Next Competition: April 24 - 26, 2026
Each year, students in Grades 9–12 put their curiosity to the test by submitting original research to improve the world. From environmental breakthroughs to tech innovations, their work spans a wide range of STEM fields — all united by a mission to help humanity through science.
Finalists present their fundings before a panel of expert judges and compete for up to $5,000 in prizes, with extra awards going to their teachers and schools.When the students win, the world benefits!
For more information about our Science Competitions, please call our Reservations Department at 407.514.2112 or email competitions@osc.org.
Application Deadline:
March 5, 2026
Congratulations to the 2025 Dr. Nelson Ying Science Competition Winner!
William Wakefield, Senior, Pine Crest School, Boca Raton - William Wakefield won first place in the Dr. Nelson Ying Science Competition for his AI-based neurology project developed at Mayo Clinic’s Neurology AI lab, which simplifies dementia diagnosis to a single brain scan using a compression algorithm with 95% accuracy. Inspired by his grandfather’s death from Alzheimer’s, he aimed to improve early detection and reduce data complexity to help clinicians make faster, more reliable diagnoses. His research, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, also improves prediction of disease progression. The only high school student to present at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, William earned a $5,000 scholarship, a $1,000 award for his science teacher, and an additional $1,000 for his school. He will attend Yale University in the fall.
Saluting the 2025 Dr. Nelson Ying Science Competition Runner-Up!
Aksh Ladegaonkar, Sophomore, International Baccalaureate at Bartow High School, Bartow - Aksh was the runner-up in this year’s competition, winning $1000 for his research focused on more effective ways to deliver chemotherapy drugs to pancreatic cancer patients. Most chemotherapy drugs are ineffective against pancreatic cancers. One solution is using enzymes or proteins to break down tumors to allow chemotherapy to be more effective, but these enzymes impact other areas besides the tumors and can damage vital organs. Aksh developed a more targeted delivery system, using small lipid nano carriers that release enzymes only to the lower pH levels found in pancreatic tumors, causing less severe tissue damage. These enzymes break down the tumors so that chemotherapy can be administered directly to the cancer cells. His work was inspired by his aunt’s experience with cancer, sparking his interest in developing more effective treatments.
Celebrating the 2025 Dr. Nelson Ying Science Competition Finalists!
Joanne Choi, Freshman, A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, West Palm Beach - Joanne identified a bacteria that has an antagonistic relationship with brain eating amoebas. These amoebas are deadly and found in warm freshwater areas. Infection rates are rare but are increasing. Her research included injecting the bacteria Bacillus Licheniformis into populations of the pathogenic amoeba known as Naegleria Fowleri. She discovered that this bacterium destroyed brain eating amoebas without harming the surrounding environment or human health. Joanne’s research needs more testing, but it is a feasible option for addressing this issue before it becomes a larger threat to public health.
Alyssa May, Senior Lake Brantley High School, Altamonte Springs - Alyssa is concerned about Florida wildlife issues, specifically how they relate to the Florida Panther. She wanted to see how Floridians viewed this species and use that information to support awareness and advocacy efforts. She developed an online survey that she shared on social media platforms like Reddit, Facebook, Instagram and Next Door. She collected 1,202 responses from 47 out of 67 Florida counties. She is sharing these results with organizations that support the Florida Wildlife Corridor and posting them on social media to generate more awareness.
Mahie Patil, Sophomore, Orlando Science High School, Orlando - When people are in conversation, it is difficult to tell if the listener is paying attention. This particular skill is quite important when it comes to training, education and the workplace. Mahie built an AI tool to review people’s faces and spot cues like eye movement and head direction in order to gauge attentiveness. This tool shows high accuracy, making it a feasible option for improving interpersonal interactions in real life, including situations in school and the workplace.
The Dr. Nelson Ying Science Competition has been encouraging tomorrow’s problem solvers and world changers since 1999. Scientist, inventor, and entrepreneur Dr. Nelson Ying created this competition in partnership with Orlando Science Center to inspire exemplary science students to use their expertise to address real-world problems.
The competition is administered by his son, Nelson Ying, Jr., and Competition Chair, Fred Curtis. Previous winners have gone on to continue their research at top universities, compete in national science competitions, and ultimately pursue exciting STEM careers, including positions at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and starting their own companies.