Moments of wonder and connection
Society for Science 2024 Annual Report
A Year of Discovery, Collaboration and Lasting Impact
From celebrating the next generation of STEM innovators, to covering the Great American Eclipse to empowering educators nationwide, Society for Science is proud to celebrate a year of remarkable achievements and impact.
Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of Society for Science and Executive Publisher, Science News, shares her reflections on the past year. Together, we’ve focused on creating moments of wonder and connection, which remind us of the extraordinary impact we can achieve as a community. As you explore this report, you’ll see how these moments have shaped our work.
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Executive Publisher
As we look back on 2024, we celebrate a year filled with moments of wonder and connection.
With your support, Society for Science continued to create foundational opportunities for young people to engage in discovery and innovation. We published stories that deepened our understanding of the world around us and brought the inspiration of science to a broad audience. We are grateful to everyone who empowered Society for Science to create transformative experiences.
One exciting milestone in 2024 was the acquisition of a new building, which will serve as our new headquarters and become a vibrant STEM hub in our nation’s capitol. This investment in our future reflects our continued growth and our long-term commitment to advancing science journalism and STEM education and outreach.
As you look through our 2024 Annual Report, we hope you are reminded of what makes Society for Science unique:
Our more than 100 years of science journalism through our award winning magazines — Science News and Science News Explores – captivating audiences and educating our readers about the latest scientific breakthroughs.
Our world-class STEM research competitions, fueling innovation around the globe in addition to developing the next generation of STEM talent.
Our STEM Outreach Programs, reaching millions of students across the U.S. and working to ensure that every young person has an opportunity to become a scientist or engineer.
We invite you to explore our 2024 Annual Report, “Moments of Wonder and Connection,” and celebrate what we have achieved together. Please take a moment, experience the wonder, and think about the connections you have with STEM, Society for Science, and what we can do together in the future to solve the world’s most intractable problems. Email us at give@societyforscience.org with your story.
None of this would be possible without you — our partners, sponsors, supporters, educators and alumni. You share our belief that science empowers individuals and strengthens society. Thank you for being an essential part of our journey.
We also extend our deepest thanks to the Board of Trustees, for their commitment and guidance throughout the year. We are especially grateful to Mary Sue Coleman for her steadfast leadership as Trustee and Chair for 11 years and warmly welcome Kristina M. Johnson and Dave Shull to the Board. We look forward to their leadership in the years ahead.
As we look to 2025, we are energized by the possibilities — and grateful to have you with us.
Only our best,
Tom Maya
Thomas F. Rosenbaum
Chair, Board of Trustees
President, Caltech
STS 1973
Maya Ajmera
President & CEO,
Society for Science
Executive Publisher,
Science News
STS 1985
Year in Review
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Supporting students and educators
Elevating the next generation of STEM leaders
Advancing scientific literacy and awareness
Because of you, curiosity becomes connection
Together, we’re expanding access to opportunities in STEM, investing in new ideas and building a community where discovery benefits everyone.
Pillars of Our Mission
Journalism
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Competitions
STEM Outreach
Journalism
This year, the Science News Media Group delivered trusted, accessible reporting on the most pressing scientific developments.
Science News by the numbers
Science News Explores by the numbers
Competitions
Our science competitions empowered thousands of students to explore their curiosity, deepen their research skills and gain recognition for their innovative work.
Regeneron Science Talent Search
Regeneron STS is the nation's oldest and most prestigious science competition for high school seniors. The brightest young minds in the United States, 40 finalists convened in Washington, D.C. to present their research to panels of experts in their fields.
Regeneron STS 2024 by the numbers
Achyuta Rajaram, Exeter, N.H. / Achyuta developed an automatic method to discover which parts of a computer model are involved in decision-making. This knowledge sheds light on what these algorithms are “thinking,” which can help make them more effective, fair and safe.
Thomas Cong, Ossining, N.Y. / Thomas investigated the rapid growth of certain cancers and whether information controlling metabolism is primarily controlled by the expression of genetic information. He found that immune cancers have pronounced differences in metabolism and gene expression, which suggests that a more complex landscape of metabolic variation exists and gives further insight into cancer studies.
