An Armenian high school student has won the third award in the Physics and Astronomy category at the final round of the annual Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), held in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S., organizers have announced.

The winner, Albert Shahinyan, is a 12th-grade student at the National Polytechnic University of Armenia’s High School in Yerevan.

Shahinyan’s research, titled The Enhancement of Atmospheric Water Vapor Condensation Using Multilayer Graphene-Coated Porous Ceramic Substrates, focuses on utilizing mechanically exfoliated multilayer graphene (MLG) sheets to enhance atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) on a porous ceramic substrate.

Albert Shahinyan was given the opportunity to participate in Regeneron ISEF 2026 after winning the Armenian School Science Festival.

Ayb School students Maria Melikyan (12th grade) and Alyona Hakobyan (11th grade) also participated in ISEF 2026, presenting the Sorbroot project in the Environmental Engineering category.

The Armenian School Science Festival, initiated in 2021 by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia, has become an annual event, with applications currently open for the 2027 edition.

From May 9 to May 15, more than 1,700 young scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and inventors gathered at the Phoenix Convention Center for a week of events, connecting with their peers and global STEM leaders, and more than $7 million in awards and prizes—marking more than 75 years of Regeneron ISEF.

The finalists, selected from 365 affiliate fairs in more than 60 countries, regions, and territories, have all completed exemplary research projects and earned the right to compete at Regeneron ISEF by winning at a Society-affiliated local, regional, state, or national science fair.