Oviedo High School Senior Selected as Finalist in the Nation’s Oldest and Most Prestigious Science and Math Competition

For Immediate Release: January 24, 2023

SCPS Media Contact: Katherine Crnkovich, APR, CPRC

Katherine_crnkovich@scps.k12.fl.us

SANFORD, FL: Today, Oviedo High School senior Ishika Nag was named a Finalist in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation's oldest and most prestigious high school STEM research competition.

The competition, now in its 82nd year, celebrates and rewards young scientists focused on a wide range of scientific topics like the space race, AIDS epidemic and climate change. Many past winners continue to pursue innovation for the good of society and the planet, with program alumni receiving some of the world’s most coveted science and math honors, including 13 Nobel Prizes and 22 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships. Many winners go on to become founders of many important science-based companies, such as Regeneron. 

Nag’s research project, "Development of an Engineered Face Mask with Optimized Nanoparticle Layering for Filtration of Air Pollutants and Viral Pathogens,” explores how nanoparticle coatings applied to filters like face masks can improve how well they remove air pollutants and viruses in a cost-effective way without reducing airflow through the filter.

Ishika has received numerous awards and accolades over the past few years, including a Grand Award at the State Science and Engineering Fair of Florida, top prize at Florida's Nelson Ying Science Competition and was named an Engineer Girl Ambassador for her work leading elementary student engineering teams.

The finalists were chosen based on their projects’ scientific rigor and their potential to become world-changing scientific leaders. Finalists were selected by a national jury of professional scientists from a pool of 300 scholars, who were announced earlier this month. The scholars were chosen from a pool of over 1,900 highly qualified entrants, all of whom completed an original research project and extensive application process. 

Finalists will participate in a week-long competition in March 2023, during which they will undergo a?rigorous judging process that goes beyond their own research to encompass other scientific disciplines and compete for more than $1.8 million in awards.?They will also have an opportunity to interact with leading scientists and share their research during a virtual “Public Day” event on March 12. The top 10 Regeneron Science Talent Search 2023 winners will be announced during an awards ceremony on March 14, streamed live from Washington, D.C.

Seminole County Public Schools is incredibly proud of Ishika and wish her the very best as she gets ready to compete for the top prize.