ST.
PAUL, Minn. and CHARLOTTE,
N.C., Oct. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- 3M
(@3M) and Discovery Education (@DiscoveryEd) named Sirish Subash, a
9th grader at Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science,
and Technology in Snellville,
Georgia, the winner of the 2024 3M Young Scientist Challenge, the nation's
premier middle school science competition. Sirish set himself apart
with an AI handheld pesticide detector. As the grand prize winner,
he received a $25,000 cash prize and
the prestigious title of "America's Top Young Scientist."
Sirish spent the last four months competing against nine other
finalists and secured his win during final Challenge events at
3M global headquarters in
St. Paul, Minnesota, on
Oct. 14 and 15. Finalists navigated a
series of interactive challenges and were evaluated on their
ingenuity and innovative thinking, application of STEM principles,
demonstration of passion and research, presentation skills, and
ability to inspire others.
"This year's Young Scientist Challenge finalists have
demonstrated an incredible ability to develop creative solutions to
some of the world's most pressing challenges," said Torie Clarke, EVP & chief public affairs
officer at 3M. "I am beyond impressed
and inspired by their intelligence and their scientific minds.
Congratulations to this year's Top Young Scientist, Sirish Subash, and all the finalists for their
phenomenal work."
Sirish Subash's project, Pestiscand, is a handheld device
designed to detect pesticide residues on produce using a
non-destructive method. It 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.
Pestiscand consists of a sensor, a power supply, a display screen,
and a processor. During testing, the device achieved an
accuracy rate of identifying pesticide residues on spinach and
tomatoes of greater than 85%, meeting the project's objectives for
effectiveness and speed.
3M Young Scientist Challenge
finalists are paired with a 3M
scientist who mentors and works with them one-on-one over the
summer to transform their idea from concept to prototype. This
year's winner was paired with Aditya Banerji, Senior Research
Engineer of 3M's Corporate Research Process
Laboratory.
The second and third place winners from the Young Scientist
Challenge each receive a $2,000
prize. These exceptional students are:
- In second place, Minula
Weerasekera from Beaverton, Oregon, a
9th grader at Mountainside High School. Minula
developed a solution for storing energy for longer through organic
compounds and a sulfur-based terhiophene.
- In third place, William Tan from
Scarsdale, New York, an
8th grader at Scarsdale Middle School. William
developed an AI Smart Artificial Reef that encourages coral,
seashells, kelp and other marine life to grow in a safe and
controlled environment.
The fourth through tenth place winners each receive a
$1,000 prize and a $500 gift card. These finalists, in alphabetical
order by last name, are:
- Ankan Das from Sanford, Florida, a 9th grader
at Oviedo High School in the Seminole County School
District
- Steven Goodman from Lake Mary, Florida, an
8th grader at Milwee Middle School in the Seminole
County School District
- Aakash Manaswi from Orlando, Florida, a 9th grader
at Lake Highland Preparatory School
- Prince Nallamothula from Frisco,
Texas, a 9th grader at Centennial High
School in the Frisco Independent School District
- Ronita Shukla from Acton, Massachusetts, an
8th grader at RJ Grey Junior High School
in the Acton Boxborough Regional School District
- Rithvik Suren from Ellington,
Connecticut, a 9th grader at Academy of
Aerospace & Engineering in the CREC School District
- Hanna Suzuki from Bedford, Massachusetts, a
9th grader at Bedford High School in the Bedford
School District
"Discovery Education is incredibly proud to support student
innovation over the past 17 years through the 3M Young Scientist Challenge," said Amy Nakamoto, Executive Vice President of
Corporate Partnerships at Discovery Education. "It is more
important than ever that future generations are given the tools
needed to tackle real-world problems. Each remarkable participant
has embodied the curiosity that will fuel these discoveries, and we
congratulate them all."
In its 17th year, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge continues to inspire
and challenge middle school students to think creatively and apply
the power of STEM to discover real-world solutions. America's Top
Young Scientists have gone on to give TED Talks, file patents,
found nonprofits, make the Forbes
30 Under 30 list, and exhibit at the White House Science Fair.
These young innovators have also been named TIME Magazine's Kid of
the Year, featured in The New York Times Magazine, Forbes, and Business Insider, and have
appeared on national television programs such as Good Morning
America, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and more. In addition, a
3M Young Scientist Challenge Alumni
Network was formed in fall 2022 and welcomed more than 100 former
challenge finalists and winners for networking
opportunities.
The award-winning competition supplements the 3M and Discovery Education program Young
Scientist Lab, which provides free dynamic digital resources for
students, teachers, and families to explore, transform, and
innovate the world around them. All its resources are also
available on Discovery Education Experience, the company's
award-winning K-12 learning platform.
To download images from the 2024 science competition, click
here. To learn more about the 3M
Young Scientist Challenge and meet this year's winners and
finalists, visit youngscientistlab.com.
About 3M
3M (NYSE: MMM) believes science helps
create a brighter world for everyone. By unlocking the power of
people, ideas and science to reimagine what's possible, our global
team uniquely addresses the opportunities and challenges of our
customers, communities, and planet. Learn how we're working to
improve lives and make what's next at 3M.com/news.
About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose
state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it
takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content,
instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and corporate
partnerships, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable
learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher
academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves
approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students
worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and
territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros.
Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts,
states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading
edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore
the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.
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