Arnur Artykbay, a student from the Nazarbayev Intellectual School (NIS) in Taraz, won first place in the Special Award category at the Regeneron ISEF 2026 International Science and Engineering Fair.

In addition to his victory at the competition, Arnur was awarded a full tuition scholarship to the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia, as well as a cash prize of $400.

About the Competition

Considered one of the world's most prestigious STEM competitions for school students, this year's event took place in Phoenix, USA. Regeneron ISEF 2026 brought together more than 1,700 young scientists and inventors from nearly 70 countries.

The Winning Project

Arnur presented a scientific project titled "Automated Tumor Detection System Based on Machine Learning."

How it works: The young scientist's project utilizes artificial intelligence technologies to analyze medical images and automatically detect signs of cancer. The system evaluates changes in X-rays and other medical scans, helping doctors identify the disease at an early stage.

High Recognition

The international jury highly praised both the scientific innovation and the practical significance of the work. According to the experts, the level of research significantly exceeds that of most school-level projects.

Notably, Arnur Artykbay's project was the only entry from Kazakhstan to receive an award at this year's Regeneron ISEF competition.