By Srishti Sawant

Last weekend, IA students competed at the Fulton County Regional Science and Engineering Fair (FCSREF) and placed in every one of their categories, a product of the intensive preparation that goes on for months prior.

After months of research and preparation, IA students first competed at the IA Science and Engineering Fair (IASEF) in December for the 8 finalist spots out of 27 total contestants here at IA (the largest contestant size at IA yet) to advance to the regional fair. However, advancing beyond the regional level of science fair is not just about presenting a strong project; it also reflects months of independent research, repeated testing, and careful revisions.

As sophomore Uddip Kashyap [10] explained,

“I think the hardest part of doing research is coming up with a novel idea; science fair implores you to ask niche, detailed questions that are feasible.”

Freshman Anoushka Shinde [9] echoed this challenge, sharing

“I’ve found that the hardest part is definitely just landing on that first solid idea.”

For many students, this early uncertainty is a large part of what makes the final result meaningful.

This year, the 8 IA finalists earned 8 of the 13 finalist spots from a total of 48 contestants in Fulton County, earning them a place among the top young STEM researchers in the state. At the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair (GSEF), these young scientists will not only gain the opportunity to advance to the next round of the science fair but also interact with university faculty, the media, and industry representatives.

Junior Rebanto Nath [11] reflected on what that process has meant for him:

“For this project not only do I care if the final process works for my end user, but also how I got there – to document, reiterate, and make it even better.”

Together, these perspectives reveal that IA’s success at regionals is rooted not just in results, but in persistence, originality, and a willingness to refine ideas over time. As the team prepares to compete at GSEF, they carry forward not only strong projects but also the habits of thinking and resilience that define meaningful research.