• Charles Sturt University will help four top Australian STEM students compete at the leading global science fair for senior high school students in 2025
• The Charles Sturt Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Futures Institute (AICF) will provide two $10K sponsorships for two students, and AgriPark will provide two $10K sponsorships for another two students from the 11-strong Australian contingent
• The annual 2025 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is the world’s largest international STEM research competition for high school students

Two leading Charles Sturt University research institutes are sponsoring four outstanding Australian senior high school science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students to participate in a major international competition in the USA.

The Charles Sturt Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Futures Institute (AICF) and AgriPark will each provide two $10,000 sponsorships, one each for four students to compete at the leading annual global competition 2025 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Columbus, Ohio, USA, from Saturday 10 to Friday 16 May.

Now celebrating its 75^th anniversary, the Regeneron ISEF is the world’s largest international STEM research competition for high school students, with more than 1,800 students from more than 70 countries vying for US$9 million in prizemoney and scholarships.

This is the third year the Charles Sturt AICF and AgriPark have sponsored the students selected at the Australian Science and Engineering Fair (AUSSEF), a prestigious national showcase competition. The sponsorships, valued at $10K each, support the students’ flights, accommodation etc to enable them to participate at ISEF.

Executive Director of the AICF Professor Ganna Pogrebna said the sponsorships support gender diversity, inclusion of First Nations and regional Australian students, and position the University at the leading high school science competition in the world which many industry organisations and partners attend.

“By building relationships with high school science teachers and providing these sponsorships we are elevating the University’s STEM profile in Australia and attracting top-tier students to the University while nurturing future industry leaders,” Professor Pogrebna said.

“We create awareness of the AUSSEF competition for local Charles Sturt University campus cities to encourage more regional-rural entries in coming years.”

To be selected, the outstanding STEM projects of Years 9-12 Australian school students first participate at the Australian Science and Engineering Fair (AUSSEF), a prestigious national showcase competition.

On Thursday 17 April the eleven selected 2025 AUSSEF students gathered at the Microsoft ‘reactor space’ in Sydney and each provided a snapshot presentation of the innovative and remarkable research project that led them to being national finalists.

The AICF is sponsoring:

• Jonathon Zhong, Year 12, James Ruse Agricultural High School, NSW - used computer simulations of four different atmospheric condition types to predict the atmospheric composition of exoplanet LHS 1140b, suspected to have liquid water, that could be later verified by the James Webb Space Telescope.

• Naman Doshi, Year 12, North Sydney Boys High School, NSW - developed AutoFlow, a collaborative navigation algorithm, that minimises traffic congestion and emissions with prioritised path planning and predictive simulation.

AgriPark is sponsoring:

• Chloe Yaan Yuit Yew, Year 9, Norwood International High School, SA - explored how glycerine and agar concentrations affect mechanical and physical properties of algal bioplastics to make them more viable for commercial use.
  
  
• Cathy Zhang, Year 11, James Ruse Agricultural High School, NSW - used a 3D modelling technique to explain the unusually high sulphur content on Mars, utilising volcanic dynamics found on Earth.

Executive Director of the Charles Sturt AgriPark Mr Nick Pagett congratulated Chloe and Cathy on their outstanding achievements.

“Witnessing these emerging leaders in agriculture and sustainability is truly inspiring,” Mr Pagett said.

“We wish them continued success on their path forward, and eagerly anticipate the positive impact they’ll make in the future.”

Previously, the AICF sponsored two students for ISEF 2023, with remarkable outcomes; one of the students received a global first prize in robotics, and another a runner-up prize in astrophysics, showcasing the Institute and University at the global competition.

In 2024, 11 finalists were selected from hundreds of applications, and one of the AICF-sponsored students, Mr Kai Turner, was awarded the 1^st Grand Award in Robotics and Intelligent Machines.

This year, for the first time, finalists from New Zealand will also be represented at ISEF in Columbus, Ohio.