New York: 3M and Discovery Education announced the 2025 3M Young Scientist Challenge top 10 finalists. As the nation's premier middle school science competition, 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."
The top 10 in the list include: Shrey Arora from Collierville, TN; Divyam Desai from Frisco, TX; Kiyara Gunawardena fromTemecula, CA; Isha Marla from Portland, OR; Reanna Patel from Princeton, NJ; Sheyna Patel from Longwood, FL; Anirudh Rao from Lone Tree, CO; Aniket Sarkar from Sarasota, FL; Amaira Srivastava from Gilbert, AZ; Kevin Tang from Hacienda Heights, CA.
"For 18 years, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge has empowered middle school students to bring science to life," said Torie Clarke, 3M's executive vice president and chief public affairs officer. "This year, the nation's brightest young minds have once again reimagined what's possible. Congratulations to each of the top 10 finalists! I can't wait to see how you make the world a better place."
This year's finalists – 10 students ranging in age from 11 to 14 – identified an everyday problem and submitted a one- to two-minute video on their proposed scientific solution. Their proposals fall under an expanded set of entry categories, including robotics, home improvement, automotive, safety, AR/VR, and climate technology.
An esteemed group of judges, including 3M scientists and leaders in education from across the country, evaluated entries based on creativity, scientific knowledge, and communication effectiveness.
Each of the 10 finalists will participate in an exclusive summer mentorship program with a 3M scientist. These mentors will provide guidance and advice to help advance their finalist's solution. Then, from Oct. 13-14, each finalist will travel to the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, for the final interactive competition.
At 3M, each finalist will participate in a series of challenges, including a presentation of their completed innovation, and be scored independently by a panel of judges. The grand prize winner will be announced, and they will receive $25,000, a unique destination trip, and the title of America's Top Young Scientist.
The 2024 winner – 14-year-old Indian-origin Sirish Subash from Snellville, Georgia – created PestiSCAND, a handheld device designed to detect pesticide residues on produce using a non-destructive method. The innovation employs spectrophotometry, which involves measuring how light of various wavelengths is reflected off the surface of fruits and vegetables. A machine-learning model then analyzes this data to determine the presence of pesticides.
To learn more about the 3M Young Scientist Challenge and meet the 2025 finalists, visit YoungScientistLab.com.
