Call for young scientists – from 3M and Discovery Education

3M and Discovery Education announced that the 2024 3M Young Scientist Challenge is now open for entries – and one of the new categories this year is home improvement.

“The 3M Young Scientist Challenge encourages young people to solve everyday problems using science and innovation – and we can’t wait to see what you dream up,” said Torie Clark, chief public affairs officer at 3M.

This year, 3M said its Young Scientist Challenge offers innovative ways for students to engage in science through new entry topics, including safety, robotics, home improvement, and climate technology.

The annual 3M Young Scientist Challenge invites students in grades 5-8 to compete for an exclusive mentorship with a 3M scientist, a $25,000 grand prize, and the chance to earn the title of “America's Top Young Scientist.”

To enter, students in grades 5-8 submit a one-to-two-minute video explaining an original idea using science to help solve an everyday problem.

All entries are reviewed by a diverse group of judges and evaluated on their creativity, scientific knowledge, and communication skills. Videos can be recorded using a cell phone or digital camera and will not be judged on production skills.

Competition entries are accepted at YoungScientistLab.com until the deadline on May 2, 2024.

In June 2024, 10 finalists will be chosen to participate in an exclusive summer mentorship program during which they will work closely with and learn from a 3M scientist.

Each finalist then has the opportunity to compete in the final event at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, during an interactive competition consisting of hands-on challenges, presentations, live judging, and more.

During the final event, October 14-15, 2024, the grand prize winner will be announced.