京东影业影视传媒

The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair 2024 is here! Back in Los Angeles for the first time since 2017, Regeneron ISEF officially kicked off on May 13 with an Opening Ceremony for the ages. Nearly 1,700 finalists were present for the festivities, along with their delegations from all 67 countries, regions and territories represented at this year鈥檚 fair. The atmosphere was nothing short of electric.

The evening kicked off with DJ Kara spinning upbeat tunes, while the hype built to stratospheric levels as finalists and guests entered the hall.

Barb Baker, the night鈥檚 emcee, got the evening started with a warm welcome to this year鈥檚 finalists鈥攖he world鈥檚 brightest collection of young scientists and engineers.

Soon after, Barb introduced Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of 京东影业影视传媒 and Executive Publisher of Science News, for what鈥檚 sure to be an unforgettable week.

鈥淪cience is a team sport. The students around you today might one day be your collaborators, business partners and lifelong friends. This week I encourage you to get to know someone from a different country and someone with research in a different field.鈥� 鈥� Maya Ajmera

Then, Regeneron co-Founder, Board co-Chair, President and Chief 京东影业影视传媒 Officer to share his experiences as a former student competing in Society competitions, some lessons learned during his career as one of the most successful drug discoverers in biopharma history, as well as some words of insight and inspiration.

鈥淭onight, as we gather at what I truly hope and believe could be a defining point in your scientific journeys, remember: Do not merely inherit the future鈥攇o forth boldly and create it.鈥� 鈥� George Yancopoulos

Maya then returned to the stage to facilitate an with Patrick Hsu (ISEF 2008) and Silvana Konermann (ISEF 2006). Patrick is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering at UC Berkeley, and Silvana is an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at Stanford. Together, they are Co-Founders and Core Investigators at the Arc Institute, a nonprofit research organization headquartered in Palo Alto, California. During their conversation, they shared motivating messages about following one鈥檚 passion and the power of collaboration in the face of great challenges.

鈥淒on鈥檛 give up. It鈥檚 a marathon鈥攋ust keep pushing. Try to learn to think long term and work on the most important problems. If you keep pushing, you stay at it and you bring in the right people around you, you鈥檙e going to unlock the secrets of nature.鈥澛� 鈥擯atrick Hsu

鈥淚f you鈥檙e trying to solve a big problem, there鈥檚 only so much that you might know. But there are other people out there that might look at the problem in a different way, and who have different tools than you. You can solve big problems, but you don鈥檛 have to do it alone.鈥� 鈥擲ilvana Konermann

Then, , Kevin Easterly of the Society鈥檚 communications team explored the halls of the Los Angeles Convention Center on a mission to meet as many finalists as possible. From shouting out where everyone is from, to learning which scientists they find most inspiring, to asking silly questions (i.e. what animal would you most want to be?)鈥攊t was a sneak peek of what鈥檚 sure to be an energetic week.

In a , Maya returned to speak with Afton Vechery and Gideon Yu. Afton (ISEF 2005, STS 2007) is the Co-Founder & CEO of Women鈥檚 Health Platform and Former Co-Founder & CEO of Modern Fertility. Gideon (ISEF 1989) is Co-Owner of the San Francisco 49ers and Former CFO of Facebook and YouTube. Additionally, they both serve on the Society鈥檚 Board of Trustees. During their conversation, they shared the story of their journeys鈥攆rom Regeneron ISEF to their incredibly successful and interesting career paths鈥攁s well as messages of motivation and congratulations for the finalists.

鈥淛ust getting here is the win鈥攖hat is fabulous. Get to know some of your fellow finalists! Look around and learn a thing or two. There are so many great things to learn here but, at the very least, savor this moment.鈥� 鈥� Gideon Yu

鈥淢y first time at ISEF, I remember thinking that I had found my people. I felt totally at home talking with people who were just as excited about science as I was. Just look around. Realize that every single person here wants to meet you. Be open, take it all in and have so much fun.鈥� 鈥� Afton Vechery

In the , we rolled out the blue carpet for this year鈥檚 finalists at the popular Pin Exchange, capturing the excitement and glamour of Regeneron ISEF 2024. We are in Tinseltown, after all, and what stars could shine more brilliantly than the brightest young innovators in the world?

Follow the Society blog for more updates throughout the week and watch the on Friday, May 17 at 11:30 a.m. ET.