From alternative energy to sustainable agriculture to medical advancements, today’s scientific young minds work hard to solve today’s biggest challenges — making materials safer, solutions more efficient, and innovations more accessible. Today, Discovery Education (@DiscoveryEd) and 3M (@3M) announced 10 finalists from across America as part of its Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, which is celebrating its landmark 10th anniversary (#YoungScientist). The annual competition recognizes scientific thinking and imagination in students grades 5-8 who dream up a solution to an everyday problem that ultimately could reshape and improve the way we live our lives.
The 10 Finalists
- Laalitya Acharya, Mason, Ohio, Mason Middle School, Mason City School District
- Karina Andersen, Rocklin, Calif., Granite Oaks Middle School, Rocklin Unified School District
- Anika Bhagavatula, Wilton, Conn., Middlebrook Middle School, Wilton Public School District
- Austin Crouchley, Garden City, N.Y., Garden City Middle School, Garden City School District
- Rithvik Ganesh, Plano, Texas, C.M. Rice Middle School, Plano Independent School District
- Simone Jacobs, Seattle, Wash., Washington Middle School, Seattle School District 1
- Gitanjali Rao, Brentwood, Tenn., Brentwood Middle School, Williamson County School District
- Samu Shrestha, Highlands Ranch, Colo., Cresthill Middle School, Douglas County School District Re-1
- Allie Weber, Sioux Falls, S.D., Edison Middle School, Sioux Falls School District 49-5
- Devin Willis, Boca Raton, Fla., A.D. Henderson University School, Florida Atlantic University Schools
Each finalist will have the opportunity to work one-on-one with a 3M scientist during a summer mentorship program that will challenge them to develop an innovative idea that positively impacts them, their family, their community or the global population.
All 10 finalists receive $1,000 and a trip to 3M Headquarters in St. Paul, Minn., to participate in the final competition at the 3M Innovation Center on Oct. 16 and 17. The winner will receive $25,000, a trip to watch the taping of a Discovery Network show, and the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.”
For more information on the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge visit www.youngscientistlab.com/challenge.
