Finalists, Mentors and Judges

The 2023 3M Young Scientist Challenge Finalists and State Merit Winners have been announced!
Today’s Innovators
Get to know the diverse personalities of students, 3M Mentors, and others who have contributed their unique talents to the 3M Young Scientist Challenge. Use the tabs below to explore exciting ideas and inspirations from previous years’ challenges.

Adhip Maitra
Finding Effective Ways to Remove Carbonates from Ocean Water to Lower Acidity
Meet Adhip. Adhip developed a computer program that can detect cases of Ptosis, a condition in which the upper eyelid droops abnormally low.
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Anish Kosaraju
A Novel Machine Learning Approach to Preventing Account Takeovers for Enhanced Cybersecurity
Meet Anish. Anish built a new method to improve cybersecurity measures by combating cyber account takeovers that does not require Multi Factor Authentication.
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Anisha Dhoot
Using Kelp Seaweed to Improve Food Security and Fight Climate Change: Building Soil Parametric Database and Exploring AI/ML Application to Improve Productivity and Reduce Carbon Footprint
Meet Anisha. Anisha’s project focuses on utilizing kelp seaweed to improve soil quality and crop selection.
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Annie Katz
Automated Ultrasound Hamstring Lesion Detection & Diagnosis
Meet Annie. Annie created an affordable in-home ultrasound device and detection programming that can identify hamstring lesions.
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Heman Bekele
How a Bar of Soap Can Help Cure Cancer Worldwide - Melanoma Treating Soap
Meet Heman. Heman developed Melanoma Treating Soap (MTS), a compound-based bar of soap designed to treat skin cancer.
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Ishaan Iyer
Tactile Electronic Braille Display Device 2.0
Meet Ishaan. Ishaan created a cost-effective Braille device that encodes the English alphabet into Braille language and converts it into a tactile Braille cell.
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Sarah Wang
The Spring Epilepsy Detection Glove
Meet Sarah. Sarah developed The Spring Epilepsy Detection Glove, a glove that can detect tonic-clonic and myoclonic epileptic seizures with common hand movements.
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Sean Jiang
Sonic Mapping: Using a Depth Camera and Audio Cues to Assist the Blind in Navigation
Meet Sean. Sean’s innovation uses a depth camera and auditory device to assist blind individuals in navigation.
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Shripriya Kalbhavi
A Novel Method of Active Medication Delivery through Hydrogel-Forming Microneedle Arrays Utilizing the Belousov-Zhabotinsky Reaction
Meet Shripriya. She developed EasyBZ, a cost-effective microneedle patch that allows for self-automated drug delivery without pills or needles.
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Shruti Sivaraman
DR-Check: A New Method for Detecting Diabetic Retinopathy
Meet Shruti. Shruti created a low-cost device and app that can detect and diagnose diabetic retinopathy (DR) by taking retinal images without the use of dilation drops.
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Amritha Praveen
ASD Screener - Early Risk Assessment of Autism Spectrum disorder using Machine Learning
Autism is one of the most common developmental disabilities that impact social and communication skills. While there is no cure, intensive early intervention can make a big difference in the quality of life for many children
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Asvini Thivakaran
Piezoelectric Power Generation from Automotive Tires
Global warming, climate change, and air pollution are some of the most prevalent global issues of today. Asnavi developed the Piezoelectric Power Generation from Automotive Tires
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Daniel Thomas
A Novel Dosing Pump to Prevent Clogs and Organic Overgrowth In AC Condensate Lines
Daniel developed a Novel Dosing Pump to Prevent Clogs and Organic Overgrowth In AC Condensate Lines
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Harini Venkatesh
The Comptometrist: An Efficient Way to Determine Myopic Power
Harini developed The Comptometrist, a prototype designed to cut down the time needed to determine myopic power in a patient’s eyes.
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John Lee
A Novel MoS2 Electrode for Enhancing Electrochemical Hydrogen Production
Hydrogen (H2) can improve energy consumption by producing an alternative energy source to carbon-based fuels.
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Leanne Fan
Finsen Headphones: Treating Mid-Ear Infections Using Machine Learning and Phototherapy
Leanne developed the Finsen Headphones: Treating Mid-Ear Infections Using Machine Learning and Phototherapy
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Sahasra Swargam
Soil Fungi Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Fights Climate Change using Artificial Intelligence and IOT
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main greenhouse gas responsible for rising global temperatures and abrupt climate changes which threaten food production and ecological systems.
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Samaira Mehta
OVision - The Automatic Assessment of Ovarian Cancer Features & Mesothelin Protein Overexpression from Histopathological Images using Deep Learning
Ovarian cancer (OC) is the deadliest cancer of the female reproductive organs. 65% of ovarian cancer patients die each year in the United States alone. The best way to reduce that number is for doctors to develop a treatment plan that is specific to the patient and their condition.
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Shanza Sami
Pura Aerem: Leveraging Catalytic Converters for Enhanced Filtering Efficacy
Shanza developed a five-stage prototype with a diffuse filtration system, carbon nanotube (CNT) screening, electrolysis chamber, hydrogen fuel cells, and photoelectrochemical oxidation (PECO) technology.
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Aadrit Talukdar
Smart and Reusable Packaging Solution for Online Order Shipments
Meet Aadrit. Aadrit developed a scalable and reusable shipping box that can be used for online order shipments to reduce or eliminate the use of oversized boxes and excess packing materials.
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Abhinav Anne
Revolutionary Next Generation Blood Storage Bags
Meet Abhinav. Abhinav developed a way to extend the safety and shelf-life of blood products with Nitric Oxide producing Polyurethane bag.
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Danielle Steinbach
Improving Brain Disease Outcomes
Danielle used deep neural networks to more accurately diagnose and treat neurological disorders and brain diseases.
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Moitri Santra
Innovative Engineering Tools for Controlling Harmful Algal Bloom
Meet Moitri. Moitri developed a novel optimized gel composed of Chitosan and Citric acid to induce algae coagulation and settlement in Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) effected bodies of water to reduce the suffocation and death of animal life and toxins that could lead to health problems for humans.
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Samarth Mahapatra
Accessibility Friendly Guidance System for Optimal Cooking Operations Based on Machine Learning
Meet Samarth. Samarth deployed edge computing and advance vision algorithms to help people with vision impairments cook with ease.
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