The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF), a program of Society for Science & the Public (the Society), is the world’s largest international pre-college science competition.

Winners from Intel ISEF 2019 were announced on May 16 & 17:

Krithik Ramesh, 16, of Greenwood Village, Colorado, was awarded the first $75,000 Gordon E. Moore Award for developing a machine learning technology for orthopedic surgeons. The project helps orthopedic surgeons achieve greater accuracy for screw placement during spinal surgery. Based on Ramesh’s tests, this method has the potential to decrease operating time by at least 30 minutes, reduce physical therapy recovery time by four weeks and diminish the negative side effects associated with traditional medical imaging.

Allison Jia, 17, of San Jose, California, received one of two $50,000 Intel Foundation Young Scientist Awards of US$50,000 for her investigation into toxic tau protein aggregates, which spread in neurons in the human brain and are associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Rachel Seevers, 17, of Lexington, Kentucky, received the other $50,000 Intel Foundation

Young Scientist Award of US$50,000 for designing, building and testing a rigid, energy-efficient prototype of an underwater propulsion device that mimics the way jellyfish move through the water. This could allow for greater access to the world’s unexplored oceans.

Shriya Reddy, 15, of Northville, Michigan, received the newly announced US$10,000 Craig R. Barrett Award for Innovation, funded through Society for Science and the Public, for her novel, noninvasive approach for rapidly diagnosing melanoma lesions.

In addition to the top winners, approximately 600 finalists received awards and prizes for their innovative research, including 24 “Best of Category” winners, who each received a $5,000 prize in addition to their $3,000 first place award. The Intel Foundation also awarded a $1,000 grant to each winner’s school and to the affiliated fair they represent.

2019 Press Release

2019 Grand Award winners

2019 Special Award winners

Each year, approximately 1,800 high school students from more 80 countries, regions, and territories are awarded the opportunity to showcase their independent research and compete for more than $5 million in prizes.

Today, millions of students worldwide compete each year in local and school-sponsored science fairs; the winners of these events go on to participate in Society-affiliated regional and state fairs from which the best win the opportunity to attend Intel ISEF.

Intel ISEF unites these top young scientific minds, showcasing their talents on an international stage, where doctoral level scientists review and judge their work.