Click here to view this year’s 2025 OCSEF Fair Awards, including a full list of awardees and nominees.
Society for Science conducted the inaugural Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge in 2023. With the support of sponsor and partner Thermo Fisher Scientific, this is the nation’s premier STEM research competition for middle school students.
Society-affiliated science and engineering fairs are given the opportunity to nominate the top 10% of their 6th, 7th, and 8th grade student participants for this national competition through their judging procedures. Nominees then complete an online application for a chance to compete at the national level for the Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge.
Maya Gandhi – 2023 DoD STEM Talent Award Winner
Maya won the $10,000 DoD STEM Talent Award in the 2023 inaugural Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge for demonstrating excellence in science, technology, engineering or math, along with the leadership and technical skills necessary to excel in the 21st Century STEM workforce and build a better community for tomorrow. Maya explored different substances to boost energy output of plant microbial fuel cells, which generate electricity using living plants and microbes.
Read more about Maya’s project and experience HERE