The 2026 Brophy College Preparatory Science Fair opens Tuesday, February 17, marking a shift in student research as artificial intelligence moves from a subject of study to a primary engine for scientific inquiry.

Faculty member and Science Fair Moderator Ms. Patricia Mazier described this year’s event as “the advent of getting data from AI.” She noted that students are increasingly accessing high-level datasets previously reserved for professional researchers, utilizing machine learning to tackle complex issues from medical diagnostics to renewable energy.

“There are a few kids who have used AI data for their project, which is perfectly legitimate, but it’s something new that we’re seeing in science fairs now,” Ms. Mazier said.

Among the projects utilizing this technology is research by sophomore Charles Chen, who applied AI models to analyze Alzheimer’s disease data. Similarly, student Graham Schwab utilized a “genetic algorithm” running through an AI model to simulate evolution and optimize the design of wind turbine blades for maximum efficiency.

While some students used the technology to generate data, others audited it. Sophomore Michael Franovich entered a project calculating the environmental costs of the AI boom. In his written report, Franovich noted that while the technology is powerful, “data centers already represent a significant share of global electricity demand, and projections suggest that AI workloads will accelerate this growth over the next decade.”

The fair runs from Tuesday, February 17, through Thursday, February 19, on the Brophy College Preparatory campus.