Top ten will vie for the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist” and a $25,000 grand prize
Eight Indian American students are among top 10 finalists of 2025 3M Young Scientist Challenge, the nation’s premier middle school science competition open to students in grades 5-8.
Participants compete for an exclusive mentorship with a 3Mscientist, a $25,000 grand prize, and the chance to earn the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist,” according to a news release.
READ MORE: Indian American Shripriya Kalbhavi wins second place in 3M Young Scientist Challenge (October 26, 2023)
The top 10 2025 3M Young Scientist Challenge finalists are listed here in alphabetical order by last name:
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- Shrey Arora, Collierville, TN, West Collierville Middle School, Collierville Schools
- Divyam Desai, Frisco, TX, Hunt Middle School, Frisco Independent School District (FISD)
- Kiyara Gunawardena, Temecula, CA, Abby Reinke Elementary School, Temecula Valley Unified School District
- Isha Marla, Portland, OR, Tumwater Middle School, Beaverton School District
- Reanna Patel, Princeton, NJ, Princeton Day School, Private School
- Sheyna Patel, Longwood, FL, Orlando Science Middle/High Charter, Orange County Public Schools
- Anirudh Rao, Lone Tree, CO, STEM School Highlands Ranch, Douglas County School District
- Aniket Sarkar, Sarasota, FL, Pine View School, Sarasota County Schools
- Amaira Srivastava, Gilbert, AZ, Arizona College Prep Middle School, Chandler Unified School District
- Kevin Tang, Hacienda Heights, CA, Cedarlane Academy, Hacienda La Puente Unified School District.
“For 18 years, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge has empowered middle school students to bring science to life,” said Torie Clarke, 3M’s executive vice president and chief public affairs officer. “This year, the nation’s brightest young minds have once again reimagined what’s possible. Congratulations to each of the top 10 finalists! I can’t wait to see how you make the world a better place.”
READ MORE: 6 Indian Americans among 3M Young Scientist Challenge finalists (July 19, 2023)
This year’s finalists – 10 students ranging in age from 11 to 14 – identified an everyday problem and submitted a one- to two-minute video on their proposed scientific solution. Their proposals fall under an expanded set of entry categories, including robotics, home improvement, automotive, safety, AR/VR, and climate technology.
An esteemed group of judges, including 3M scientists and leaders in education from across the country, evaluated entries based on creativity, scientific knowledge, and communication effectiveness.
READ: 13 of top 30 kids in Young Scientist Challenge are Indian Americans (November 16, 2019)
Each of the 10 finalists will participate in an exclusive summer mentorship program with a 3M scientist. These mentors will provide guidance and advice to help advance their finalist’s solution. Then, from Oct. 13-14, each finalist will travel to the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, for the final interactive competition.
At 3M, each finalist will participate in a series of challenges, including a presentation of their completed innovation, and be scored independently by a panel of judges. The grand prize winner will be announced, and they will receive $25,000, a unique destination trip, and the title of America’s Top Young Scientist.
READ: 5 of 10 finalists in the 2018 Young Scientist Challenge are Indian American kids (July 22, 2018)
The 2024 winner – 14-year-old Indian American student Sirish Subash from Snellville, Georgia – created PestiSCAND, a handheld device designed to detect pesticide residues on produce using a non-destructive method.
The innovation employs spectrophotometry, which involves measuring how light of various wavelengths is reflected off the surface of fruits and vegetables. A machine-learning model then analyzes this data to determine the presence of pesticides.
READ MORE:
READ: Indian American Gitanjali Rao is the winner of 2017 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge (October 19, 2017)
READ: Five Indian American students among 3M Young Scientist Challenge finalists (July 4, 2017)
Indian American teenager from Ohio Maanasa Mendu named ˜Americas Top Young Scientist (October 24, 2016)
Indian American tween Iris Gupta finds way to treat allergies before they set in (October 8, 2015)
US teen Hannah Herbst gets Americâs Top Young Scientist award (October 16, 2015)