report 2021
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2021 Annual Report: Regeneron Science Talent Search

Science Talent Search 2021 photo collage

For the second time in its 80-year history, the Regeneron Science Talent Search was held virtually in order to keep finalists and their families safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. The winners were selected from 1,760 applications received from 611 high schools across 45 states; Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico; and 10 countries.

Yunseo Choi of Exeter, N.H., won the $250,000 top award. Second place and $175,000 went to Noah Getz of New York, N.Y., and third place and $150,000 went to Eshani Jha of San Jose, Calif.

Dasia Taylor of North Liberty, Iowa, was named the Seaborg Award winner and given the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Regeneron STS Class of 2021 during the awards ceremony.

STS 2021: Yunseo Choi won first place and $250,000 for her project where she played theoretical “match maker” for an infinite number of things or people.

Yunseo Choi, 1st Place Winner of the 2021 Regeneron STS

Yunseo Choi won first place and $250,000 for her project where she played theoretical matchmaker for an infinite number of things or people. She studied matching algorithms that work for a finite number of couples and determined which important properties would still work for an infinite number of pairs.
STS 2021: Noah Getz won second place and $175,000 for his research where he adjusted the way computer models identify promising pharmaceutical compounds, which could make the discovery of new drugs faster and less expensive.

Noah Getz, 2nd Place Winner of the 2021 Regeneron STS

Noah Getz won second place and $175,000 for his research where he adjusted the way computer models identify promising pharmaceutical compounds, which could make the discovery of new drugs faster and less expensive.
STS 2021: Eshani Jha won third place and $150,000 for her development of a biochar filtration system that removes microplastics, pharmaceuticals, pesticides and heavy metals (such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury) from drinking water.

Eshani Jha, 3rd Place Winner of the 2021 Regeneron STS

Eshani Jha won third place and $150,000 for her development of a biochar filtration system that removes microplastics, pharmaceuticals, pesticides and heavy metals (such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury) from drinking water.

What the Finalists Are Saying

Seaborg Speaker Dasia Taylor's Message to Her Fellow Finalists

"We are already changing the world in various areas of STEM, so just imagine what we're going to do when the world opens up. I have no doubt in my mind that the future is bright."

Tali Finger on Being Named a Finalist

"This experience as a Regeneron STS finalist meant that my hard work was being recognized in the best possible way. It meant that I'd have the opportunity to meet 39 of the most accomplished and intelligent science students in the country, and that I'd be part of an extremely selective group of people who are capable of using science to make the world a better place."

Vedanth Iyer on Building Community

"Coming into finals week, I didn't know what to expect, especially since the competition was being held virtually. However, after finals week, I can confidently say that I have made some of my closest friends and lifelong connections through STS. In fact, by the end of the week, I forgot we were even competing!"

Regeneron STS 2021 Highlights

Meet the 2021 finalists and relive some of the top moments from Regeneron STS 2021.

Nobel Laureate and STS Alumnus Walter Gilbert’s Advice to Finalists

“It’s very important for young people to build confidence. One of the most important assets a scientist can have is bravery. There are other people, at the same age, deeply involved in science, but most of us had only a few people like ourselves in high school and suddenly you discover this other world.”

Read more about the Nobel Laureate Panel
Notable Alumni - Walter Gilbert
Read more about the Nobel Laureate Panel

Regeneron STS Retreat

After two consecutive years of participation in virtual competitions, finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2020 and 2021 classes were finally able to meet in person at a retreat in Middleburg, Va., which included a special visit to Washington, D.C. The retreat brought 68 finalists from both classes together, allowing each cohort to bond through a variety of fun-filled activities. View all the photos.

 

Annual Report: Science Talent Search 2021 Retreat

The 2021 Virtual Regeneron Science Talent Search

Regeneron STS 2021 Finalist Book

Regeneron STS 2021 Scholars Book

Regeneron STS 2021 Press Release

STS 2021 Finalist Laalitya Acharya celebrating

Why I Give

Investing in Opportunity

“I give back to Society for Science because the scholarship I received from the Society in 1977 enabled me to attend the college of my dreams, MIT. I am the second of five children and paying for a private college was a reach for my parents. They’d joke that they could just sell the farm (a farm which we didn’t have). After I won the scholarship, I said, ‘I guess you don’t have to sell the farm!’ I hope the Society continues to make other scientific-minded students’ dreams come true.”

Annie Laurie Murray
Professional Tutor, Suffolk University
STS 1977

Annie, a 1977 Westinghouse Science Talent Search finalist, lives in Boston. She has taught STEM, computer science and math at the high school and college levels and has two engineering degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Annie Murray Headshot

Regeneron STS Stories from the Society Blog

STS 2021 finalist, Laalitya Acharya

Campaigning for Change: A Look at This Year’s Regeneron STS Youth Activists
Regeneron STS 2021 finalists Amy Guan, Hannah Goldenberg, Marvin Li and Alay Shah

Setting up for the Virtual Regeneron Science Talent Search 2021

STS Finalists Are Improvisers. How 11 Young Scientists Did Their Research from Home.

competitions

CELEBRATING SCIENTIFIC TALENT

BCM Award Ceremony Screenshot

BROADCOM MASTERS

The Broadcom MASTERS took place virtually for a second year, with students competing in team challenges online. The finalists analyzed biodiversity in their local communities, designed clinical trials, constructed gliders and developed functional programs using Raspberry Pis.

REGENERON ISEF

Nearly 2,000 young scientists, engineers and innovators from 49 states and 64 countries participated in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair’s first virtual competition. Finalists participated in virtual judging, watched streamed programming and had fun in a virtual world created just for them.
Return to the 2021 Annual Report