Me in front of the ISEF exhibit hall

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What is the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)?

The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is an annual science fair in the United States. Each May, more than 1500 students from roughly 70 countries and territories compete in the fair for scholarships, tuition grants, internships, scientific field trips and the grand prizes. Individual science projects and team science projects both compete for prizes. Teams are composed of two to as many as four high school students (grades 9–12). In addition to the judging of projects and an open session for the public to view them, there time is set aside for students to experience the host city with tours and activities. A significant component of the program is social, as students interact with each other during mixers and ceremonies. Throughout much of the week, various seminars are also held for students, mentors, and teachers.

What Grand award did I win?

During my time at ISEF, after a long period of extensive judging and presenting, I was fortunate to receive 1st place in the category of “Robotics and Intelligent machines”, one of the largest categories of the fair, meaning I placed first globally out of all robotics projects in 2023. At the Highschool level this is the highest level robotics achievement possible in the world for an individual. I was honoured to receive this award for my project “TARS – Transmission-Line Assessment and Review System”.

What other awards did I win?

At the ISEF I was also awarded the SAE International best project award. Out of all 1600+ projects from 70+ different countries I was awarded one of three of these awards meaning that the international society of automotive engineers deemed my project 1 of the 3 best engineering projects out of the whole fair.

What is the ASTA I3 program?

TThe ASTA I³ Awards program is a collaboration between all members of the ASTA Federation, comprising each state and territory’s Science Teachers Association and the ASTA Secretariat, celebrating inquiry, innovation and ingenuity across Australian school students of STEM. Entry to the the I³ Awards is open to school students from Preschool to Year 12 who have demonstrated exceptional results in their state or territory STEM awards program, and is via nomination only through a state or territory Science Teachers Association (STA).

What is the Senior Senior Invention / Engineering award?

After the top ranking projects from each state progress from their state fairs in 2022, each Senior project from around the country compete for either the Senior Invention / Engineering or the Senior Science Inquiry award. The Senior Invention / Engineering award is given, after an extensive judging period of professional and in-the-industry judges, the best high school senior engineering project in the country. In 2023, I was honoured to receive this award for my project “TARS – Transmission-Line Assessment and Review System.

What is the International Science School

The Professor Harry Messel International Science School is an internationally recognized, selective, educational science event that happens in July every 2 years. 90 Students from around Australia (50 from NSW), as well as 48 international students, are individually selected after applying to attend the ISS event. Students are selected based on their performance at their school performance (mainly sciences), extracurricular and academic achievements, extracurricular activities and previous related awards and honours. Complete scholarship allows students given this prestigious award the chance to attend without fees.

How scholar’s are selected

Scholarships are determined by a multitude of factors. A large component of the selection process is the assessment of school grades, students who have been granted a scholarship must retain outstanding marks. Additionally, scholars are assessed based on their leadership, communication and passion in STEM fields through written, video and interview submissions.