In 2023, Shanya Gill clinched the prestigious Thermo Fisher Scientific ASCEND (Aspiring Scientists Creating Exciting New Discoveries) Award at the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (Thermo Fisher JIC). Her achievement not only garnered attention within the scientific community and by the media, but also captured the interest of the U.S. Fire Administrator. Just last week, 12-year-old Shanya Gill, hailing from San Jose, California, along with her father, Binny Gill, received a special invitation to visit the U.S. Fire Administrator’s office (USFA), where they met with distinguished figures like Lori Moore-Merrell and other senior leaders. During the visit, they engaged in discussions about fire suppression, Shanya’s innovative work on fire safety, and had the opportunity to tour the National Emergency Training Center campus and memorials.

The Graff Prize is awarded to a scientist who demonstrates deep enthusiasm for the field, the ability to explain scientific breakthroughs and inventions clearly to a wide range of audiences, and the use of various media, both academic and popular, to reach the public.

Yesterday afternoon, on March 10, the nation’s top 40 young scientists climbed to the fifth floor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington D.C. to showcase their independent research projects and share their STEM passions with the public. This was an opportunity for the Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists to talk about what they know best: their own research.

Regeneron and Society for Science announced the top ten winners of the Regeneron Science Talent Search, headed by Achyuta Rajaram, 17, of Exeter, New Hampshire who won the $250,000 first place award.