STREET. PAUL, Minnesota and CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – 3M (@3M) and Discovery Education (@DiscoveryEd) appointed Sirish Subash, a 9th undergraduate student at the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and technology in Snellville, Georgia, the winner of the 2024 3M Young Scientist Challenge, the nation's largest high school science competition. Sirish stood out with a portable ai pesticide detector. As the grand prize winner, he received $25,000 in cash and the prestigious title of “America's Best Young Scientist.”
Sirish spent the last four months competing against nine other finalists and earned his victory during the final Challenge events at 3M Global Headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, on October 14-15. The finalists overcame a series of interactive challenges and were judged on their ingenuity. and innovative thinking, application of STEM principles, demonstration of passion and research, presentation skills and ability to inspire others.
“This year's Young Scientist Challenge finalists have demonstrated an incredible ability to develop creative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges,” said Torie Clarke, executive vice president and chief public affairs officer at 3M. “I am beyond impressed and inspired by their intelligence and scientific minds. Congratulations to this year's best young scientist, Sirish Subash, and to all the finalists for their phenomenal work.”
Sirish Subash's project, Pestiscand, is a portable device designed to detect pesticide residues in agricultural produce using a non-destructive method. It employs spectrophotometry, which involves measuring how light of various wavelengths reflects off the surface of fruits and vegetables. A machine learning model then analyzes this data to determine the presence of pesticides. Pesticcand consists of a sensor, a power supply, a display and a processor. During testing, the device achieved an accuracy rate of over 85% in identifying pesticide residues in spinach and tomatoes, meeting the project's effectiveness and speed goals.
Finalists in the 3M Young Scientist Challenge are paired with a 3M scientist who mentors them and works with them individually over the summer to transform their idea from concept to prototype. This year's winner was paired with Aditya Banerji, senior research engineer at 3M's Corporate Research Process Laboratory.
The second and third place winners of the Young Scientist Challenge each receive a $2,000 prize. These exceptional students are:
- In second place, Minula Weerasekera of Beaverton, Oregon, a 9thgrade student at Mountainside High School. Minula developed a solution to store energy for longer through organic compounds and a sulfur-based theriophene.
- In third place, William Tan of Scarsdale, New York, an 8th grade student at Scarsdale High School. William developed a smart ai artificial reef that encourages the growth of corals, seashells, seaweed and other marine life in a safe and controlled environment.
Fourth through 10th place winners each receive a $1,000 prize and a $500 gift card. These finalists, in alphabetical order by last name, are:
- Ankan Das of Sanford, Florida, and 9th grade student at Oviedo High School in the Seminole County School District
- Steven Goodman of Lake Mary, Florida, an 8th grade student at Milwee High School in the Seminole County School District
- Aakash Manaswi from Orlando, Florida, a 9th student at Lake Highland Preparatory School
- Prince Nallamothula of Frisco, Texas, a 9th grade student at Centennial High School in the Frisco Independent School District
- Ronita Shukla of Acton, Massachusetts, an 8th student at RJ Gray High School in the Acton Boxborough Regional School District
- Rithvik Suren of Ellington, Connecticut, a 9th student of the Academy of Aerospace Engineering and the CREC School District
- Hanna Suzuki of Bedford, Massachusetts, a 9th Grade student at Bedford High School in the Bedford School District
“Discovery Education is incredibly proud to support student innovation for the past 17 years through the 3M Young Scientist Challenge,” said Amy Nakamoto, executive vice president of corporate partnerships at Discovery Education. “It is more important than ever that future generations are given the tools necessary to address real-world problems. “Each featured participant has embodied the curiosity that will fuel these discoveries and we congratulate them all.”
at 17th year, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge continues to inspire and challenge high school students to think creatively and apply the power of STEM to discover real-world solutions. America's best young scientists have given TED Talks, filed patents, founded nonprofits, been on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and exhibited at the White House Science Fair. These young innovators have also been named TIME Magazine's Kids of the Year, have been featured in The New York Times Magazine, Forbes and Business Insider, and have appeared on national television shows such as Good Morning America, The Kelly Clarkson Show and more. Additionally, a 3M Young Scientist Challenge Alumni Network was formed in fall 2022, welcoming more than 100 former finalists and challenge winners for networking opportunities.
The award-winning competition complements the 3M and Discovery Education program. Young Scientists Laboratorywhich provides free, dynamic digital resources for students, teachers and families to explore, transform and innovate the world around them. All of its resources are also available on the Discovery Education Experience, the company's award-winning K-12 learning platform.
To download images from the 2024 science competition, click here. To learn more about the 3M Young Scientist Challenge and learn about this year's winners and finalists, visit youngscientistlab.com.
About 3M
3M (NYSE: MMM) believes that science helps create a brighter world for everyone. By unleashing the power of people, ideas and science to reinvent what is possible, our global team uniquely addresses the opportunities and challenges of our customers, communities and the planet. Learn how we're working to improve lives and do what's next 3M.com/news.
About discovery education
Discovery Education is the global educational technology leader whose next-generation digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, educational supports, innovative classroom tools, and corporate partnerships, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences that engage all students and support higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in more than 100 countries and territories. Inspired by global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading educational technology solutions that support the success of all students. Explore the future of education in www.discoveryeducation.com.
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