Innovative Minds: Steven Goodman

Milwee Middle School | 7th grade | 13 years old

Synchronous Tropic Growth: A Novel Algorithm for Accurately Modeling Future Plant Growth from Photo- and Gravi-tropic Forces

About the Idea

Meet Steven. Steven created an algorithm that can achieve a more accurate prediction of future plant growth and advance agricultural production.

Why did you enter the 3M Young Scientist Challenge?

Like many other students, my fundamental passion is science, though I believe a novel idea is like a seed, such that it will only get so far without the proper guidance and cultivation. I believe the summer mentorship program gives the opportunity to continue to develop research into something that may be applied to help improve lives around the world. Recognition for the countless hours dedicated to my research would be gratifying, but is ultimately unimportant when compared to the potentially life-changing experience of interacting with professional scientists that may help not only to expand my current project into something so much greater, but to impart guidance and inspiration that will define my educational career and cultivate more, and potentially more important, scientific research in the future. Regardless of the outcome, I will continue to pursue science, but fueled by the invaluable advice of present-day researchers, I believe the possibilities would be near-limitless.

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

The first electronic computer was invented in 1946 and has since revolutionized the world. The ability to perfectly perform mass calculations in milliseconds is incredibly useful, and I personally believe very few modern innovations could be materialized without it. Isn't it amazing that astonishingly complex advancements in all fields come as a result of astonishingly simple ones and zeros? Perhaps to some people's surprise, computers are also becoming increasingly prevalent in biology, in the form of computational biology, a field that I believe holds the potential to forever change life on Earth for all species.

In 15 years I hope to be...

...a botanist applying computational biology to help improve living conditions worldwide. Being able to combine my passion for biological systems with the excitement of mathematics would be a dream come true. Ultimately, I want to use computational biology to leave a positive impact on the world.