Michelle Wei, San Jose, Calif. / Michelle found that second-order cone programming problems can be solved more quickly than previously thought by converting the original problem into a modified form. Problems of this type appear frequently in areas ranging from supply chain optimization to electrical power distribution to financial portfolio management or machine learning, and she hopes her research may lead to process optimizations across various industries.
Regeneron STS 2024 highlights
Take a look back at the top moments from Regeneron STS 2024 in our highlights video
7 Regeneron STS finalists find project inspiration in surprising places
Scientific inspiration can come from unexpected sources. See how these finalists brought their unique curiosities into the lab.
In the news: 4 inspiring teen inventors who set out to tackle cancer, anxiety, suicide & more
The 74 shared stories of how Regeneron STS finalists Arav Bhargava, Natasha Kulviwat, Gavriela Beatrice Kalish-Schur and William Gao are addressing vital challenges through their research.
Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair
The world’s largest international pre-college STEM competition returned to Los Angeles in 2024!
Regeneron ISEF 2024 by the numbers
Los Angeles Bound!
Regeneron ISEF 2024 welcomed 1,660 finalists from 64 countries, regions and territories around the world.
Grace Sun, Lexington, Ky. / Grace researched how to build a better organic electrochemical transistor that she hopes will be used to develop new electronic devices that could help detect and treat serious illnesses like diabetes, epilepsy and organ failure. To overcome the problems that have previously prevented such devices from working effectively inside the body, Grace developed a new way of chemically treating their organic components, which greatly improved their laboratory performance.
Michelle Wei, San Jose, Calif. / Michelle's research investigates how to improve the speed and efficiency of a type of software that is useful in many fields such as machine learning, transportation and financial systems. Michelle’s new approach involved determining a quick approximate solution to the second-order cone programming problem, then splitting the initial cone into smaller cones, which enabled her new algorithm to greatly outperform previous approaches.
Top moments of 2024 Regeneron ISEF
Relive the top moments from Los Angeles in our highlights video!
NASA Astronaut speaks to Regeneron ISEF finalists from space
NASA Astronaut Jeanette Epps spoke virtually with Regeneron ISEF attendees from aboard the International Space Station.
In the news: Teen scientist wins $10,000 for figuring out why green sea turtles are growing tumors
The Inertia shared the story of Maddux Alexander Springer, who researched fibropapillomatosis, a disease affecting sea turtles in Kāneʻohe Bay, Hawaii.
Maddux received the Peggy Scripps Award for Science Communication, awarded to the finalist who is best able to communicate their project to the general public, explaining both the science and its impact on society.
From curiosity to confidence: Words of wisdom from Regeneron ISEF finalists
On Education Outreach Day, finalists shared some sage advice with the over 3,000 students from the Los Angeles area visiting Regeneron ISEF.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge
The nation’s leading STEM competition for middle school students welcomed 30 brilliant young scientists to Washington, D.C. for a week of immersive team-based challenges.
Thermo Fisher JIC 2024 by the numbers
Tina Jin, San Jose, Calif. / Tina’s research proved the ability of animal bones to filter water, and she created an accessible and scalable water filtration system that could be used anywhere in the world. Third-party testing by the San Jose Water Company showed that her filter achieved potable standards.
Gary Allen Montelongo, La Joya, Texas / In his project, Gary used his coding and engineering skills to build models of train suspension systems to learn how the vibrations produced by springs and the weight distribution of the train cars contribute to train derailment.
Sophie Tong, Palo Alto, Calif. / Sophie sought to improve the safety of vehicles, such as airplanes and self-driving cars, by understanding how vision is degraded in dark, foggy conditions. She then developed algorithms to accurately analyze scenes during bad weather.
Samvith Mahadevan, Austin, Texas / Motivated by his own allergies, Samvith developed a chemical “nose” trained with machine learning to detect allergens in food products and tested it on common allergens including nuts, eggs and processed foods.
Tyler Malkin, Greenwich, Conn. / Tyler, who has experienced iodine deficiency — a disorder that impacts nearly 2 billion people worldwide — developed a saliva test that makes it easier for people to monitor their iodine levels without medical intervention.
Thermo Fisher JIC 2024 highlights
See what the finalists encountered during their week in Washington, D.C. from team challenges to a visit to the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and much more.
Into the woods: Thermo Fisher JIC finalists take on their final challenge
Throughout the week, finalists took part in a series of team challenges, including an investigation of Chesapeake wildlife at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
Tina Jin visits The Kelly Clarkson Show
Watch Tina share her research with a national audience on The Kelly Clarkson Show!
