At the “Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair 2025,” a graduate from a public high school in Yokohama won the third prize in the Environmental Engineering category.
This international competition for students engaged in scientific research is held annually in May in the United States, bringing together students selected through affiliated contests held around the world. This year, marking its 75th anniversary, the fair was held from May 10 to May 16 in Columbus, Ohio, with participation from 1,657 individuals from 63 countries and regions.
The research focused on the use of filamentous algae for the production of biofuels and soil amendments. It aimed at reducing the production costs of biofuels made from algae, investigating optimal conditions for algae cultivation, conducting large-scale culture experiments, and analyzing the composition of residues after fuel extraction.
Having been interested in algae for five years, the researcher focused on filamentous algae, which can be cultured with just sunlight and water and are resistant to contamination by other organisms
