News - Northeastern Ohio Science & Engineering Fair

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THE 2026 NEOSEF TO BE HELD AT LAKELAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE

This year marks our 72^nd anniversary of the fair. We have held the fair at many institutions around NE Ohio including Baldwin Wallace University, John Carroll University, Case Western Reserve University, and of course, our long-time supporter and partner, Cleveland State University.

For the first time ever, a Community College has stepped up and offered its campus for our use. We would like to announce that next year’s fair will be held at Lakeland Community College, in Kirtland, OH. We will be working hard with Dr. Ahuja and the team and Lakeland throughout this coming year to make sure the change is a smooth process for the 2026 NEOSEF. We look forward this partnership.

YOUNG INNOVATORS THAT COULD CHANGE THE WORLD!

We are excited to have two (2) 2025 NEOSEF alumni named to the Thermo Fisher Scientific #JuniorInnovators Challenge (JIC) Top 300! Thermo Fisher JIC is the nation’s premier STEM competition for middle school students.

Sourya Adavi from Incaranate Word Academy and
Archishman Dey from Solon Middle School

Follow up: Congratulations to NEOSEF’s own Archisman Dey from Solon Middle School on being selected as one of only 30 finalists in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (Thermo Fisher JIC), the nation’s premier middle school science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) competition.

Archisman willl receive a $500 cash award and will participate in the Thermo Fisher JIC Finals Week in Washington, D.C., where he will compete for more than $100,000 in prizes.

Solon Middle School will also receive $1,000 to use toward STEM activities.

Click here for more information on the Thermo Fisher JIC.

9-12^th GRAND PRIZE WINNERS

These 7 students will represent NEOSEF at the highest level of science fair competition at
the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Columbus, OH in May, 2025.

Bradley Field – Chagrin Falls High School
Optimizing Exoplanet Detection: A Comparison of Neural Networks and Traditional Machine Learning Models on Light Curve Data

Zachary Han – Solon High School
Effortless Alkalinity Analysis Using AI and Smartphone Technology, No Equipment Needed, from Freshwater to Saltwater

Arielle Klein – Hawken Upper School
Ferroptosis Sensitivity in HIV Uninfected versus HIV-Infected Microglia

Owen Medved – Mentor High School
Investigating Global Warming’s Impact on the Metamorphosis of Painted Lady Butterflies

Lila Morley – Hawken Upper School
Effects of Gut Microbially Produced Phenolic Acids on Host Metabolic Health

Adharsh Narendrakumar – St. Ignatius High School
Pulmonary Nodules: Utilizing Semantic Segmentation to Identify Early Representations of Lung Cancer

Adonis Wazni – University School
Biomimicry in Ship Hulls to Reduce Noise Pollution and Harmful Wakes

7-8^th GRADE GRAND PRIZE WINNERS

For the 2025 NEOSEF, approximately 165 students competed for the title of 7-8th Grade Grand Prize Winners. Congratulation to the following two students, one in the Biological Sciences, and one in the Physical Sciences, who will take home an additional $250 in cash prize.

Archishman Dey – Solon Middle School
How Do Various Sources of PM 2.5 Pollution Affect Indoor Air Pollution?

DR. BAPU GOKHALE EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD

The late Dr. Bapu Gokhale, one of our long time Board Members, believed in the importance of teaching. NEOSEF has created an Excellence in Teaching Award in his honor. Each year, we wish to recognize one teacher in the middle school/junior high level, and one teacher at the high school level for this honor. Along with a Certificate of Recognition, these teachers will each receive a $500 award.

There are many deserving educators and hopefully through time, we can celebrate more of you. This year, we would like to award the Middle School Excellence in Teaching award to Laura Krese of St. Mary of Elyria School. The award for Excellence in Teaching at the High School level goes to Maggie Mueller from Beaumont High School.

NEOSEF 2025 Coverage on WKYC

NEOSEF 2025 Coverage on WKYC

Since 1953, the Northeastern Ohio Science and Engineering Fair has encouraged students to pursue science and engineering through competition.

NEOSEF 2024 Coverage on WKYC

NEOSEF 2024 Coverage on WKYC

Watch video coverage of the 2024 NEOSEF by WKYC Betsy Kling and Jeff Reidel. It was a fantastic segment featuring student interviews and names of Grand Prize winners.

NEOSEF Winners on WKYC (2023)

NEOSEF Winners on WKYC (2023)

The Grand Prize winners from the 2023 NEOSEF were featured on WKYC after they attended the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Dallas, TX. Their projects were on display at the Great Lakes Science Center throughout June, 2023.

Regeneron ISEF – May 12-17, 2024

Regeneron ISEF – May 12-17, 2024

Up to five NEOSEF 9-12th Grade Grand Prize Winners were selected to participate at the next level of science fair competition, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), which will be taking place in Los Angeles, CA, May 12-17, 2024.

Students Impress at NEOSEF 2023

Students Impress at NEOSEF 2023

The 70th Annual Northeastern Ohio Science and Engineering Fair was held at Cleveland State University from March 13 - 16, 2023. Congratulations to all the students and judges who participated.