Wrentham Teen Wins $75,000 at Global Science Fair
Wrentham, MA – May 25, 2025 — A local high school student from Wrentham, Benjamin Davis, has received national recognition after winning one of the top prizes at the 2025 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). The 16-year-old innovator earned a $75,000 Regeneron Young Scientist Award for his work developing a low-cost desktop recycling system for 3D printer filament.
Davis’s invention addresses a growing concern around plastic waste. His system is designed to take discarded PET bottles and scraps from 3D printers and convert them into usable filament for new prints. The device uniquely combines pultrusion and extrusion techniques, making it up to 45% more efficient than most commercially available alternatives—all while costing 90% less to produce.
In addition to his impressive engineering skills, Davis emphasized accessibility in his design. The user-friendly interface allows hobbyists and students alike to recycle plastic right from their own homes or schools, promoting sustainability in a hands-on way.
Currently a sophomore at Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro, Davis’s win has drawn praise from the local community and school leadership. His project stood out among nearly 1,700 student researchers from around 80 countries competing at ISEF, the world’s largest science competition for high school students.
The annual fair, sponsored by Regeneron and run by the Society for Science, awarded more than $9 million in scholarships and prizes in 2025. Davis’s recognition marks a proud achievement for both the town of Wrentham and the wider Massachusetts academic community.
