Five Students Among Finalists In 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge

India-West News Desk

ST. PAUL, MN – Five Indian American middle school students have been named among the 10 finalists in the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge, earning an opportunity to compete for the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist” and a $25,000 grand prize.

The finalists are Aaisha Asif of Sarasota, Florida; Raji Doshi of Farmington, Connecticut; Arika Kundu of Shorewood, Minnesota; Sharvi Mahajan of San Diego, California; and Naboshree Santra of Oviedo, Florida.

Each of the five young innovators was selected for developing a solution to a pressing environmental or safety challenge:

Asif, a sixth grader, developed a mussel-inspired, eco-friendly adhesive made from natural proteins and iron-based crosslinkers as an alternative to conventional adhesives that can contribute to pollution.

Doshi, a seventh grader, created a durable algae-aragonite alkalinity system designed to reduce ocean acidification and improve marine health.

Kundu, a seventh grader, developed LIGNEX, a biosorption-based method that uses agricultural waste, including peanut shells, to remove pesticides from fresh produce.

Mahajan, an eighth grader, created NeuroDrive Alert, an EEG-based machine learning system designed to predict fatigue and microsleep in real time and improve safety in driving and other high-risk activities.

Santra, a sixth grader, developed biodegradable soil-shade balls that reduce evaporation and help soil retain moisture, offering a potential solution for agriculture in drought-affected regions.

The annual competition, organized by 3M and Discovery Education, invites students in grades five through eight to apply science, technology, engineering and mathematics to develop solutions for real-world challenges. This year’s finalists, ages 11 to 14, secured their places after submitting one- to two-minute videos showcasing original ideas built around two of 3M’s technology platforms: Climate Tech and Safety.

Over the summer, the finalists will work individually with 3M scientist mentors to further develop their projects before gathering at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, for the national finals on Oct. 12-13.

The two-day competition will feature live STEM challenges as well as project presentations before a panel of judges. At its conclusion, one student will be awarded the $25,000 grand prize and the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.”