As a judge in the ROBO category (Robotics and Intelligent Machines), I had a front-row seat to some of the most groundbreaking work being done by high school students from around the world. These young innovators are not only building robots and training machine learning models—they’re solving real-world problems with empathy, creativity, and technical precision.

ISEF 2025 by the Numbers:

• Over 1,700 finalists from more than 60 countries, regions, and territories were selected from a global pool of hundreds of thousands of student researchers.

• Projects were spread across 22 scientific categories, including ROBO, which featured some of the most forward-thinking work in automation, AI, and human-centered robotics.

• The ROBO category awarded:

  • Two 1st Place Awards ($6,000 each)

  • Two 2nd Place Awards ($2,400 each)

  • Four 3rd Place Awards ($1,200 each)

  • Four 4th Place Awards ($600 each)

• In total, ISEF awarded nearly $9 million in prizes across Grand Awards, Special Awards, and Top Awards.

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What Made ROBO Projects Stand Out:

From AI-powered exoskeletons to autonomous drones for wildfire management, the projects I judged this year were not only technically sophisticated—they were also socially impactful. These students didn’t just ask, “Can I build this?” but also, “Should I build this?” and “Who will it help?”

This level of ethical reflection is what we strive to nurture through programs like STEAM in AI and the AI Youth Council, and seeing it in action from such young minds was truly inspiring.

The Role of a Grand Award Judge:

As a Grand Judge, my responsibilities extended beyond selecting category winners in ROBO. I also participated in the Top Awards judging process—where Grand Judges from all categories come together to help identify and vote on the most exceptional projects in the fair, including:

• George D. Yancopoulos Innovator Award – $100,000

• Regeneron Young Scientist Awards – $75,000 each

• Gordon E. Moore Award – $50,000

• Several additional $10,000 awards recognizing leadership, resilience, interdisciplinary impact, and ethical innovation.

Being part of this process was both humbling and deeply rewarding. It reaffirmed the importance of recognizing not just technical excellence, but also integrity, thoughtfulness, and the potential for global impact.

A Glimpse into the Future:

ISEF 2025 was a powerful reminder that the future of technology—and the future of ethics in AI and robotics—is in incredibly capable hands. These students are not waiting for the future to come to them; they’re building it.

To every finalist, thank you for sharing your brilliance. And to my fellow judges—thank you for your thoughtful deliberation and commitment to championing the next generation of STEM leaders.