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Grade 11 Assembly: ISEF Sharing

June 5, 2026

On June 3, Grade 11 students gathered in the XMT Annex for the weekly morning assembly. During this session, Andrea shared her experience participating in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), widely regarded as the world’s largest and most prestigious pre-college science competition. Each year, more than 1,800 high school students from over 60 countries, regions, and territories qualify through multiple rounds of affiliated science fairs to present their research on an international stage. Through photos, stories, and reflections, Andrea introduced students not only to the competition itself, but also to the people and experiences that made the event unforgettable.



Andrea first walked students through the different stages of the competition, including project setup, symposium sessions, the opening ceremony, judging day, and student networking events. She explained that ISEF was far more than simply presenting a research board. Throughout the week, students had opportunities to attend lectures by scientists, explore university and career booths at the College & Career Fair, and interact with peers from around the world who shared the same passion for science.



One of the most meaningful parts of Andrea’s experience came from hearing the stories behind other students’ projects. She shared that many participants were motivated by deeply personal experiences and real-world issues affecting their families or communities. In particular, she spoke about meeting a student whose father suffered from a neurodegenerative disease. Motivated by watching her father’s condition worsen over time, the student began researching possible methods of neuroregeneration in hopes of contributing to future treatments. Andrea reflected that conversations like these changed her understanding of science; behind every project were personal struggles, hopes, and motivations that instilled upon the research genuine human meaning. Science was not only about data and experiments, but also about empathy and the desire to improve people’s lives.



Andrea also introduced students to one of ISEF’s most well-known traditions: pin exchange. Participants traded pins representing their countries, schools, and regions as a fun way to connect across cultures. She described the atmosphere as incredibly energetic and welcoming, with students enthusiastically sharing stories about their homes and future aspirations. Although the schedule was packed and often exhausting, these interactions became some of her favorite memories from the event.



Finally, Andrea encouraged students to pursue opportunities in research and academic exploration, even if they initially seem intimidating. She emphasized that experiences like ISEF are valuable not only because of awards or competition results, but because of the perspectives and inspiration gained from friendships throughout the journey.


(Written by 11(1) Andrea   Pictures by Grade 11 homeroom teachers   Surpervised by Dongsheng Zhang    Reviewed by Qian Zuo)