2023 GSDSEF Results

69th Annual Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair -

March 14 - 19, 2023

This page will continue to be updated with additional results and information from the GSDSEF and Affiliate Fairs: Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, California Science and Engineering Fair, Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (formerly Broadcom MASTERS), Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, Regeneron Science Talent Search.

(Latest Update May 22, 2023) NEWS UPDATE: Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair Results!!

Judging Day Candid Photo Gallery March 15, 2023

Awards Ceremony Photo Gallery, March 16, 2023

To view the 2023 GSDSEF project summaries and results/awards in zFairs, go to: zFairs Showcase

To view the 2023 GSDSEF Awards Ceremony Videos, go to: Awards Ceremony Videos

View the GSDSEF 2023 Grand Award Winners, Awards Results, Awards Ceremony Slides

2023 Results from the 2023 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair

Awards totaling over 9 million dollars were announced at the 2023 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) on May 18 and 19 in Dallas, Texas. Competing against over 1600 of the world's best young scientists and engineers from 64 countries and nearly all 50 states and territories, 7 projects from the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair (GSDSEF) garnered a total of 11 awards - 5 Grand Awards and 6 Special Awards.

For the first time since 2019, the Regeneron ISEF was fully in person and ISEF Finalists spent a week exchanging scientific ideas, participating in symposia, panels, and category networking sessions, attending social activities, as well as presenting their projects to Judges. The Regeneron ISEF is the largest and most prestigious Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Competition in the the world for high school students, where only a small percentage of projects from regional fairs qualify as Finalists and only 25% win awards. The outstanding showing by GSDSEF students at ISEF this year continues a history of success going back 69 years.

2023 Regeneron ISEF GRAND AWARDS Results:

	COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND BIOINFORMATICS Second Award of $2,000 CBIO029 — Improved Generalizability and Performance on Small Datasets Using Hyper-Connected Neural Architectures, C. elegans-Inspired Networks, and Evolutionary Modeling Agastya Sridharan, Scripps Ranch High School, Grade 11 "Agastya created a new type of neural network based on biologically-inspired models that outperforms state-of-the-art architectures on small datasets."
	ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING Second Award of $2,000 ENEV086 — Utilizing 3D-Printed Engineered Living Materials To Break Down Environmental Pollutants Sanjana Kumar, Francis Parker School, Grade 11 "Sanjana worked on a novel engineered living material created from cyanobacteria cells entrapped in an algae-based polymer capable of breaking down industrial pollutants."
	MICROBIOLOGY Third Award of $1,000 MCRO048 — A Self-Disinfecting Nanomaterial for Future Space Travel Kara Fan, Westview High School, Grade 12 "Kara created a nanomaterial that can disinfect space stations without chemicals, and analyzed the antibacterial effects of the material."
	PLANT SCIENCES Third Award of $1,000 PLNT033 — Reducing Lead Contamination Through Hydroponically-Grown Mycorrhizal Plants Kate Xu, Del Norte High School, Grade 10 "Kate tested the lead uptake of hydroponics plants colonized with mycorrhizal fungi, which showed potential as an affordable and sustainable lead purification method."
	ROBOTICS AND INTELLIGENT MACHINES Fourth Award of $500 ROBO039T — A Differentially-Geared, Omnidirectional Robotics Platform With Autonomous Jerk-Limited Navigation Logan Brown, High Technical High North County, Grade 10 Nicholas Usher, High Technical High North County, Grade 11 "Logan and Nicholas created an omnidirectional wheeled robotics platform with smooth autonomous navigation for research and industrial applications."
	COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND BIOINFORMATICS CBIO030 – Investigating the Underlying Molecular Patterns in Aggressive Brain Cancer Tumor ETMR to Develop a Robust Diagnostic Prediction Model Saanvi Dogra, Del Norte High School, Grade 9 "Saanvi developed a robust diagnostic ML model to differentiate ETMR from other similar brain tumors and identified amplified genes in C19MC as potential therapeutic targets."
	COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND BIOINFORMATICS CBIO067 – Lipid Bilayer Bending Due to Membrane-Protein Interactions: A Computational Study Nandana Madhukara, Canyon Crest Academy, Grade 10 "Nandana's project improved an existing model to further understand how proteins can affect the shape of cell membranes." (Qualified for ISEF through the California Science and Engineering Fair)

2023 Regeneron ISEF SPECIAL AWARDS:

Air Force Research Laboratory on behalf of the United States Air Force

The Air Force Research Laboratory is a global technical enterprise, boasting some of the best and brightest leaders in the world. We are Revolutionary, Relevant, and Responsive to the Warfighter. We defend America by unleashing the unconquerable power of scientific and technical innovation. Our mission is leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace force.

