When in Riga! Two 2025 ISEF alums continue their STEM journey in Latvia

Following their success at the 2025 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Columbus, Ohio, two finalists took their STEM journey abroad, representing the United States at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) in Riga, Latvia.

Ethan Yan of Groton, Mass., and Abigail Qi of Baton Rouge, La., received this honor after winning the EU Contest for Young Scientists Award for their projects in biomedical engineering and microbiology, respectively.

At EUCYS, which celebrates the best young scientific talent from Europe and beyond, the finalists presented their work before an esteemed international jury and spent a week experiencing Latvia.

“The whole week was an unforgettable experience, so it’s hard to choose one highlight. If I had to pick, I would say my favorite part was visiting the Baltic Sea,” Abigail says.

When they arrived at the beach, the finalists worked together to form the letters “EUCYS” and a drone captured the moment.

“Looking back, I think it was a moment when I really bonded with many of my new friends,” Abigail says.

Abigail and Ethan say that when they weren’t presenting their projects, they had time to explore and fully immerse themselves in Latvian culture.

“One of my favorite moments was at the Silver Grove in Mezaparks, where the Latvian Song and Dance Festival is held,” Ethan says. “The EUCYS group met up with a choir from a local school there and we got to hear the choir sing. It was so majestic because the sound was reflecting off a huge dome. It was one of the moments where I felt we really got to bond with locals.”

Ethan recalls that right up to the last day of judging, his booth neighbors were still humming music from the choir performance.

Ethan won a third-place prize at the contest for his project, “Medicine project: RetinAI: A Low-Cost AI System With a Wearable Headset and Retinal Imaging for Eye Tumor Home-Screening,” — the same project he presented at Regeneron ISEF.

“I was thrilled and excited to receive this award at EUCYS,” Ethan says. “Coming from the United States as a guest country, we were warmly welcomed by everyone at EUCYS, including the organizers, our fellow presenters and the local visitors. It was incredibly meaningful to be recognized in an event that brings together passion and intellect from Europe and beyond.”

Abigail says this trip taught her to embrace new experiences with confidence and to see every moment as a chance to learn, grow and make meaningful memories. She shares that stepping out of her comfort zone led to amazing connections and opportunities.

“The chance to meet like-minded student researchers was truly special, and being surrounded by their passion for science was deeply inspiring,” Abigail notes. “The cultures I connected with, the memories I created and the friendships I formed are things I will cherish for the rest of my life!”

Similarly, Ethan says one lesson he learned at Regeneron ISEF and EUCYS is the value of being surrounded by other student researchers.

“Because judging was only a small portion of the time spent at EUCYSI was able to explore most of the projects at the fair,” Ethan says. “It was inspiring to connect with so many students from Europe and beyond. Science and research are truly more about sharing ideas and connecting with peers than it is about competition.”

Abigail and Ethan have this advice for students interested in this type of opportunity:

Ethan says how you interact with others is just as important as your project.

“Try not to get too nervous about judging and really take the time to meet new people during the fair,” Ethan explains. “It’ll make the experience go more smoothly. Overall, you’ll come out of the fair having enjoyed it much more than if you had solely concentrated on judging.”

“My biggest piece of advice is to find a topic you truly care about and fully commit to it,” Abigail says. “Let your passion and knowledge shine through!”