Bethpage High School junior Partap Sidhu has had a remarkable spring on the science competition circuit, culminating in a second-place finish at the 2026 International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix, Arizona.
Partap competed at ISEF from May 10–15, where he earned second place in the Robotics and Intelligent Machines category for his project, “NeuroGait: A Low-Cost, Mind-Controlled Pneumatic Exoskeleton With CNN-Based Control for Individuals with Lower-Limb Mobility Impairments Using Brain Computer Interface.” The project merges neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and engineering to advance real-world accessibility.
In addition to his second-place finish, Partap earned two special awards at ISEF: one from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and another from INCOSE, the International Council on Systems Engineering.
Partap's path to ISEF began on March 12, when he earned first place in the Technology category at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair (LISEF). That win, which also came with a special award from the South Asian American Women’s Alliance (SAAWA), earned him a bid to compete at the state level. He then claimed first place in the Robotics and Intelligent Machines category at the New York State Science and Engineering Fair (NYSSEF) on March 23, securing his place at ISEF.
Bethpage is proud of Partap's achievement and the creativity, rigor and dedication behind his work.