Austin Wang, an 18-year-old boy from Canada
Winner of the top prize for the development of a fuel cell that converts organic waste into electricity

Austin Wang, an 18-year-old boy from Canada, won the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (hereinafter Intel ISEF) 2016, sponsored by Intel and the Society for the Advancement of Science (SSP), thanks to his development of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) that convert organic waste into electricity more efficiently.

Austin Wang identified a specific gene in genetically advanced E. coli bacteria and succeeded in generating electricity more efficiently using this gene. The system developed by Austin can produce significantly more power than existing MFCs, and because it can be implemented at a price competitive with solar energy, it has laid the foundation for the commercial success of MFCs. Austin Wang was awarded the Gordon E. Moore Award (Intel co-founder and Fellow scientist), the top prize of the competition, and a prize of $75,000.

Korean student representatives win awards in the fields of physics, chemistry, energy, environment, and robotics.

Korean students also had the honor of winning awards. Kim Dae-hyun, a student from Pungdeok High School, won third place in the main prize and a prize of $1,000 in the field of physics and astronomy for his project 'Research on the Beatings of Korean Species Using Bicycle Rims,' and also received a special prize of first place and a prize of $1,500 from the Acoustical Society of America.

In addition, four teams won the 4th place main prize in each category and $500 in prize money. The team of students Lim Seong-ho, Kim Ji-hong, and Lee Seung-yun from Gyeongnam Science High School won 4th place in the Chemistry category with their project, "Can we determine the concentration of each solute without separating it when there is a solution containing various solutes?"; the team of students Choi Jong-ha and Kim Na-young from the Korean Minjok Leadership Academy won 4th place in the Chemical Energy category with their project, "Nanocatalyst for water-gas shift reaction using transition metals"; Choi Jae-hyuk from Myeongdeok High School won 4th place in the Environmental Engineering category with his project, "Development of Pot In Filter using the arsenic adsorption capacity of iron oxide and the principle of a ceramic filter"; and Kang Yun from Cheonan Jungang High School won 4th place in the Robotics Engineering category with his project, "Robot prosthetic arm for the physically disabled using a distance measuring sensor."

In addition, the team of Gyeongnam Science High School students Kim Seok-ho, Park Hae-jun, and Jeong Su-hwan received an Encouragement Award from the American Statistical Association as a special award for their project, 'Statistical Analysis using Music Analysis Methods and Tools'.

Syamantak Payra (15), from Texas, won the Intel Foundation Young Scientist Awards and a $50,000 prize for developing an affordable electronic knee brace that helps people with leg disabilities walk more naturally. He tested the prototype on two individuals with partial disabilities caused by polio, and they were able to regain mobility with a more natural gait.

Another recipient of the Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award and a $50,000 prize is Karan Liu, a 17-year-old from Utah, USA. Liu developed an alternative battery component that can dramatically improve battery performance and stability. The rechargeable battery she developed is smaller and lighter, and does not have the inherent fire risk of lithium-ion batteries used in airplanes, mobile phones, and even hoverboards.

Rosalind Hudnell, Intel’s Chief External Affairs Officer, Vice President of HR, and President of the Intel Foundation, said, “I sincerely congratulate the winners of this competition and hope that other young innovators will be inspired by their achievements to demonstrate their curiosity and creativity to actively solve the various problems facing the world today,” adding, “Intel ISEF is the best example of what can be achieved when students from different backgrounds, origins, and perspectives come together to share ideas and solutions.”

This year, over 1,700 young scientists participated in Intel ISEF, selected through 419 affiliated competitions held in more than 77 countries and regions. In addition to the winners mentioned above, over 600 finalists received various awards for their outstanding research results, including 22 “Best Category Awards” each with a prize of $5,000. The Intel Foundation also awarded $1,000 in prize money to the schools of the winners and the competitions affiliated with ISEF.

Maya Azmera, President and CEO of the American Association for the Public Science, stated, “Austin, Shamantek, and Cayce, the major category winners of this year’s Intel ISEF, have clearly demonstrated that age makes no difference when it comes to the ability to conduct research on critical problems and find solutions.” She added, “I commend not only their achievements but also their hard work and dedication. Furthermore, all the students who participated in this competition are rising stars in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.” "I hope they continue to develop their research so that they can make the world a better place to live for the next generation," he said.

Intel ISEF is a competition that selects the world's most outstanding student entrepreneurs, innovators, and scientists. Final participants are selected through hundreds of related competitions worldwide, and their projects are selected through on-site evaluations by a panel of over 1,000 judges holding Ph.D.s in specific scientific fields or having more than six years of experience.

The full list of finalists can be found here. Intel ISEF 2016 was held under the joint sponsorship of Intel and the Intel Foundation, with many companies, academia, and government science agencies supporting additional awards. This year, over US$4 million in scholarships was awarded.