{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-student-js","path":"/annual-challenge/finalists-mentors-judges/finalists/ahmed-abdelsalam-2026-finalist","result":{"data":{"student":{"aboutIdea":["Meet Ahmed. Ahmed developed VERDA, an innovative technology that harvests energy from movement like walking, wind, and waves to support more sustainable power solutions."],"age":12,"challengeMotivation":["I entered the 3M Young Scientist Challenge because I really enjoy coming up with ideas and using science to solve problems. I wanted to share my project and show that even a student can create an invention that could help people and the environment. Since my project focuses on clean energy, this challenge felt like the right place to share it. I also wanted to push myself, learn from the experience, and grow as a young scientist. For me, this competition is not just about winning, but also about believing that my ideas can make a difference."],"cardImage":"Ahmed-Abdelsalam-2026-Finalist-Card.jpg","flag":"Finalist","dreamOcupation":["In 15 years, I hope to be an inventor or engineer because I really enjoy coming up with ideas and testing how things work. I want to make inventions that help people and protect the environment, especially by creating new clean energy technology. I hope I will still be curious, creative, and not afraid to try new things, because that is how big ideas can grow into something real."],"favoriteInvention":["One of my favorite scientific achievements of the last 100 years is Ahmed Zewail's work in femtochemistry. I like it because he helped create new ways to study chemical reactions at a super fast speed. This matters because it helped scientists understand chemistry better and opened the door for more discoveries. I also like it because Ahmed Zewail is a scientist I really admire, and his success inspires me to work hard in science too."],"ideaName":["VERDA: Nature-Inspired Energy Harvesters for a Sustainable Future"],"mentor":{"prefix":"","name":"Abhishek Srivastava","jobTitle":"Advanced Research Specialist","cardImage":"Abhishek-Srivastava-Mentor-Headshot-CARD_435x264.jpg","shortDescription":["Abhishek Srivastava is an Advanced Research Specialist at 3M, where he develops innovative engineering solutions by combining mechanics, materials science, and computational modeling to drive advancements across diverse industries."],"slug":"abhishek-srivastava"},"quote":["\"The important thing is to never stop questioning.\" - Ahmed Zewail"],"quoteImage":"Ahmed-Abdelsalam-2026-Finalist-Quote.jpg","schoolGrade":"6th","schoolName":"Darby Vassall Upper School","youtubeVideo":"","guidVideo":"b04231cd-bd6a-421e-82f1-0b7a6ae69444","firstName":"Ahmed","lastName":"Abdelsalam","tag":"2026 Finalist"}},"pageContext":{"slug":"ahmed-abdelsalam-2026-finalist"}},"staticQueryHashes":["1877358583","2853049992","340814223","3432942819","4119215080","4285582392"]}