TARRYTOWN, N.Y. and
WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --
Finalists to Compete for More Than $1.8 Million in Oldest and Most Prestigious U.S.
STEM Competition for High School Seniors
Females represent more than 50 percent of the Regeneron STS
finalists
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) and Society for
Science & the Public (the Society) today announced 40 finalists
in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2020, the nation's oldest
and most prestigious science and math competition for high school
seniors. Alumni have gone on to have world-changing careers in STEM
fields and earn some of the most esteemed academic honors,
including the Nobel Prize, the Fields Medal, the National Medal of
Science, the MacArthur Fellowship and even an Academy Award.
The 2020 finalists were selected from 1,993 highly qualified
entrants, all of whom completed an original research project and
extensive application process. Earlier this month, the Society and
Regeneron named the top 300 scholars. The finalists were selected
based on their projects' scientific rigor and their potential to
become world-changing scientists and leaders.
Finalists' projects span a diversity of STEM-related topics
including targeting cancer via signaling pathways, developing a
mobile application for stroke diagnosis using deep learning and
computer vision and identifying an improved method for trace level
arsenic quantification in water.
The finalists will travel to Washington, D.C. from March 5-11, 2020, where they will undergo a
rigorous judging process and compete for more than $1.8 million in awards. They will also have an
opportunity to interact with leading scientists, meet with Members
of Congress and display their projects to the public on
March 8.
The finalists are each awarded at least $25,000, and the top 10 awards range from
$40,000 to $250,000. The top 10 Regeneron Science Talent
Search 2020 winners will be announced at a black-tie gala awards
ceremony at the National Building Museum on March 10. In total, more than $3 million in awards will be distributed
throughout the Regeneron Science Talent Search, which includes the
awards to finalists as well as the $2,000 provided to each of the top 300 scholars
and their schools.
"This year's finalists are part of the next generation of
brilliant minds who – through the pursuit of science and innovation
– can address many of society's most urgent challenges and help
improve our world," said George D.
Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., Co-founder, President and Chief
Scientific Officer of Regeneron and a Science Talent Search top
winner (1976). "These students are joining a community of
highly talented STS alumni who have gone on to make incredible
contributions to their chosen fields and our society. If one, two
or even a handful of these impressive young scholars make
discoveries that impact our world, that could make all the
difference."
"The Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists are the stewards
of our future," said Maya Ajmera,
President and CEO of Society for Science & the Public,
Publisher of Science News and 1985 Science Talent
Search alum. "These finalists are the top young scientists of our
country today and they give me great hope for what lies ahead."
Regeneron Science Talent Search 2020 Fast Facts
- The Regeneron Science Talent Search 2020 finalists are from 35
schools in 21 states. They are competing for more than $1.8 million, with a top prize of $250,000.
- Forty finalists were selected from 300 scholars and nearly
2,000 entrants based on the originality and creativity of their
scientific research, as well as their achievement and leadership
both inside and outside of the classroom.
- Finalist projects cover disciplines of science including animal
science, behavioral and social sciences, bioengineering, cellular
and molecular biology, chemistry, computational biology and
bioinformatics, computer science, engineering, environmental
science, genomics, materials science, mathematics, medicine and
health, physics, plant sciences and space science.
- For a list of this year's finalists, visit https://www.societyforscience.org/regeneron-sts/2020-finalists/.
In addition to its sponsorship of the Science Talent Search, in
December 2019, Society for Science
& the Public announced Regeneron as the new title sponsor of
the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), a global
competition for high school students where nearly 2,000 young
scientists from 80 countries, regions and territories compete on a
world stage.
About the Regeneron Science Talent Search
The
Regeneron Science Talent Search, a program of Society for Science
& the Public since 1942, is the nation's oldest and most
prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.
Each year, around 2,000 student entrants submit original research
in critically important scientific fields of study and are judged
by leading experts in their fields. Unique among high school
competitions in the U.S. and around the world, the Regeneron
Science Talent Search focuses on identifying, inspiring and
engaging the nation's most promising young scientists who are
creating the ideas that could solve society's most urgent
challenges.
In 2017, Regeneron became only the third sponsor of
the Science Talent Search as a way to help reward and celebrate the
best and brightest young minds and encourage them to pursue careers
in STEM as a way to positively impact the world. Through its
10-year, $100 million commitment,
Regeneron nearly doubled the overall award distribution to
$3.1 million annually, increasing the
top award to $250,000 and doubling
the awards for the top 300 scholars and their schools to
$2,000 each to inspire more young
people to engage in science.
Program alumni include recipients of the world's most coveted
science and math honors, including 11 National Medals of Science,
five Breakthrough Prizes, 21 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships, two
Fields Medals and 13 Nobel Prizes.
Learn more
at https://www.societyforscience.org/regeneron-sts.
About Society for Science & the Public
Society for
Science & the Public is dedicated to the achievement of young
scientists in independent research and to public engagement in
science. Established in 1921, the Society is a nonprofit whose
vision is to promote the understanding and appreciation of science
and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Through its
world-class competitions, including the Regeneron Science Talent
Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair,
the Broadcom MASTERS, and its award-winning
magazine, Science News and Science
News for Students, Society for Science & the Public is
committed to inform, educate, and inspire. Learn more
at www.societyforscience.org and follow us
on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat
(Society4Science).
About Regeneron
Regeneron (NASDAQ: REGN) is a leading
biotechnology company that invents life-transforming medicines for
people with serious diseases. Founded and led for over 30 years by
physician-scientists, our unique ability to repeatedly and
consistently translate science into medicine has led to seven
FDA-approved treatments and numerous product candidates in
development, all of which were homegrown in our laboratories. Our
medicines and pipeline are designed to help patients with eye
diseases, allergic and inflammatory diseases, cancer,
cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, infectious diseases, pain
and rare diseases.
Regeneron believes that operating as a good corporate citizen is
crucial to delivering on our mission. We approach corporate
responsibility with three goals in mind: to improve the lives of
people with serious diseases, to foster a culture of
integrity and excellence and to build sustainable
communities. Regeneron is proud to be included on the Dow Jones
Sustainability World Index and the Civic 50 list of the most
"community-minded" companies in the
United States. Throughout the year, Regeneron empowers and
supports employees to give back through our volunteering, pro-bono
and matching gift programs. Our most significant philanthropic
commitments are in the area of science education, including
the Regeneron Science Talent Search and Regeneron ISEF.
For additional information about the company, please visit
www.regeneron.com or follow @Regeneron on Twitter.
Media Contacts
Alex
Bowie, Regeneron
202-213-1643,
alexandra.bowie@regeneron.com
Gayle Kansagor, Society for
Science & the Public
703-489-1131,
gkansagor@societyforscience.org
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SOURCE Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.