First Award of $750 in each Regeneron ISEF Category

CBIO029 — Improved Generalizability and Performance on Small Datasets Using Hyper-Connected Neural Architectures, C. elegans-Inspired Networks, and Evolutionary Modeling
Agastya Sridharan, Scripps Ranch High School, Grade 11

MCRO048 — A Self-Disinfecting Nanomaterial for Future Space Travel
Kara Fan, Westview High School, Grade 12

Arizona State University

Arizona State University is pleased to offer a scholarship combining a monetary award and an environment focusing on knowledge, learning and research. The New American University ISEF Scholarship is renewable for four years. Individuals and teams will be considered for these awards.

Arizona State University ISEF Scholarship (valued at up to $52,000 each)

ENEV086 — Utilizing 3D-Printed Engineered Living Materials To Break Down Environmental Pollutants

Sanjana Kumar, Francis Parker School, Grade 11

Central Intelligence Agency

The CIA is a U.S. government agency that provides objective intelligence on foreign countries and global issues to the president, the National Security Council, and other policymakers to help them make national security decisions. Our Agency is made up of multidisciplinary teams that integrate the full range of our analytic, operational, support, technical and digital capabilities. The CIA is dedicated to investing in and building the next generation of a diverse and technically skilled workforce to meet the needs of the nation.

First Award: $1000 award

ROBO039T — A Differentially-Geared, Omnidirectional Robotics Platform With Autonomous Jerk-Limited Navigation

Logan Mars Brown, High Technical High North County, Grade 10

Nicholas Usher, High Technical High North County, Grade 11

Fondazione Bruno Kessler

The Bruno Kessler Foundation (FBK) is a leading research center in Trento, Italy. WebValley is the FBK Summer School program for interdisciplinary scientific research. A team of enthusiastic and motivated high school students and FBK researchers accepts a project challenge, proposed by a visiting scientist. FBK’s Board of Directors will award several Intel ISEF finalists full fellowships to be part of the WebValley team in June. The FBK will provide full board accommodation, full tuition to courses, lab activities, bus transfer from and to Trento.

Award to participate in summer school “Web Valley” in Trento, Italy:

ENEV086 — Utilizing 3D-Printed Engineered Living Materials To Break Down Environmental Pollutants

Sanjana Kumar, Francis Parker School, Grade 11

National Security Agency Research Directorate

The NSA Research Directorate is one of the most established research organizations in the U.S. Intelligence Community. As a world leader in science and technology, Research engages with leading industries, universities, and national laboratories to both advance core competencies and to leverage work in overlapping disciplines. The ISEF Special Awards recognize exceptional research that demonstrates world-class skills in mathematics, computer science, cybersecurity, engineering, physics, and neuroscience while promoting research that can assure and protect cyberspace.

Second Place Award “Principles of Security and Privacy”

CBIO029 — Improved Generalizability and Performance on Small Datasets Using Hyper-Connected Neural Architectures, C. elegans-Inspired Networks, and Evolutionary Modelin

Agastya Sridharan, Scripps Ranch High School, Grade 11

2023 Results from the California Science and Engineering Fair

CONGRATULATIONS to ISEF FINALIST from the GSDSEF who qualified through the California Science & Engineering Fair:

Nandana Madhukara, Grade 10, Canyon Crest Academy, "Lipid Bilayer Bending Due to Membrane-Protein Interactions: A Computational Investigation"

In the California Science and Engineering Fair:

896 participants from 351 schools throughout the State who presented 743 projects in competition for awards
California Science and Engineering Fair awards only one First Award, one Second Award, one Third Award,one Fourth Award, and one to six Honorable Mentions in each category
89 GSDSEF projects qualified for the California Science and Engineering Fair
34 GSDSEF projects received awards
14 Junior Division Projects received awards: 2 Firsts, 1 Second, 3 Thirds, 4 Fourths, 4 Honorable Mentions
20 Senior Division Projects received awards: 2 Firsts, 3 Seconds, 2 Thirds, 4 Fourths, 7 Honorable Mentions
Three projects won Sponsored Awards presented by outside Sponsor organizations ranging across universities, non=profits, and commercial groups

