Fun Facts: The many interests of the 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists

Congratulations to the 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search top 40 finalists! Next week, these exceptional young people will gather in Washington, D.C. to present their original research to experts in their fields as they take part in the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and engineering competition for high school seniors. Competing at Regeneron STS is just one sparkling achievement for these shining stars, but their interests and curiosity know no horizon. Here are just a few of the unique ways this year’s finalists are charting their orbits.

Many of the finalists work hard to serve their communities:

• Founding the local student chapter of a national nonprofit organization that hosts networking events that connect Indigenous students and professionals to help reach their STEM goals.
• Being an ambassador for a statewide, youth-led organization that offers education and advocacy on the dangers of tobacco.
• Working as a social media manager for a healthcare policy organization.
• Launching a program, which now reaches 190 schools across eight countries, that connects young people to mentors in STEM fields.

Active in body, as well as in mind, several finalists are athletes:

• One finalist loves bouldering and says climbing isn’t just a sport but a way to find belonging in the outdoors.
• Another is a competitive fencer who has analyzed over 900,000 matches and publishes articles and statistics to help athletes improve their performance in competition and debunk common myths in fencing.
• One finalist is a rowing club mentor who has seen two rowers he coached signed to Division I schools.

A gutsy group of go-getters, some entrepreneurial finalists have founded or co-founded:

• A clothing company—designing new clothing lines, approving financial decisions and developing ad scripts to showcase in company meetings.
• A concert promotion business that, in addition to drawing thousands of attendees, helps other students connect with the local music scene and support artists.
• A club called EPIC (Existential Philosophy Interdisciplinary Conversations) for students and faculty to discuss complex scholarly topics.
• An AI-productivity app designed to assist researchers.

And that hardly scratches the surface. Other finalists pursue interests as varied as:

• Welding, and igniting their creative spark in a makeshift garage workshop.
• Playing poker and studying the math behind the game as well as playing with friends and family.
• Spending over 500 hours attempting to master blindfolded tea tasting.
• Working at a farm to help grow flowers from the seed, plant and arrange them for sale to local businesses.
• Serving as managing editor of an online youth magazine.

By the numbers, here is a look into the finalists’ top activities, project categories and spoken languages:

Soon, all 40 finalists will come to Washington, D.C., competing for over $1.8 million in awards. They will engage in scientific events and opportunities across the city. Stay tuned for the announcement of the winners on the evening of March 11, 2025.