Nearly 1,100 students representing nearly 120 schools throughout the region competed yesterday in Carnegie Science Centers 76th annual Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair (PRSEF)one of the oldest and largest science fairs in the nation. This years participation was among the highest in the history of the local science fair. Awards totaled $1 million in cash and scholarships, and winners were announced at a ceremony at Heinz Field today.

Four students were selected to represent the region at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) to be held May 10-15 in Pittsburgh. These young scientists are: Mihir Garimella, Fox Chapel Area High School, for his project Biologically Inspired Flying Sensor Platform for Emergency Response; Suvir Mirchandani and Konrad Urban, Fox Chapel Area High School, for Automated Illustration of Text to Improve Semantic Comprehension; and Anna Wan, Pittsburgh Allderdice (in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighborhood), for Targeting Hippo-Regulated Cell Polarity in Breast Cancer.

ISEF will bring together nearly 1,700 students from 72 nations and territories to compete for scholarships, tuition grants, internships, scientific field trips, and the grand prize: a trip to attend the Nobel Prize Ceremonies in Stockholm. Carnegie Science Center was instrumental in the selection of Pittsburgh to host ISEF in 2012, 2015, and 2018.

Suvir Mirchandani and Konrad Urban also were selected to receive Carnegie Science Awards in the senior division (Grades 9-12). Also selected were the Junior Division (Grade 6) team of Benjamin Bermann and James Votruba-Drzal, of Falk Laboratory School (in Pittsburghs Oakland neighborhood), for Future Energy: Algae Based Biofuel; and Haley Nichols, also of Falk Laboratory School, in the Intermediate Division (Grades 7-8), for Investigating the Health Benefits of Himalayan Sea Salt. Carnegie Science Awards, which recognize achievement in innovation, education, and entrepreneurship, will be conferred at a ceremony on May 8 at Carnegie Music Hall in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. Keynote speaker at todays PRSEF Awards Ceremony was Dr. Jeanne Van Briesen of Carnegie Mellon University, winner of the 2015 Carnegie Science Award in the Environmental category.

Among other honors, more than 125 students won Perseverance Awards for longevity of participation in PRSEF, and 19 universities awarded more than 100 scholarships.

2015 Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair First Place Category Award Winners

All first-place category award projects will be on display at Carnegie Science Center from now through Monday, April 6.

Junior (Grade 6)

Consumer Science Emma Malkin, Falk Laboratory School, Oakland section of Pittsburgh

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Carnegie Science Center announces winners of Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair