15-year-old Designs Low-Cost Device to Monitor Airborne Bacteria in the Environment; Wins $25,000 Top Award at the 2026 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge

Young innovators awarded more than $100,000 for research on dementia-related proteins, alternatives to agricultural plastics and wildfire prevention Key Takeaways:…
2026: The top five Thermo Fisher JIC winners pose onstage with their awards.
Lisa Fryklund Photography/Licensed by Society for Science

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Image of three 30 Under 30 honorees with the Forbes logo in the corner

22 Society alumni named to Forbes “30 Under 30” lists

The green team analyzes their samples

Navigating Zombies: A health challenge for Thermo Fisher JIC finalists

Akhil stands in front of his board at a science fair.

A friend’s experience with asthma inspired this eighth grader to create a wearable inhaler for emergency relief on-the-go

Two finalists running toward the stage at the Regeneron ISEF 2023 awards ceremony

Regeneron commits $34 million over five years to continue to sponsor the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)

Group photo of all 30 Thermo Fisher JIC finalsits at the the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

In their first challenge, Junior Innovators explore biodiversity

2023 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge 2023 Top Award Winners

12-year-old develops fire detection system; wins $25,000 top award at the inaugural Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge

Elizabeth Shen stands at her project poster, speaking with two adults about her work.

Thermo Fisher JIC finalists star at the Public Exhibition of Projects

Five middle school scientists spent last summer exploring their scientific areas of interest at various summer camps.

These five middle schoolers spent their summer vacations learning how STEM is shaping the world

Five questions with Mina Fedor, the winner of the 2022 $10,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement

Regeneron ISEF attendees standing in line in front of a large banner that reads, "The Future of Now."

Society for Science elevates innovation in the arts with new Regeneron ISEF category

Gabriella Waters stands smiling at a podium as she delivers her remarks.

Embracing generative AI to individualize learning

Alvaro Villafuerte poses with his TempWatch, a wearable device which can detect risks of heat-related illnesses for its wearer.

Amid rising temperatures, this eighth-grader is taking on the dangers of heat-related illnesses

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