For the second consecutive year, our Grade 11 student Eric Kim proudly represented CISH at the Sichuan Science Fair (SSF), a national-league science competition that brings together some of the most accomplished student researchers from international schools across China.
Now in its 21st year, SSF is widely recognized as one of the most prestigious and selective science fairs for international students in China. Participation is limited to students whose projects pass rigorous school-level and fair-level screening processes, making acceptance itself a significant achievement.
The 2026 Sichuan Science Fair was held from January 15 to 17 at the Chengdu Dongda Minyoun Hotel, welcoming 59 international schools, 71 student researchers, 59 judges, and over 200 guests.
Eric’s Research: Reimagining Quantum Error Correction
Eric competed in the Physics category with his project titled “PACER BREAKWATER: Seismic Ring Cloaks and Witnessed Drains Convert Errors into Visible Erasures.” supported by his research paper, “Auditable Electromagnetic Boundaries for Below-Threshold Quantum Error Correction,” the project introduces an original framework inspired by seismic cloaking and re-examines how errors propagate in quantum systems.
What set Eric’s work apart was not only the technical ambition of the idea, but also the fact that the research was conducted independently. From theoretical design to simulation and analysis, Eric demonstrated a level of ownership and depth that is rarely seen at the high school level.
A Standout Judging Experience
This year’s SSF featured a slightly expanded panel of physics and quantum computing experts, a welcome development that reflects the growing importance of advanced computing research within the competition.
Eric’s project consistently drew strong attention during both assigned and free judging sessions. While participants are typically scheduled for seven assigned judging sessions and two free judging sessions, Eric’s booth often attracted additional judges who chose to extend discussions beyond their original assignments. At several points, multiple judges gathered simultaneously to engage with the project.
Eric held extended conversations with industry experts from Intel and AMD, a physics professor from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and judges from adjacent disciplines who were interested in the architectural implications of his work. Some judges returned for follow-up discussions, allowing for deeper exploration of both the theoretical framework and future possibilities of the research.
This sustained level of engagement reflected the project’s clarity, originality, and capacity to invite serious academic discussion.
Eric engaging in in-depth discussions with judges during multiple interview sessions,
explaining his research approach, findings, and future directions
Depth Over Labels
While finalist selections this year largely favored traditionally popular fields such as biomedical and chemical engineering, Eric’s experience at SSF was defined not by titles, but by the quality of intellectual exchange.
Throughout the fair, he engaged in in-depth interviews that required him to defend assumptions, articulate limitations, and outline clear next-step research directions. SSF 2026 served as an important point of validation for Eric’s research direction and strengthened his confidence as an emerging researcher.
As a next step, Eric is preparing to advance this work further by refining it for academic publication and exploring pathways to broaden its practical and scholarly impact.
Judges reviewing Eric’s pamphlet, lab notebook, and research paper
Individual Excellence to Collective Growth:
Eric’s SSF journey is closely connected to his role as the founder and student leader of NEST (Network for Engineering, Science, and Technology), a student-driven research community at CISH.
NEST is open to motivated CISH students who bring curiosity, ambition, and a willingness to challenge themselves. It is a space led by capable student leaders and built for those who are ready to explore advanced ideas, take intellectual risks, and learn through authentic research experiences.
As Eric moves forward with the next phase of his work, he is also helping to shape NEST’s direction by mentoring peers, initiating collaborative projects, and expanding opportunities such as interdisciplinary research teams and challenge-based initiatives.
Looking Ahead
Eric’s journey at SSF reflects more than individual achievement. It highlights the strength of student-driven inquiry at CISH and the school’s commitment to nurturing ambitious and independent thinkers.
As Eric continues to build on his research, NEST will serve as a platform through which his experience can inspire and support the next generation of student researchers. At CISH, we celebrate not only outcomes, but also the courage to pursue challenging questions and the perseverance to keep going.
SSF was a meaningful opportunity to test my ideas through deep discussion with experts. It reinforced my motivation to continue developing this research and to build a student-led research culture through NEST.
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