Intel ISEF, the world’s largest pre-collegiate science competition, took place May 14-19 in Los Angeles, CA. It was attended by 1,778 students with 1,382 projects from 78 foreign countries and territories as well as state and regional fairs in the US, including seven projects from the Austin Energy Regional Science Festival.

Special Awards

Rusha Joshi, Junior at Westwood High School, RRISD, category: Systems Software

• GoDaddy $1,500 Forward Thinker Award - GoDaddy is the world’s largest technology provider dedicated to small business. GoDaddy believes it has a responsibility to make a difference in the community. As part of that philosophy, GoDaddy contributes to nonprofit organizations that focus on causes meaningful to customers, employees and our community. GoDaddy will be presenting the following awards, the Web Innovator Award, the Mobile Application Award, the Open Source Award, the Data Award and the Forward Thinker Award.
• National Security Agency Research Directorate, First “Science of Security” Award of $3,000 - The National Security Agency's Research Directorate brings the power of science to secure the future by creating breakthroughs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. These discoveries and advancements help provide the tools and technologies used globally to safeguard cyberspace. The Research Directorate Science of Security Initiative promotes the academic maturation of cybersecurity principles on sound scientific roots for future scientists and researchers in order to provide trust in information systems.

Alexander Mancevski, Junior at Liberal Arts and Science Academy AISD, category: Energy: Chemical

• Drexel University Full Tuition Scholarship - Drexel University is recognized for its focus on experiential learning through co-operative education, its commitment to cutting-edge academic technology and its growing enterprise of use-inspired research. Drexel Co-op enables students to balance classroom theory with practical, hands-on experience.

Yingxuan (Jason) Tan, Senior at College Station High School, College Station ISD, category: Biochemistry

• University of Arizona Tuition Scholarship Award - Established in 1885, the University of Arizona (UA) is the state’s land-grant university. Recognized as a global leader, the UA is also a leader in research, bringing more than $606 million in research investment each year, and ranking 20th among all public universities.

Grand Awards

Fourth Place Award
Alexander Mancevski - Junior at Liberal Arts and Science Academy AISD
Energy: Chemical
Project Title: Ultra-Thin Asymmetric Supercapacitor: Utilizing Nano-Porous Nickel and Graphene-Copper for a High Energy Density

Fourth Place Award
Sai Sameer Pusapaty - Senior at Liberal Arts and Science Academy, AISD
Environmental Engineering
Project Title: Effective Remediation of Air Pollution and Sustainable Electricity Production using an Algal Bio Photo-Voltaic Fuel Cell (BPFC), Phase III

Third Place Award
Arjun Jain - Junior at Westwood High School, RRISD
Microbiology
Project Title: A Novel Method to Induce and Upregulate the Production of Stable Antistaphylococcal Compounds via the Combined-Cultivation of S. salivarius and Streptomycetes