The Society for Science & the Public has announced that Greenwich High School seniors Hannah Goldenberg and Edgar Sosa were named as Top 40 Finalists in the 2021 Regeneron Science Talent Search (RSTS), the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.
Student finalists in the Talent Search are awarded an additional $25,000, after winning an initial $2,000 for their recognition as RSTS Scholars.
“Greenwich High School continues to shine as one of the leading research programs in the nation,” states GHS Science Teacher and Research Advisor Mr. Andrew Bramante. “For instance, dating back to 2012, GHS Science Research has had 37 RSTS Scholars, and now 7 RSTS Finalists, which is simply incredible.”
These scholars were selected from 1,760 applications received from 611 high schools across 45 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, and 10 countries.
According to the competition program, “Scholars were chosen based on their exceptional research skills, commitment to academics, innovative thinking and promise as scientists, and hail from 198 American and international high schools in 37 states, Puerto Rico, Chinese Taipei, and Singapore.”
From March 10-17, 2021, all 40 finalists will compete for more than $1.8 million in awards provided by Regeneron.
“Being selected as a Regeneron Science Talent Search Finalist,” added Mr. Bramante, “places both Hannah and Edgar in similar company with many talented, young scientists that have become leaders in science and technology (including Nobel Prize winners), who have devised solutions to many critical issues of our past. What Hannah and Edgar both share, and what is most commendable, is their true love for scientific discovery for the most profound reason — to use their inherent gifts of creativity and imagination to help others. I’m so incredibly proud of them both!”
The Greenwich High School Finalists and their project titles include:
Hannah Goldenberg
Project Title: Linking Continued Exposure to E-Cigarette Vapor Constituents with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Edgar Sosa
Project Title: Metal Oxide Nanoparticle Suppression of Coffee Rust Using an Alternaria, Stomata-Sporulating Model Fungus
The additional two Greenwich High School students who were named as scholars and their project titles include:
Alexander Patti
Project Title: Plant Growth Enhancement & Fungal Disease Suppression via Copper, Zinc, and Manganese Nanoparticle Foliar Sprays
Sofia Pronina
Project Title: Carbon Nanotube Lab-on-Chip as a Rapid, Inexpensive, Lyme Disease Detection System
The full list of scholars can be viewed on Society for Science’s webpage.
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, nearly 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 13 Nobel Prizes, 11 National Medals of Science, six Breakthrough Prizes, 21 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships and two Fields Medals.
