Forty of the Nation’s Most Promising Young Scientists Named Finalists in Regeneron Science Talent Search 2018

Finalists to Compete for More Than $1.8 Million in Oldest and Most Prestigious U.S. Science and Mathematics Competition for High School Seniors

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. and WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 23, 2018) – Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) and Society for Science & the Public today named 40 finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. The competition, known as the Westinghouse Science Talent Search from 1942-1997 and the Intel Science Talent Search from 1998-2016, is designed to engage and inspire the next generation of scientific leaders. Alumni have gone on to win the Nobel Prize, found top science-based companies and invent groundbreaking new medical treatments.

Finalists were selected from a pool of highly qualified entrants based on their projects’ scientific rigor and their potential to become world-changing scientific leaders. The finalists will travel to Washington, D.C., from March 8-14, where they will undergo a rigorous judging process and compete for more than $1.8 million in awards. They will also have the opportunity to interact with leading scientists, meet with members of Congress and display their projects to the public at the National Museum of Women in the Arts on March 11. The finalists are each awarded at least $25,000, and the top 10 awards range from $40,000 to $250,000. The top 10 Regeneron Science Talent Search 2018 winners will be announced at a black-tie gala awards ceremony at the National Building Museum on March 13.

“The Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists are tomorrow’s scientific leaders, and their projects address some of the most urgent challenges we face as a society. Our world has no greater or more important resource than these bright young minds,” said George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer of Regeneron and Science Talent Search winner (1976). “I have deep respect and appreciation for each student who conducted extensive scientific research and completed a Regeneron Science Talent Search application. I look forward to what the finalists will achieve, as they add to the list of world-changing accomplishments by Science Talent Search alumni before them. It is my honor to congratulate and support these inspiring young people today.”

“This year’s Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists are some of the best and brightest young scientists and mathematicians in our country,” said Maya Ajmera, president and CEO of Society for Science & the Public and publisher of Science News. “Their projects demonstrate the remarkable power of scientific curiosity, commitment and the desire to make the world a better place. We are eager to see how they shape the future of STEM in our country and impact people all across the globe.”

Regeneron Science Talent Search 2018 Fast Facts​

  • The Regeneron Science Talent Search 2018 finalists are from 31 schools in 15 states. Just to be an entrant in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, students must have completed an original research project and extensive application process. Students who undertake this process are recognized for their dedication to the pursuit of STEM fields.
  • Forty finalists were selected from 300 scholars and more than 1,800 entrants based on the originality and creativity of their scientific research, as well as their achievement and leadership both inside and outside of the classroom.
  • Finalist projects cover disciplines of science including behavioral and social sciences, bioengineering, cellular and molecular biology, chemistry, computational biology and bioinformatics, computer science, engineering, environmental science, genomics, mathematics, medicine and health, physics, plant sciences and space science.
  • Finalists’ research includes an algorithm for alleviating vehicular traffic delays; using artificial intelligence to identify biased language in social media; and a three-year investigation into the effects of an insecticide on a bee population.
  • For a list of this year’s finalists, visit https://student.societyforscience.org/regeneron-sts-2018-finalists.

About the Regeneron Science Talent Search
The Regeneron Science Talent Search, a program of Society for Science & the Public since 1942, is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. Each year, more than 1,800 student entrants submit original research in critically important scientific fields of study and are judged by leading experts in their fields. Unique among high school competitions in the U.S. and globally, the Regeneron Science Talent Search focuses on identifying, inspiring and engaging the nation’s most promising young scientists who are creating the ideas that could solve society’s most urgent challenges.

In 2017, Regeneron became only the third sponsor of the Science Talent Search, increasing the overall awards distribution to better reward the best and brightest young minds. Through its 10-year, $100 million commitment, Regeneron nearly doubled the overall award distribution to $3.1 million annually, increasing the top award to $250,000 and doubling the awards for the top 300 scholars and their schools to $2,000 each to inspire more young people to engage in science.

Program alumni include recipients of the world’s most coveted science and math honors, including 11 National Medals of Science, five Breakthrough Prizes, 18 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships, two Fields Medals and 13 Nobel Prizes.

Learn more at https://student.societyforscience.org/regeneron-sts and https://medium.com/regeneron-science-talent-search.

About Society for Science & the Public
Established in 1921, the Society is a nonprofit whose vision is to promote the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement: to inform, educate and inspire. Through its world-class competitions, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, and the Broadcom MASTERS, and its award-winning magazines, Science News and Science News for Students, the Society conveys the excitement of science and research directly to the public. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us on Medium, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (Society4Science).

About Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Regeneron (NASDAQ: REGN) is a leading biotechnology company that invents life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases. Founded and led for 30 years by physician-scientists, Regeneron’s science-driven approach has resulted in six FDA-approved medicines and numerous product candidates, all of which are homegrown in their laboratories. Regeneron’s medicines and pipeline are designed to help in a range of diseases, including eye disease, allergic and inflammatory diseases, cancer, pain, infectious diseases and rare diseases.  We believe that scientists should be the world’s heroes and are committed to fostering the next generation of scientific talent through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education efforts. For additional information about the company, please visit www.regeneron.com or follow Regeneron on Twitter and Facebook.

Media Contact at Society for Science & the Public
Gayle Kansagor
Phone: 703-489-1131
Email: gkansagor@societyforscience.org

Media Contact at Regeneron
Alex Bowie
Phone: 202-213-1643
E-Mail: Alexandra.Bowie@regeneron.com

Media Contact at North of Nine Communications
Julia Kelson
Phone: 415-373-7296
Email: Julia.Kelson@nof9.com