NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Eight Indian American middle school students have been named among the top ten finalists of the prestigious 2025 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, considered America’s premier science competition for grades 5 through 8. These bright young minds stood out for their remarkable innovations addressing real-world challenges, ranging from microplastic pollution to clean energy generation and food waste reduction.
The national competition, a collaboration between Discovery Education and global science company 3M, encourages students to identify pressing problems in their communities and propose scientific solutions. Finalists were selected based on their original video submissions and will now receive summer mentorships with 3M scientists as they prepare for the final event to be held October 13–14 at 3M’s Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. The winner will take home the title of America’s Top Young Scientist and a $25,000 grand prize.
The Finalists and Their Projects:
1. Divyam Desai (Frisco, TX)
Concerned by structural damage caused by swelling clay soils, Divyam created a Foundation Tilt Prevention System. The device monitors moisture levels and uses targeted irrigation to prevent uneven soil expansion, helping preserve building foundations while conserving water.
2. Reanna Bhuyan Patel (Princeton, NJ)
Reanna developed a thermoelectric energy harvester that captures ambient heat and converts it into electricity using cost-effective materials. Her device could provide renewable energy in underserved and off-grid areas.
3. Anirudh Rao (Lone Tree, CO)
Anirudh invented a moisture-powered nano-generator using graphene oxide and fiberglass layers. His sustainable energy source can power small devices and environmental sensors in remote locations, where traditional power access is limited.
4. Amaira Srivastava (Gilbert, AZ)
Combining sustainability and nutrition, Amaira designed FlavoPeel Cups—biodegradable drinking cups made from fruit peels. The cups dissolve safely and infuse the beverage with beneficial flavonoids, tackling both plastic waste and nutrient deficiency.
5. Sheyna Patel (Longwood, FL)
Sheyna’s project centers on a non-toxic hydrogel capable of capturing and degrading over 93% of microplastics from contaminated water sources. Her innovation could play a key role in protecting aquatic life and human health.
6. Shrey Arora (Collierville, TN)
To reduce food waste, Shrey built FreshMate, a smart fridge device that tracks expiration dates and alerts users before food spoils. The system encourages better consumption habits and reduces landfill waste.
7. Aniket Sarkar (Sarasota, FL)
In response to water scarcity in farming, Aniket developed a moisture-capturing system that extracts water from atmospheric humidity. His device can support agriculture in drought-prone or arid regions.
8. Isha Marla (Portland, OR)
Isha’s AlginaFAB is a biodegradable fabric made from seaweed and natural compounds. Offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic textiles, the innovation has potential applications in eco-friendly fashion and packaging.
Kiyara Gunawardena (Temecula, CA) – CORAL (Continuous Observation and Research for Aquatic Life): A cost-effective underwater robot capturing 360° video and water quality data to facilitate long-term monitoring of coral reefs and marine ecosystems without diver intervention.
Kevin Tang (Hacienda Heights, CA) – FallGuard: A real-time fall detection system using video analytics and instant alerts to aid elderly adults living alone, even in low-light conditions, and running on everyday devices
Dr. Jayshree Seth, 3M’s Chief Science Advocate and a previous mentor for the program, noted, “These students are not just future scientists—they’re already contributing real solutions today. Their passion and drive are inspiring.”
As the finalists begin their mentorship journeys with 3M scientists this summer, their projects will evolve further in preparation for the live competition.