STEM Outreach Programs
Through focused support, we are pursuing a world where every young person can become a scientist or engineer.
Science News Learning Survey Results
A decade of dedication
Over the past 10 years, 398 teachers from 47 states and the District of Columbia have participated in our Advocate Program. Advocates have supported more than 7,000 students in that time, of which 5,200 students have successfully competed in at least one science research competition.
Regeneron scientists inspire next generation
Science News Learning teamed up with Regeneron to bring professional scientists and engineers into classrooms. By meeting and learning from Regeneron employees, the program seeks to provide students an opportunity to learn from real-life scientists and engineers.
In the news: 'Rock star' teacher pushing students to excel through science
News outlets across the country shared stories of educators supported by the Society's STEM Outreach Programs. Here’s how Pensacola, Fla. educator Karen Bruening used her STEM Research Grant to inspire students' interest in research.
Alumni Community
Read some highlights from the community of over 80,000 alumni of Society competitions
Conversations with Maya
Over the course of the year, the Society’s President & CEO, Maya Ajmera, engaged four accomplished alumni in wide-ranging conversations for Science News about their personal story, their life’s work and their advice for young people interested in pursuing careers in the sciences.
Peter Jay Hotez, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine. Hotez is the Co-Director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development and the Endowed Chair of Tropical Pediatrics at Texas Children’s Hospital.
Erika Ebbel Angle, CEO and Co-Founder of Ixcela, a biotech company improving health outcomes through the treatment of gut microbiomes. Angle also founded the nonprofit Science from Scientists, which brings scientists into classrooms to deliver lab-based lessons.
Mohamad Ali, Senior Vice President for IBM Consulting, IBM’s global professional consulting services unit. The global organization spans 150 countries and solves complex problems using technology-based assets and AI.
Kelly Benoit-Bird, Senior Scientist and Science Chair at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). In her research, Benoit-Bird has developed innovative acoustical techniques to study the behavior of deep-sea organisms.
Signature Event
The Fall 2024 Signature Event featured Ray Kurzweil (STS 1965; ISEF 1965), acclaimed author, futurist, inventor, Principal Researcher and AI Visionary at Google in conversation with Michael Voss, Publisher at Science News.
In the news: 22 Society alumni named to Forbes '30 Under 30' lists
Twenty-two alumni were recognized by Forbes as rising leaders in their fields ranging from science and healthcare to social impact. See how these young trailblazers are using their talents to build a better world.
Leadership and Staff
Meet the team that makes our work possible.
Other Society Highlights
Here are a few other milestones from 2024.
Financials
Here's how your support fueled scientific discovery in 2024.
Thanks to the support and generosity of its philanthropic partners, donors, members, volunteers, alumni, and educators, Society for Science is in a strong financial position.
In 2024, 84 cents of every dollar donated to Society for Science supported its programmatic work to advance our mission. Our three strategic program areas are science journalism, world-class competitions for middle and high school students, and STEM outreach.
The remaining 16 cents were allocated to general and administrative costs (8 cents) and fundraising (8 cents) of every expense dollar.
How we invested your support in 2024
The Society's overall balance sheet continues to be healthy
The investment portfolio holdings are well diversified and professionally managed in order to take advantage of market growth while minimizing risk of loss.
Restricted assets make up the largest asset class and are mostly grants receivable for future funding commitments from Regeneron and other funders for science competitions and other program work, with all receivables to be provided within the next five years.
Society for Science is committed to responsibly managing its financial resources. Thank you to all of our stakeholders for trusting us to steward your contributions to the greatest need of our programs.
Your Support Makes STEM Education Possible
Your generosity helps us support the next generation of STEM innovators.
Celebrating the generosity behind our progress
Behind every young scientist is a community that believes in them. We are proud to recognize the donors whose partnership fuels a future of scientific excellence.
Be part of the future of science
A tax-deductible donation to Society for Science is one of the most powerful ways to help shape a world that elevates ideas from all people to benefit our shared global future: a future with more young people exploring the world of science, contributing to scientific innovation and opening the doors for those individuals to become the next generation of leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs.
Keep Reading
Download the pdf print version of our 2024 Annual Report or read previous reports.