1. Regeneron Science Talent Search
Allie Stifel
Director, Regeneron Science Talent Search
Society for Science & the Public

2. The History
The Regeneron Science Talent Search (Regeneron STS) is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science research competition for high school seniors.
Since 1942 in partnership with Westinghouse, then Intel and now with Regeneron, the Society has provided a national stage for the country's best and brightest young scientists to present original research to nationally recognized professional scientists.

3. The Goal:
to identify young scientists who will become the leaders of our future scientific community

4. The Prizes $3.1 million in awards offered each year!
Entrants: T-shirts, laptop stickers, 1-year subscription to Science News
Top 300 Scholars: $2,000
Schools of Top 300 scholars: $2,000 per scholar
40 Finalists: $25,000 for 30 students
Top Ten: $40,000 to $250,000 for 10th through 1st place

5. Who can apply? Eligibility
Last year of secondary school (usually 12th)
Attending school in the US or some US citizens attending school abroad
Individual, independent research from any time and of any duration
Human / Animal research falls within rules
No cut offs by GPA, # of AP classes, etc.
Any student from any school may apply if they meet the other rules (no limits per school, region, state)
Completed research project from any year of high school, of any length

6. Regeneron STS vs. Intel ISEF
12th grade (or last year)
9th – 12th grade
National
International
Identifying Future Leaders
Identifying Top Research
Individual
Individual or Team
Written Research Report
3-Panel Display
Essays, Transcripts, Test Scores, Recommendations
In-person interviews
Research over entire life allowed
1 year of research in last 18mo.
No regional competitions
Affiliated Fairs
No limits by geography
Each fair has allotted spots
No limits by category
Winners in each category
Stricter animal rules (no oversight)
Oversight of fairs

7. Application Process https://sciencetalentsearch.fluidreview.com
Opens June 1, 2018, closes November 14
Online Application ONLY; Direct Apply
Requirements:
Essays and short answer questions about activities, awards, past and current research projects
Test Scores (optional)
Recommendations (Educator, Project Scientist, Transcripts from High School Counselor)
Research Report (up to 20 pages)

8. What we’re NOT looking for…
Perfection
All AP classes
Only students from certain states and schools
Fancy labs/mentors
Quotas of any sort
We DO want to see…
Great student-driven research
Research from all disciplines
Students taking advantage of opportunities available to them
Demonstration of strong academic achievement

9. Timeline Student Research Project
Approx 1800 students submit online applications June-November
Each application reviewed by 3 PhD-level scientists (120), screened for plagiarism and rules review
Judging Panel determines top 300 scholars and 40 finalists
Top 300 scholars announced January 9
Top 40 finalists announced January 23
Finalists compete in Washington, DC mid-March
Top 10 Winners Announced

10. Regeneron Science Talent Institute
Thursday, March 7
Sunday, March 10
East Coast Arrivals
Capitol Hill Photo Shoot
Project Board Building
Project Judging
Orientation Dinner
Public Day
Telling Your Story Workshop
Winner Results available to PR team
West Coast Arrivals
Monday, March 11
Friday, March 8
Finalist Field Trip
Judges’ Breakfast
Regeneron Innovation Dinner
Judging Interviews
Tuesday, March 12
Alumni Dinner
Saturday, March 9
Hill Day
Awards Gala
Wednesday, March 13
Finalist Team Challenge
Seaborg Speaker Selection
Farewell breakfast
Departures

11. 2018 Highlights Video

12. Why should students enter Regeneron STS?
Opportunity to win awards…top prize is $250,000! Schools awarded $2,000 per scholar, too!
Networking opportunities
Opportunity to showcase their research
Practice makes perfect– great opportunity to practice scientific writing
Inspiring to think about being around like-minded people
Why not?

13. Things to know about the 2018/2019 application
Application structured the same as 2017, some essays are shorter or combined
Transcripts only accepted through the online system (no longer accepted via snail mail)
Teachers are encouraged to open test accounts to explore– identify yourself in Task 1
Revised Rules Wizard section for students (Task 11)
Limited number of activities, formatted so easier for us to quantify
Allow/encourage students to list their family responsibilities for more holistic review of entrant
Test scores have been optional for a few years, students may self report
Robust FAQ on the website

14. Tools and Tips for Entrants
Work in small chunks of time! “Easy sections” first.
Application FAQ page
Application Tour Video
Webinars
Sign up early to receive reminder s and learn about webinars and help videos
Don’t be afraid to with questions!
Rules questions

15. Advice for Educators
Encourage all of your students to apply, and tell them about STS as 9th & 10th graders
Highlight former finalists and scholars as role models, share stories from our blog
Open a test account!
to request promotional materials.
Sign up for our s through online form
“Like” the Society on social media to keep up with important dates and events, and to access great materials like the livestreams from the STS Public Exhibition of Projects and the Awards Gala
Letters of recommendation (educators & mentors)– help us contextualize the student

16. Mythbusting: True/False
Only one student per school can be named a finalist
Only one student per school can enter
Mentors are required to enter STS
There are no GPA or test score cut offs
Students can enter more than once
SSP tracks silly student questions and phone calls
Multiyear research projects are required
Engineering projects are not allowed
Students can enter research that was entered into other competitions
False!
False!
False!
TRUE!
False!
False!
False!
False!
TRUE!

17. Important Dates 2019 Application Opens – June 1, 2018
Application Deadline – ROCK SOLID
November 14, 2018 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Winner Announcements – January 2019
Scholar Announcement: Early January
Finalist Announcement: Mid January
Regeneron Science Talent Institute – mid March 2019
Public Exhibition of Projects – March 12, 2019

18. Questions? astifel@societyforscience.org sciedu@societyforscience.org
me for materials, handouts, etc! This presentation will be uploaded to the Edmodo.