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International Science and Engineering Fair 2026
Updated: Aug 4
Hello Universe!
Today I’m going to be reflecting on my experience at ISEF 2026, meeting new people from all over the world, learning about a wide range of scientific concepts, and having an unforgettable week in Phoenix, Arizona.
ISEF Experience
Being at the ISEF convention center, where the brightest young minds from around the world gathered, was an incredible opportunity for learning and inspiration. The International Science and Engineering Fair is a hub for knowledge and networking, unlike any other, for high school researchers.
Speakers
Iván Rivera Torres
It was particularly special to hear from him, since he is from Puerto Rico and now works at Regeneron. His work focuses on eye-related AI research. He currently works as a Staff Analytical Scientist from the Industrial Operations and Product Supply Team at Regeneron. We learned about his experience growing up in Puerto Rico and his path from ISEF to Regeneron. He himself attended ISEF once, which was special because it showed us Puerto Ricans that we could one day be speaking on the stage as well.
Maya Ajmera
Hearing from Maya, we could see how passionate she was about this experience, and she made the experience all the more memorable by emphasizing the importance of the fair. She explained that it was the largest fair for high schoolers and brought together the brightest young minds from around the world. She is the president and CEO of the Society for Science and the executive publisher of Science News. She is an important voice and leader in science and an inspiration for all aspiring scientists.
David Holz
We had the pleasure of hearing from David Holz, the founder of Midjourney, multiple times, and throughout his talks, he emphasized that AI is taking on a larger role in our world. Midjourney is a generative AI program that creates detailed images from prompts. As an entrepreneur focused on AI in the modern world, he has a better idea of how AI is affecting and will continue to affect our world and its development. He explained how we will see things increasingly become automated and how AI will take over many automatable jobs.
Iván Rivera Torres Maya Ajmera David Holz
Worldview
An unforgettable part of this experience was meeting people from all around the world, interacting with them, learning about their cultures, and hearing about their research. The international aspect of the fair makes it unique from any other experience I’ve had. It was a place that connected high school students from nearly 70 countries worldwide. All of these students were equally passionate about science, innovation, and the research frontiers the world is currently facing.
Inspiration
This experience showed me what high schoolers are capable of and how research is constantly evolving to meet the demands of the modern world. I left this fair with countless ideas and motivations to continue working on my research and find new ways to contribute to scientific knowledge while in high school.
Puerto Rico Delegation
In addition to having the incredible experience of attending the International Science and Engineering Fair, I represented Puerto Rico alongside the rest of the delegation. This was an honor and a joy to represent my home during the week and to share my culture with the rest of the world.
Photos were taken by the Puerto Rican Metropolitan Science Fair.
I was accompanied to Regeneron ISEF 2026 by my mentor and professor, Ángeles Fernández. I greatly appreciate her continuous support and dedication to helping me grow as a researcher, scientist, and student.
I am incredibly grateful for this experience and the opportunity to attend such an important event thanks to my performance at the Puerto Rican science fair. From it, I gained new friendships, inspiration for the future, and valuable knowledge.
