Innovative Minds: Naboshree Santra

Jackson Heights Middle School | 6th grade | 11 years old

Combating Drought Through Environmentally-Friendly Materials Engineering - Year 1

About the Idea

Naboshree developed biodegradable soilshade balls that reduce evaporation and help soil retain more moisture, offering a simple solution for drought-affected agriculture

Why did you enter the 3M Young Scientist Challenge?

As I've been developing my project on addressing drought, I've realized there is still a lot to refine and improve. I entered the 3M Young Scientist Challenge because I want to better understand how my biodegradable mulch could be developed into something more useful for the real world. I'm especially looking forward to mentorship and feedback from professionals, since that could help me see gaps in my approach and improve how the material performs for people actually affected by droughts. I love learning and including new perspectives that I might not think of on my own. At the same time, I am excited to learn from my fellow peers who are working on their own solutions, and see how their ideas might connect with or even improve my project, and how mine might do the same for theirs.

What is your favorite invention of the last 100 years, and why?

My favorite invention is the Rubik's Cube because it's a reminder that even the most overwhelming chaos can be brought into order with logic. Aside from the satisfying click of the tiles, the cube is a lesson in patience. Whether I'm solving a classic 3x3 or a complex Megaminx, it's taught me that impossible problems are usually just a series of smaller, solvable steps waiting for the right algorithm.

In 15 years I hope to be...

A researcher who turns natural materials into useful and sustainable innovations for a healthier planet!