Finalists, Mentors and Judges
The 2024 3M Young Scientist Challenge Finalists and State Merit Winners have been announced! Use the tabs below to check out their big ideas and explore all finalists, winners, and 3M Scientist mentors!
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.
Sirish Subash
Pestiscand - An AI-based Handheld Pesticide Detector
Meet Sirish. Sirish created a method to detect pesticide residue on consumable produce using an AI based handheld detector.
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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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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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Sarah Park
Spark Care+: Personalized Music Therapy for Mental Health Disorders
Meet Sarah. Sarah developed Spark Care+, a personalized music therapy treatment for mental health disorders using artificial intelligence (AI), galvanic skin response (GSR), and photoplethysmography (PPG).
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Anika Chebrolu
Combating the COVID-19 Pandemic: In-Silico Molecular Docking Study of Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 virus to develop Novel Antiviral drug
Anika used in-silico methodology for drug discovery to find a molecule that can selectively bind to the Spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in an attempt to find a cure for the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Kara Fan
Nano Particle Wound Care
Kara formulated a nano particle liquid bandage to replace the use of antibiotics and help reduce the development of super bugs due to overuse of antibiotics.
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Rishab Jain
Pancreatic Cancer Deep Learning System: A novel Tool for Improved Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) through Automated Pancreas Segmentation
Rishab created a method that uses artificial intelligence to help accurately locate the pancreas during MRI radiotherapy and make cancer treatment more effective.
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Gitanjali Rao
"Tethys": Water Lead Contamination Detector
Gitanjali hopes to reduce the time of lead detection in water by using a mobile app, to connect over Bluetooth to get status of water, almost immediately.
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Maanasa Mendu
Enhancing Wind Power
Meet Maanasa. Maanasa hopes her invention helps make wind power a globally applicable energy source. She created a device utilizing piezoelectricity materials that are both eco-friendly and cost efficient.
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Hannah Herbst
The Ocean Energy Probe
Meet Hannah. Hannah’s Ocean Energy Probe aims to provide a stable power source and fresh water to developing countries around the globe by using untapped energy from ocean currents. The energy is stored in a generator, and then can be harnessed for many uses, including the desalinization of water.
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Sahil Doshi
PolluCell: Using Waster Materials and Pollution to Generate Electricity
Sahil entered the competition because he loves science and he wanted to get to know others who shared similar interests. His battery cell invention will use carbon dioxide and other waste materials to help clear the atmosphere from greenhouse gas emissions and, additionally, be a low-cost alternative for electricity in developing countries.
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Peyton Robertson
Salt Water Sandless Sandbag
Peyton’s invention of a more efficient sandbag to reduce salt water flood damage captured our judges’ attention.
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Deepika Karup
Photocatalytic Rod for Green and Sustainable Water Purification
Deepika created a cost effective and sustainable water-purification system which harnesses solar energy to disinfect contaminated water.
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