A 16-year-old student from Massachusetts has turned an everyday item into an award-winning recycling project. Benjamin Davis, a junior at Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro, developed a desktop machine that processes 3D-printed waste and other plastics into reusable filament for 3D printers. His work earned him the $75,000 Regeneron Young Scientist Award at the 2025 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. By combining electrical, mechanical and chemical engineering, Davis designed a system intended to improve recycling efficiency while costing far less than commercial machines. He is now working on the technology and exploring new applications for sustainable manufacturing.
How the machine turns waste into reusable filament
According to the Society for Science, the central idea behind Davis’s project is to take plastic that would otherwise become waste and process it into material that can be used again in 3D printers. His research has centred on plastic recycling and extrusion, an area that he now plans to pursue further as he prepares for higher education in advanced manufacturing and mechanical or materials engineering.The award has also encouraged Davis to keep working on the technology rather than treating the competition as the end of the project. He said the recognition had “solidified my plans” to study advanced manufacturing and engineering, while also motivating him to improve the machine and pursue another iteration of his research for the 2027 science fair cycle.
Davis prepares for the next stage of research
Since competing at ISEF, Davis has been preparing for the next stage of his research. He has spent substantial time reorganising his workshop and obtaining additional tools and equipment to create a better environment for research and development.His plans go beyond simply making the existing system work. Davis wants to improve his extrusion-pultrusion machine so it is more efficient and commercially viable. He is hoping to develop another machine capable of producing high-temperature composite filaments, potentially broadening the range of materials his research can address.
PC: Society for Science
Davis wins $75,000 Regeneron Young Scientist Award
Winning the Regeneron Young Scientist Award was unexpected for Davis, particularly given the number of projects presented at ISEF. He described hearing his name announced on stage as his most memorable moment of the competition. The experience also gave him opportunities to present at the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference and become an American Junior Academy of Sciences fellow.Davis has also used the attention surrounding his project to support other students. He said the recognition allowed him to help fellow students with their presentations and projects and give back to the science fair community. Outside his own research, he co-founded his school’s Tech Forge club, where students learn to use tools, engineer components and take part in community service projects.
