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NEW DIRECTIONS
Following 缅北禁地’s centennial milestone in 2021, we recognized the need to embrace the future and follow new directions, thus the theme of this annual report. In 2023, we embarked on a journey to invest in the Society’s future, doubling down on our mission through a comprehensive strategic planning process aimed at charting our course for the next five years. With an eye to promoting diversity, committing to accessibility and embracing innovative ideas, 2023 was a year of pursuing fresh challenges while strengthening our ongoing work. With new directions come infinite possibilities 鈥� and we’re excited to continue this journey with you.
Learn more in the Welcome Letter from Maya Ajmera, President & CEO of 缅北禁地 and Executive Publisher of Science News, and Mary Sue Coleman, Chair of the Society鈥檚 Board of Trustees.
COMPETITIONS
Elevating the Next Scientific Leaders
The Regeneron Science Talent Search is the nation鈥檚 oldest and most prestigious science research competition for high school seniors. Representing the most promising young scientists in the country, each working to address society鈥檚 most pressing challenges, the 300 scholars and 40 finalists were selected from 1,949 applications from 627 high schools across 48 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and four other countries.
Neel Moudgal of Saline, Michigan, won the $250,000 top award听for听his project, in which he created a computer model that can rapidly and reliably predict the structure of RNA molecules using only easily accessible data. Second place and $175,000 went to Emily Ocasio of Fairfax, Virginia, and third place and $150,000 went to听Ellen Xu of San Diego, California.
Connecting the World’s Young Innovators
Over 1,600 young scientists hailing from 49 states and 64 countries, regions and territories came together to compete in the 2023 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, the world’s largest pre-collegiate STEM competition, where they won nearly $9 million in awards and scholarships. Convening in Dallas, Texas, the fair was the first fully in-person ISEF since 2019.
Kaitlyn Wang of San Jos茅, California, won first place and received the $75,000 George D. Yancopoulos Innovator Award. In her research, she developed an efficient way to identify certain exoplanets that orbit very closely around their stars, and found some of the smallest such planets ever discovered.
Saathvik Kannan of Columbia, Missouri, and the team of Teepakorn Keawumdee,听Pannathorn Siri听and Poon Trakultangmun听of Bangkok, Thailand, received the two Regeneron Young Scientist Awards of $50,000.
A New Chapter
In the inaugural year of the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (formerly the Broadcom MASTERS), we welcomed 30 of the brightest middle school researchers to Washington, D.C., for a week of STEM exploration and celebration. The finalists were selected from a pool of more than 1,800 applicants, and they collectively received over $100,000 in awards and prizes. Throughout the week, the finalists were immersed in team-based STEM challenges, such as building submersible cameras to document biodiversity in the Chesapeake Bay and using their coding skills to design high-tech miniature-golf holes.
Shanya Gill of San Jos茅, California, won the top $25,000 ASCEND Award for her leadership and critical-thinking skills, as well as her research project, a fire detection system. Keshvee Sekhda of Sugar Hill, Georgia, won the $10,000 Broadcom Coding with CommitmentTM听Award;听Maya Gandhi听of Anaheim, California, won the $10,000 DoD STEM Talent Award;听Adyant Bhavsar听of San Jos茅, California, won the $10,000 Lemelson Award for Invention; and Elizabeth (Ellie Lou) Olvera of Goleta, California, won the $10,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement.
JOURNALISM
Science News Media Group
Science News drew in readers with comprehensive coverage of pressing issues, such as the record-breaking year in climate; a serialized newsletter spotlighting new depression treatments called 鈥淓lectricity Saved My Brain鈥�; and insightful features on topics like artificial intelligence, superconductors and mental health.
Science News Explores, our youth-focused magazine, swept the AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards, bringing home the Gold and Silver awards in the Children鈥檚 Science News category.
OUTREACH AND EQUITY
Teaming Up With Educators
The Society听welcomed 84 educators from 36 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and Mexico to serve in the 2022鈥�2023 Advocate Program, which provides training, equipment and year-round support to STEM mentors working with underrepresented and low-income students.
Bringing Teachers Together
In 2023, the Society once again brought together science educators from across the country to share best practices and learn from one another in a pair of immersive peer-led conferences: the High School Research Teachers Conference听and the Middle School Research Teachers Conference.
Supporting Scientific Classrooms
In 2023, the听Science News Learning program reached approximately 18,000 educators and up to 5.7 million students in 5,630 schools across the country. In addition to expanding the use of Science News Media Group’s award-winning journalism, the program supports educators with professional development workshops.
Inspiration Through Action
Through the听STEM Action Grant program, the Society distributed $245,000 in grants to 53 organizations across 24 states and Washington, D.C., in 2023. This represents the largest cohort in the program鈥檚 history, with all recipients working to advance scientific literacy and make STEM opportunities more accessible.
Expanding Research Opportunities
Through the STEM Research Grant program, the Society awarded $100,000 to 52 dedicated middle and high school teachers during the 2022鈥�2023 school year to provide their students with authentic scientific research opportunities through access to a wider breadth of scientific equipment and materials.
ALUMNI
Celebrating Our Alumni Community
In 2023, we connected both virtually and in person with our community of over 70,000 alumni of Society competitions. We also took a special look back at the rich history that has unfolded over the last 80-plus years, sharing a collection of over 100 photos of finalists鈥� visits to the White House as they met U.S. Presidents from Harry Truman to Barack Obama. Read on to view alumni highlights from 2023.
SCIENCE FAIR : THE SERIES
Inspired by the Emmy Award-winning documentary Science Fair, Science Fair: The Series follows the ups and downs of some of the most brilliant young innovators, engineers and scientists on the road to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. Directed by Cristina Costantini (ISEF 2004鈥�2005) and Darren Foster, Science Fair: The Series debuted on Disney+ and Hulu in December 2023.
Read on to learn more about the documentary and the finalists who were highlighted in the film.
OUR STRATEGIC PLAN
Charting Our Course
In 2023, the Society worked with the Bridgespan Group to develop a new strategic plan, “Our Five-Year Strategy: Setting the Foundation to Extend Our Reach for the Next Century.”
As we embark on the first chapter of our next 100 years, read on to learn more about the Society’s strategic plan.
FINANCIALS
LEADERSHIP