{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-student-js","path":"/annual-challenge/finalists-mentors-judges/finalists/naboshree-santra-2026-finalist","result":{"data":{"student":{"aboutIdea":["Naboshree developed biodegradable soilshade balls that reduce evaporation and help soil retain more moisture, offering a simple solution for drought-affected agriculture"],"age":11,"challengeMotivation":["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.\n\n\nI'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.\n\n\nAt 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."],"cardImage":"Naboshree-Santra-2026-Finalist-Card.jpg","flag":"Finalist","dreamOcupation":["A researcher who turns natural materials into useful and sustainable innovations for a healthier planet!"],"favoriteInvention":["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."],"ideaName":["Combating Drought Through Environmentally-Friendly Materials Engineering - Year 1"],"mentor":{"prefix":"","name":"Ann Gilman","jobTitle":"Advanced Research Specialist","cardImage":"Ann-Gilman-Mentor-Headshot-CARD_435x264.jpg","shortDescription":["Ann Gilman is an Advanced Research Specialist at 3M's Corporate Research Process Laboratory, combining technical expertise with creativity to bring precision coating and patterning processes from bench to production scale."],"slug":"ann-gilman"},"quote":["\"If nature can grow it, we can engineer it.\""],"quoteImage":"Naboshree-Santra-2026-Finalist-Quote.jpg","schoolGrade":"6th","schoolName":"Jackson Heights Middle School","youtubeVideo":"","guidVideo":"8f74aea1-2689-44f9-9b21-7f56e0c907d8","firstName":"Naboshree","lastName":"Santra","tag":"2026 Finalist"}},"pageContext":{"slug":"naboshree-santra-2026-finalist"}},"staticQueryHashes":["1877358583","2853049992","340814223","3432942819","4119215080","4285582392"]}