When I sat down at my computer to start writing this blog post, I wanted to start out with some witty anecdote or a funny opening thought to describe my last two years as an Intel International Science and Engineering Fair finalist. When that failed, I was able to summarize my experiences in one word: Wow.

The ISEF experience is literally one “once in a lifetime” moment after the next; How many people can honestly say that they have see Larry Page in person, met Ajay Bhatt (and told him that they loved his commercial!), or traded pins with some of the world’s brightest minds from around the globe? My week in San Jose competing at ISEF was easily one of the most memorable weeks of my life. For me, competing at ISEF was the ultimate conclusion of a long two years of research, more hours in a lab than I care to keep track of, and a lot of sacrifice and hard work. Trust me when I say, it was worth it!

The friends I have made through ISEF are truly lifelong friends; it is really only a matter of time before we all become colleges, solving the world’s many problems through our scientific research. ISEF gives students the rare opportunity to meet and connect, to share thoughts and solve problems with their global peers. Competing in ISEF has not only opened my eyes to the amazing amount of innovation present in our generation, but also to the companies and organizations that sponsor, recognize, and continue to support our incredible advancements. They deserve all the thanks that we can give them!

When speaking about my work to the community and other students, I’ve always stressed the importance of exploring your interests, and using those interests to fuel future research. Whether you are interested in sports, music, or physics, there is science in absolutely everything, and choosing to do a science project based on something you are passionate about will make all the difference. When you apply your passions to science or engineering, you no longer have just a “project” or a “job” you have unlocked the secret to true innovation. This is the essence of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, and at the heart of our amazing week in San Jose, California.

Tags: Intel International Science & Engineering Fair, Intel ISEF, intelisef, isef

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 25th, 2010 at 4:14 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.