{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-student-js","path":"/annual-challenge/finalists-mentors-judges/finalists/abigail-stein-2026-finalist","result":{"data":{"student":{"aboutIdea":["Meet Abigail. Abigail created Allergy Spoon, a smart utensil that detects allergens in food and changes color to help prevent life-threatening allergic reactions."],"age":13,"challengeMotivation":["I entered the 3M Young Scientist Challenge because I believe that science shouldn't just stay in a lab-it should solve the everyday problems that kids actually face. Watching friends with food allergies live with constant stress at the lunch table made me realize that even though the technology to detect allergens exists, it isn't accessible or easy for a student to use. I entered this challenge because I want to prove that you don't need a $200 machine to change the world—sometimes, you just need a better spoon."],"cardImage":"Abigail-Stein-2026-Finalist-Card.jpg","flag":"Finalist","dreamOcupation":["I hope to be in the military or law school."],"favoriteInvention":["My favorite invention of the last 100 years is the Band-Aid. It is just so simple that we almost forget it is an \"invention\" at all. Yet it revolutionized life for kids. Before Band-Aids, if you got a little cut, it was a big deal. This invention took the science of a hospital bandage and made it simple and child-friendly. I love this invention because it is a \"quiet\" hero. It does not need batteries or a screen to make a child feel secure. And this is exactly what I want to do with my Allergy Spoon: make a big, scary problem better with one simple tool."],"ideaName":["Allergy Spoon"],"mentor":{"prefix":"","name":"Kolby White","jobTitle":"Advanced Product Development Specialist","cardImage":"Kolby-White-Mentor-Headshot-CARD_435x264.jpg","shortDescription":["Kolby White is an Advanced Product Development Specialist in 3M's Industrial Adhesives & Tapes Division, where she leads innovation in liquid adhesive technologies for the Electronics Bonding team. With deep expertise in structural adhesive chemistry, she drives product development and solves complex customer challenges while leading cross-functional collaboration. Kolby is also an active leader at 3M, contributing to innovation and community-building initiatives, and holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology."],"slug":"kolby-white"},"quote":["\"Innovation shouldn't cost $200; it should be as simple as the spoon in your lunchbox.\""],"quoteImage":"Abigail-Stein-2026-Finalist-Quote.jpg","schoolGrade":"7th","schoolName":"Harding Academy","youtubeVideo":"","guidVideo":"89f0081c-563c-48e3-ad86-428741496cf8","firstName":"Abigail","lastName":"Stein","tag":"2026 Finalist"}},"pageContext":{"slug":"abigail-stein-2026-finalist"}},"staticQueryHashes":["1877358583","2853049992","340814223","3432942819","4119215080","4285582392"]}