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EPA's Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award

The International Science and Engineering Fair  (ISEF) is the world's largest international pre-college science competition. It is the premier global science competition for students in grades 9–12. The 2019  Intel® ISEF brought together 1,842 high school students from 80 countries, regions, and territories who presented their independent research in competition for approximately $5 million in awards and scholarships.

Since 2009, EPA has participated as a Special Award Organization, and shared information about environmental protection with the ISEF participants and visitors. EPA  recognizes one project with the EPA Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award. In 2011, the EPA Sustainability Award was renamed in honor of Patrick Hurd, who managed the effort behind EPA's first Sustainability Award. 

EPA's award provides funding for the winning student and a chaperone to participate in and display the student's project at EPA's People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) Student Design Competition for Sustainability. P3 is an annual event that brings together young environmental innovators and scientists to showcase their designs for a sustainable future. 

Unfortunately, Regeneron ISEF 2020 has been cancelled.  We look forward to participating in Regeneron ISEF 2021. The 2020 P3 competition was scheduled to be part of the 2020 USA Science & Engineering Festival Expo, which is postponed until further notice.  

Winners of the Patrick H. Hurd Sustaibability Award
Year Name Research Topic News Release and Related Resources
2019 Harshal Agrawal water quality Innovative Water Quality Project by New Jersey High School Student Wins EPA Award
2018 Melanie Quan water quality

U.S. EPA Awards Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award to Walnut Creek, Calif., Student. Video of Melanie Quan explaining her project: California High School Student Wins EPA Sustainability Award at ISEF 2018 EXIT

2017 Adam Nayak water quality

Portland student’s plans to “Disrupt” urban flooding win EPA award at world's largest high school science competitionHear from Adam Nayak about his project.  EXIT

2016 Alexis D’Alessandro water quality New York High School Student Receives Prestigious Award for Developing Clean Drinking Water Project
2015 Joshua Zhou water quality Chapel Hill High School Student Receives Prestigious Award for Developing a Low-Cost Method to Reduce Water Pollution/Award presented at world's largest high school science competition
2014 Miriam Demasi building material for earthquake-prone areas EPA Recognizes Environmental Innovation at World’s Largest Science Competition for High School Students/Miriam Terese Demasi wins EPA Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award and will participate in National Sustainable Design Expo in 2015
2013 Jacquel Rivers and Arne Nipales   solar energy EPA Recognizes Environmental Innovation at Science Competition for High School Students/Jacquel Caron Rivers and Arne Joi Saguni Nipales win the Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award, and will participate in National Sustainable Design Expo in 2014
2012 Thabit Pulak water quality EPA Recognizes Environmental Innovation at Science Competition for High School Students / Thabit Pulak, age 16, wins the Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award, and will participate in National Sustainable Design Expo in 2013
2011 Param Jaggi  air quality EPA Recognizes Environmental Innovation at Science Competition for High School Students / Param Jaggi Wins Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award
2010 John Charles Boykin recycled plastics Can Recycled Plastics be Used to Reduce Landfill Waste, Help Improve the Infrastructure of Buildings, Roads, Highways and Bridges and Reduce Greenhouse Gas? EXIT
2009 Ryan Cherian Alexander wind energy Energy COOL: An Echo of Humming Wind? EXIT