It was an honor to serve as a judge at the 2024 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Los Angeles. This incredible event brought together 2,000 students and 700 judges from around the globe to present their projects across 22 categories. Witnessing the enthusiasm and ingenuity of the young generation of scientists, engineers, and enthusiastic global citizens in the making was truly exhilarating. The presentations were brimming with curiosity, a desire to deepen our understanding of the world and a commitment to improving the quality of life for all inhabitants of Earth.
As a judge, my primary responsibility was to identify the most creative ideas and exemplary scientific work. This involved evaluating and grading the quality of the projects through interacting with students, ensuring that ISEF provided an encouraging and educationally enriching experience for the participants. However, I cannot overstate the positive impact this experience had on me. Engaging with these budding scientists reminded me that there isn’t a single “correct” way to communicate science; the most important thing is that your communication is informative and true to your work. This experience also reminded me of the courage it takes to pursue academic research and where it all started for me: a science fair kid, passionate about physics projects, yearning to learn more and more about this world!
