TARRYTOWN,
N.Y. and WASHINGTON, Jan. 21,
2021 /PRNewswire/ --
Finalists to Compete for More Than $1.8 Million in Oldest and Most Prestigious U.S.
STEM Competition for High School Seniors
Over $3 Million Awarded
Throughout Competition
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) and Society for
Science (the Society) today named 40 finalists in the
Regeneron Science Talent Search 2021, the nation's oldest and most
prestigious science and math competition for high school
seniors.
The 2021 finalists were selected from 1,760 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 diverse range of science, technology,
engineering and math (STEM)-related topics, including diagnostic
imaging to help assess the severity of COVID-19, examining the
impact of e-cigarettes on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) development, and creating a new way to filter toxins more
effectively from wastewater.
The finalists will participate in a virtual competition from
March 10-17, 2021, where they will
undergo a rigorous virtual judging process to compete for more than
$1.8 million in awards. They will
also have an opportunity to interact with leading scientists and
display their projects to the public during a virtual event on
March 14. Usually held in person in
Washington, D.C., the 2021
competition will take place virtually in order to keep the
finalists and their families safe during the ongoing pandemic.
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 2021 winners will be announced during a live-streamed
virtual awards ceremony on March 17.
In total, more than $3 million in
awards will be distributed throughout the Regeneron Science Talent
Search, which includes awards to finalists as well as $2,000 provided to each of the top 300 scholars
and their schools.
"It's an honor to welcome the Regeneron Science Talent Search
2021 finalists to the community of alumni who share a drive and
passion for science," said George D.
Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., Co-Founder, President and Chief
Scientific Officer of Regeneron, and among the top winners of the
1976 Science Talent Search. "This year's finalists represent
many of our nation's most promising young scientists who, even
during a global pandemic, are using their ingenuity,
resourcefulness and STEM skills to work toward a better future. I
can only hope that their STS experience further inspires them to
take on and help solve the biggest challenges facing mankind – from
climate change to disease and future pandemics."
"Congratulations to the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2021
finalists," said Maya Ajmera,
President and CEO of Society for Science, Publisher
of Science News and 1985 Science Talent Search alum.
"Finalists are the top young scientists and engineers in
the United States who will someday
solve some of the world's most vexing problems. They have
persevered through a tumultuous year and we look forward to
celebrating the students' achievement in a special way."
Regeneron Science Talent Search 2021 Fast Facts
- The Regeneron Science Talent Search 2021 finalists are from 37
schools and one home school across 15 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
1,800 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
behavioral and social sciences, biochemistry, bioengineering,
cellular and molecular biology, chemistry, computational biology
and bioinformatics, computer science, earth and planetary sciences,
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/2021-finalists/
About the Regeneron Science Talent Search
The
Regeneron Science Talent Search, a program of Society for Science
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, increasing the overall awards
distribution to better reward the best and brightest young minds.
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 13 Nobel Prizes, 13 National
Medals of Science, six Breakthrough Prizes, 21 MacArthur Foundation
Fellowships and two Fields Medals.
Learn more
at https://www.societyforscience.org/regeneron-sts.
About Society for Science
Society for Science 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 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 30 years by
physician-scientists, our unique ability to repeatedly and
consistently translate science into medicine has led to eight
FDA-approved treatments and numerous product candidates in
development, all of which were homegrown in our laboratories. Our
two most senior leaders, Leonard
Schleifer and George
Yancopoulos, credit their experiences at the Science Talent
Search for putting them on a path to start the company and
ultimately, along with their team, invent important, life-changing
medicines for people with eye diseases, allergic and inflammatory
diseases, cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and even
deadly infectious diseases like Ebola and COVID-19.
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 disease, to foster a culture of
integrity and operational excellence and
to build a sustainable future. 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 International Science and Engineering
Fair.
For additional information about the company, please visit
www.regeneron.com or follow @Regeneron on Twitter.
Media Contacts
Ella
Campbell, Regeneron
914-572-4003,
ella.campbell@regeneron.com
Gayle Kansagor, Society for
Science
703-489-1131,
gkansagor@societyforscience.org
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SOURCE Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Society for Science