Courtesy of Society for Science/Chris Ayers Photography
The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair is the largest pre-collegiate STEM competition in the world. But there is so much more to the fair than the finalists presenting their research to the judges.
At the top of the list is the chance to hear from STEM and business leaders who once stood in the finalists’ shoes. This year featured two exciting panel discussions in which finalists had the chance to ask questions directly to these role models. You can read about the first, the Excellence in Science and Technology Panel, in this blog post.
Next up was the Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Impact Panel, sponsored by Rise, an initiative of Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust. Moderated by the President and CEO of Society for Science and Executive Publisher of Science News, Maya Ajmera, the panel featured four alumni making impacts across an array of STEM fields:
Cristina Costantini (ISEF 2004, 2005) is the Emmy Award-winning director of Science Fair, the documentary which featured ISEF 2017. She also directed Science Fair: The Series, which tells the story of finalists at Regeneron ISEF in 2022.
Neil Hattangandi (ISEF 1992, 1994, 1995) is the CEO and Co-Founder of Cortica, a technology-enabled autism care company. A healthcare technology start-up leader for over 20 years, Neil has launched three companies during his career.
Glen Meyerowitz (ISEF 2009) is the CEO and Founder of Clarity Technology, a company that is developing systems and technology for carbon dioxide removal.
Naomi Shah (ISEF 2010 – 2013) is the Founder and CEO of Meet Cute, a modern entertainment company that produces and distributes original, scripted stories.
Answering questions from Maya and the finalists, here are a few insights shared by the panelists.
What was a specific moment or period that impacted the trajectory of your career?
Cristina: Finding people that I could learn a lot from is the reason that I’m here today. I own a company with some of my best friends and I learn from them every day. Going out on your own, taking a risk and starting a company can be very scary—but now I have the luxury of choosing what projects I work on and developing my own projects, and it’s a real joy to have that freedom. I very much encourage everyone to think outside of the paths you were raised with or that you’re the most familiar with, because there are so many possible careers out there.
What advice would you share with finalists based on your own experiences at ISEF?
Neil: It’s about connectivity. I didn’t realize until I got into entrepreneurship that it’s less about what I know and more about the connections I’ve formed. Most of my investors are friends I’ve met through college, ISEF, medical school and other experiences. When you meet people from ages 15-22, there’s a different level of friendship than when you’re in your forties. Embrace these relationships, get to know the people around you and stay in touch—they’ll be incredible friendships. And really let this fuel you to do what’s next. You’re amongst the brightest scientists and engineers in the world. Let this experience fill you with the confidence to fulfill your dreams.
How can entrepreneurs ensure their innovations contribute positively to society?
Glen: It’s not easy. Try to have vision, have focus and know what you’re working toward. Not just today and tomorrow, but also on what things will look like five, ten, twenty years from now. Having a longer-term vision is vital to maintaining that positive impact. Finding people who share that vision is key.
What is one common misunderstanding about your field?
Naomi: Storytelling is woven into every field. I sometimes think that people don’t understand that storytelling and the ability to connect to people through stories is actually a part of our wellbeing. Fields within healthcare and mental health may be more prescriptive, but we look to music and film and interviews to connect with people. That’s an important part of how we feel good—and that important component of wellbeing can sometimes go unheard.
