$75,000 Top Award Goes to 17-year-old Robert Sansone of Fort Pierce Central High School for a pioneering invention to improve electric motor efficiency in the largest international STEM competition for teens.
TARRYTOWN, N.Y. and WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 13, 2022) – Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) and Society for Science (the Society) announced that Robert Sansone, 17, of Fort Pierce, FL, won the $75,000 top award in the 2022 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (Regeneron ISEF), the world’s largest global high school competition, for a project that explored high-efficiency alternatives to induction motors. Other top prizes went to projects in the fields of energy storage, biomedical engineering and robotics.
The top winners were honored during two hybrid award ceremonies, the first of which took place on the evening of May 12 and featured Special Award winners. The Grand Awards Ceremony was held on the morning of May 13 and featured the announcement of the top prize of $75,000. In total, awards valued at nearly U.S. $8 million were awarded to the finalists, who were evaluated based on their projects’ creativity, innovation and level of scientific inquiry. The competition featured 1,750 young scientists representing 49 states and 63 countries, regions and territories across the world.
Robert Sansone won first place and received the $75,000 George D. Yancopoulos Innovator Award, named in honor of the pioneering drug discoverer and Regeneron co-founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer. Robert’s research improved the torque (force) and efficiency of synchronous reluctance motors, which are rugged, efficient, magnet-free alternatives to traditional induction motors. He hopes his research will lead to sustainable manufacturing of electric vehicles that do not require magnets made from strategically important rare-earth elements.
Robert placed first overall in the Category of Engineering Technology: Statics and Dynamics, sponsored by Howmet Aerospace Foundation which awarded $5,000 cash.
Robert also won the following Special Awards:
-SAE International
Robert received the Best Projects $2,000 cash award. SAE International is a global association of more than 128,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International looks beyond today to explore what’s possible tomorrow in the world of mobility. Backed by 115 years of experience, we understand the changing world of mobility that merges traditional and new mobility professionals as the industry evolves. We embrace our past but remain at the forefront of conversations about the future with those in the mobility industry needing a partner to support their innovations.
Congratulations Robert! This is an amazing achievement!
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