3M ‘Young Scientist Challenge’ finalists
3M and Discovery Education announce the top 10 finalists and four honorable mention recipients in the 2022 3M Young Scientist Challenge, the 15th year of the competition.
Youth today are hopeful for a better, brighter, and safer world, said 3M. Inspired by the desire to impact change in communities far and near, they are using the power of STEM to help drive the change they want to see.
“At 3M, we are committed to unlocking the power of our people, science, and ideas to reimagine what comes next. The 3M Young Scientist Challenge supports young innovators who have demonstrated that same passion through creative discovery and the desire to improve the world around us,” said Karina Chavez, senior vice president and chief strategy officer at 3M.
This year’s finalists and honorable mention recipients feature outstanding innovations from young scientists – fourteen students ages 12 to 14 – who submitted a one-to two-minute video communicating a solution to an everyday problem in their community or the world and the science behind their solution, said the company.
The top 10 2022 3M Young Scientist Challenge finalists and the four honorable mention recipients include students from public and private schools across the U.S.
Each finalist will be evaluated on a series of challenges, including a presentation of their completed innovation. Each challenge will be scored independently by a panel of judges. The grand prize winner will receive $25,000, a unique destination trip, and the title of America’s Top Young Scientist.
The top 10 2022 3M Young Scientist Challenge finalists are as follows:
- Leanne Fan, San Diego, Calif., Mesa Verde Middle School, Poway Unified School District.
- John Lee, Oviedo, Fla., Jackson Heights Middle School, Seminole County Public School District.
- Samaira Mehta, Santa Clara, Calif., Sunnyvale Raynor Middle School, Stratford School.
- Sritej Padmanabhan, Sewickley, Pa., Marshall Middle School, North Allegheny School District.
- Amritha Praveen, Buffalo Grove, Ill., Aptakisic Junior High School, Aptakisic – Tripp School District 102.
- Shanza Sami, Iowa City, Iowa, Northwest Junior High School, Iowa City Community School District.
- Sahasra Swargam, Portland, Ore., Stoller Middle School, Beaverton School District.
- Asvini Thivakaran, Round Rock, Texas, Cedar Valley Middle School, Round Rock Independent School District.
- Daniel Thomas, Colleyville, Texas, Colleyville Middle School, Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District.
- Harini Venkatesh, Plano, Texas, C M Rice Middle School, Plano Independent School District.
The four 2022 3M Young Scientist Challenge honorable mention recipients are as follows:
- Austin Ewing, Chicago, Ill., Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy, Chicago Public Schools.
- Isha Joshi, Vienna, Va., Kilmer Middle School, Fairfax County Public Schools.
- Pratyush Sathish Kumar, Avon, Ind., Avon Intermediate School East, Avon Community School Corporation.
- Delisha Manuel, Milpitas, Calif., Stratford School.
“We are thrilled to welcome the latest generation of finalists and honorable mention recipients, and we are energized by a future that embraces STEM-for-all to build a better tomorrow,” said Chavez.
A diverse group of judges, including 3M scientists and leaders in education from across the country, evaluated entries based on creativity, scientific knowledge, and communication effectiveness.
The final event will take place on October 17-18, 2022, at the 3M Innovation Center in Minneapolis.