Eighteen year-old James Popper, from Marlborough College, Wiltshire, has scooped major prizes at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, in San Jose, California from 9-14 May. Competing against 1600 students from around the world his achievements included: 

- Intel ISEF Electrical and Mechanical Engineering category winner of $3,000 plus $5,000 scholarship and $1,000 grant to his school - Invitation to the prestigious 'Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar' during the Nobel Prize Ceremonies - US Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Foundation Presidents' Scholarship worth $10,000 over four years to a college of choice - First in the US Government Patent and Trademark Office Society award $2000 and Runner-up The International Society for Optical Engineering award, $1500 - Winner United Technologies Corporation Prize, $2,000 worth of company shares

James was accompanied at the Fair by Simon Brookes from Balcarras School, Cheltenham, who came fourth in the Energy and Transportation category winning $500. The pair won the right to represent UK young engineers, and enjoy a week-long expenses-paid Californian adventure for winning in the Young Engineer for Britain Competition at The Big Bang Fair, which took place in Manchester during March. Both were also finalists in the UK National Science Engineering Competition; James was the Gold CREST Awards winner.

James' project, 'CookerSmart' detects saucepan fires on domestic cookers without setting off any 'false alarms', while Simon's project 'Fuel for Thought' helps thwart thieves from stealing the diesel from parked lorries, as well as preventing the fuel from freezing in cold weather.

 On arrival at San Francisco airport en route for home, James said, "This has been a life-changing experience. I never expected to win this many awards and I am grateful for having had the chance to come to ISEF. So much so, that I would love to act as a mentor to any young engineers, who are as lucky as me in the future to win the right to go."

 Simon, added, "I had a great time in San Jose. It has been amazing. My thanks go out to Young Engineers for sending me to ISEF."