Yael Shteter, a 12th-grade student from Branko Weiss Comprehensive School in Kibbutz Na’an, has won first place in Israel’s Young Scientists and Developers Competition for her groundbreaking research on newly discovered exoplanets and the variables in their systems. She will represent Israel at the ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair) in Columbus, Ohio—one of the world’s most prestigious science competitions for young researchers.
A Scholarship and a Global Stage
As part of her prize, Shteter will also receive a 10,000 shekel academic scholarship. She is a participant in the Alpha Program at the Weizmann Institute of Science, designed to foster excellence among outstanding high school students.
Nationwide Talent on Display
A total of 53 students from across Israel took part in this year’s competition. The awards ceremony was held Tuesday at the Bloomfield Science Museum in Jerusalem, following a three-day event where 49 student research projects were presented in fields including life sciences, environmental studies, physics, mathematics, technology, history, and the social sciences.
Students Who Engage with Real Science
Education Minister Yoav Kisch praised the young participants, saying: “This is exactly the vision we want to see more of—high school students engaging with real scientific work.”
He also extended his gratitude to educators: “None of this would be possible without the dedication, guidance, and heart that our teachers put into their work.”