View the GSDSEF students who received awards:

2023 California Science and Engineering Fair Results - GSDSEF Award Winners by Division and Category

2023 California Science and Engineering Fair Results - GSDSEF Award Winners by Division and Alpha

2023 California Science and Engineering Fair Results - GSDSEF Award Winners by Division and Place Award

2023 California Science and Engineering Fair Results - GSDSEF Sponsored Award Winners

GRAND AWARDS

SENIOR DIVISION

JUNIOR DIVISION

Grand Award Winners: Life Sciences

Sarah Gao, Gr. 10, Canyon Crest Academy, Advisor: E. Gerstin, Identification and Experimental Characterization of Plant Seeds as Effective Flocculants for Water Treatment - ISEF FINALIST

Kate Xu, Gr. 10, Del Norte High School, Advisor: B. West, Reducing Lead Contamination Through Hydroponically-Grown Mycorrhizal Plants - ISEF FINALIST

Grand Award Winners: Physical Sciences

Agastya Sridharan, Gr. 11, Scripps Ranch High School, Advisor: P. Fowler, Improved Inductive Performance on Small Datasets Using Hyper-Connected Neural Architectures, C. Elegans-Inspired Networks, and Evolutionary Modeling - ISEF FINALIST

Nicholas Usher, Gr. 11, and Logan Brown, Gr. 10, High Tech High North County, Advisor: C. Sailor, A Differentially-Geared, Omnidirectional Robotics Platform With Autonomous Jerk-Limited Navigation - ISEF FINALISTS

Grand Award Runners- Up: Life Sciences

Kara Fan, Gr. 12, Westview High School, Advisor: S. Halander, A Self-Disinfecting Nanomaterial for Future Space Travel - ISEF FINALIST

Sanjana Kumar, Gr. 11, Francis Parker School, Advisor: J.P. Pierce, Utilizing 3D-Printed Engineered Living Materials to Break Down Environmental Pollutants - ISEF FINALIST

Grand Award Runners-Up: Physical Sciences

Saanvi Dogra, Gr. 9, Del Norte High School, Advisor: S. Dhanda, Investigating the Underlying Molecular Patterns in Aggressive Brain Tumor ETMR - ISEF FINALIST

Vishnu Aravind, Gr. 11, and Alex Kumar, Gr. 11, Del Norte High School, Advisor: S. Kumar, Using Machine Learning to Repurpose FDA Drugs for the Treatment of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

* ISEF Finalists will be competing in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Dallas, Texas in May, 2023.

The Taiwan Award:

Vishnu Aravind, Gr. 11, and Alex Kumar, Gr. 11, Del Norte High School, Advisor: S. Kumar, Using Machine Learning to Repurpose FDA Drugs for the Treatment of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

Grand Award Winners: Life Sciences

Steven Chen, Pacific Trails Middle School, Gr. 7, Advisor: A. Millholland, Magnetically-Powered Micro Train

Lily Long, The Rhoades School, Gr. 8, Advisor: R. Hunker, Exploring Academic Setting Applications of a Turing Test Derivative

Grand Award Winners: Physical Sciences

Kayley Xu, Gr. 8, The Bishop's School, Advisor: J. Jordan, Respiratory Sound Classification Using AI

Brooklyn Owen, Gr. 7, Classical Conversations, Advisor: K. Owen, Putts to Perfection: Comparing Repeatability of Heavy and Light Putters

Grand Award Runners-Up: Life Sciences

Samuel Sternson, Gr. 7, The Rhoades School, Advisor: R. Hunker, Production of Natural UV-absorbing Sunscreens in Plant Leaves

Dhruv Bantval, Gr. 8, Pacific Trails Middle School, Advisor: E. Main, Smart Glove with ASL-to-Speech Conversion to Assist the Hearing Impaired

Grand Award Runners-Up: Physical Sciences

Keanu Zeller, Gr. 7, The Rhoades School, Advisor: Roxanne Hunker, Tilt Angle Effects on Eddy Current Impacts

Jake Vignevic, Gr. 7, St. Gregory the Great Catholic School, Advisor: S. Dasgupta, Measuring Protein and Vitamin C Level in Foods after Different Types of Cooking

GSDSEF Results:

To view the 2023 GSDSEF project summaries and results/awards in zFairs, go to: zFairs Showcase
To view the 2023 GSDSEF Awards Ceremony Videos, go to: Awards Ceremony Videos