The competition, now in its 83rd year, has consistently identified young innovators who become tomorrow’s STEM leaders
Our Bureau
Washington
Achyuta Rajaram won the top award and took home a whopping $250,000 in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competition. President George HW Bush called the competition the “Super Bowl of science.”
Rajaram’s winning project, an automatic method to determine which parts of a computer model makes decisions, aims to illuminate how these algorithms are “thinking” and make them more effective, safe and equitable as a result.
Riya Tyagi, of Short Hills, New Jersey, won $25,000 for being in the top 40 finalists. Her project focused on using computer vision to investigate how AI determines patients’ race and ethnicity, with the goal of enabling the development of more ethical AI-powered healthcare software.
Representing 36 schools across 19 states, the finalists spent the week meeting with competition judges and other scientists as well as touring congressional offices and monuments and visiting the Smithsonian Natural History Museum and Johns Hopkins and Georgetown universities.
The competition, now in its 83rd year, has consistently identified young innovators who become tomorrow’s STEM leaders. The 2024 finalists demonstrated extensive scientific knowledge through research and interviews while showcasing their commitment to addressing societal issues, passion for discovery, noteworthy leadership and community involvement.
Forty finalists, including Achyuta, were honored during an award ceremony emceed by American Broadcaster Soledad O’Brien. More than $1.8 million was awarded to the finalists, who were selected from among the largest entrant pool since the 1960s through a holistic evaluation process.
The Regeneron Science Talent Search empowers young people who are passionate about innovation and using scientific discovery to contribute to improving our world. By providing a national stage to present new ideas and challenge old ways of thinking, the competition encourages and rewards a culture of idea sharing, critical thinking and continuous improvement. It also serves as a catalyst to discovering sustainable solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. The judging panel considers how these research endeavors, innovative thinking and leadership qualities demonstrate the students’ potential to become future leaders in critical STEM fields.
