Young Scientist Challenge Seeks Middle School Innovators

Last year's winner in the Discovery Education/3M Young Scientist competition was 11-year-old Gitanjali Rao from Lone Tree, CO, who developed a low-cost, portable and simple-to-use solution for testing water for lead.

This year's Young Scientist Challenge will award access to 3M scientists who will serve as mentors to help students pursue their innovative ideas. These "young scientists" (from grades 5-8) will also be eligible to receive a considerable amount of money; the grand prize is $25,000. Finalists chosen through a video competition will travel to St. Paul, MN, where they'll receive a tour of 3M headquarters and meet with a distinguished panel of judges.

Last year's winner in the Discovery Education/3M Young Scientist competition was 11-year-old Gitanjali Rao from Lone Tree, CO (pictured above), who developed a low-cost, portable and simple-to-use solution for testing water for lead. Inspired by the continuing water crisis in Flint, MI, Rao worked with 3M Scientist Kathleen Shafer on development of "Tethys," which has three parts: a disposable cartridge using carbon nanotube arrays, an Arduino-based signal processor with a Bluetooth attachment and a mobile app. The sensor-based device displays the water status on the app almost immediately.

Competing against Rao were nine other finalists, who also received cash and other prizes, including access to taping of one of Discovery's shows.

The challenge was launched by Discovery Communications in 1999; by 2008 it had teamed up with 3M to promote creative problem solving among students and give them access to 3M's considerable band of scientists.

Finalists are chosen from among all entrants, based on the creativity, scientific knowledge, communication and overall presentation of the videos they submit. The 10 highest-scoring entrants are named as "finalists" with the opportunity to participate in a summer mentorship program and final event activities.

To enter, students need to submit a one- to two-minute video in which they describe a new invention or solution that addresses an everyday problem that directly affects them, their families, their communities or the global population. The problems could surface in numerous areas, including manufacturing, energy, safety, healthcare or transportation.

Videos must be submitted by April 19, 2018. Judging begins in May.

Learn more on the Young Scientist Lab site.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • diverse business people using laptops overlaid with data processing textures

    Microsoft Copilot Gains Context‑Aware Agents for Teams, SharePoint and Viva Engage

    Microsoft has unveiled a public‑preview of its collaborative agents in Microsoft 365 Copilot, bringing a array of "always‑on" agents grounded in context for channels, meetings, SharePoint sites, Viva Engage communities, and Planner workloads.

  • magnifying glass highlighting a human profile silhouette, set over a collage of framed icons including landscapes, charts, and education symbols

    New AI Detector Identifies AI-Generated Multimedia Content

    Amazon Web Services and DeepBrain AI have launched AI Detector, an enterprise-grade solution designed to identify and manage AI-generated content across multiple media types. The collaboration targets organizations in government, finance, media, law, and education sectors that need to validate content authenticity at scale.

  • toolbox featuring a circuit-like AI symbol and containing a screwdriver, wrench, and hammer

    Microsoft Launches AI Tools for Educators

    Microsoft has introduced a variety of AI tools aimed at helping educators develop personalized learning experiences for their students, create content more efficiently, and increase student engagement.

  • robot brain with various technology and business icons

    Google Cloud Study: Early Agentic AI Adopters See Better ROI

    Google Cloud has released its second annual ROI of AI study, finding that 52% of enterprise organizations now deploy AI agents in production environments. The comprehensive survey of 3,466 senior leaders across 24 countries highlights the emergence of a distinct group of "agentic AI early adopters" who are achieving measurably higher returns on their AI investments.