3M’s 2026 Young Scientist Challenge Names 10 Finalists

ST. PAUL, Minn. & CHARLOTTE, N.C. — 3M and Discovery Education announced the 10 finalists in the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge, a nationwide middle school science competition. Now in its 19th year, the annual challenge invites students in fifth through eighth grade to think creatively and apply the power of STEM to develop real-world solutions.

Each of the 10 finalists receive an exclusive mentorship with a 3M scientist, and at the final event in October, they have the chance to win a $25,000 grand prize and the title of "America's Top Young Scientist." They will work alongside their 3M scientist mentors throughout the summer to gain hands-on experience that will advance the development of their solution. 

The top 10 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge finalists are as follows (in alphabetical order by last name):

• Ahmed Abdelsalam, Cambridge, Mass., Darby Vassall Upper School, Cambridge Public Schools
• Aaisha Asif, Sarasota, Fla., Pine View, Sarasota County Schools
• Raji Doshi, Farmington, Conn., Talcott Mountain Academy, Private School
• Aiden Jo, Houston, Texas, The Village School, Houston Independent School District
• Roy Kim, Beaverton, Ore., Whitford Middle School, Beaverton School District
• Arika Kundu, Shorewood, Minn., Minnetonka Middle School East, Minnetonka Public Schools
• Sharvi Mahajan, San Diego, Calif., Bernardo Heights Middle School, Poway Unified School District
• Millie Pradawong, Fairfax, Va., Thoreau Middle School, Fairfax County
• Naboshree Santra, Oviedo, Fla., Jackson Heights Middle School, Seminole County Public Schools
• Abigail Stein, Nashville, Tenn., Harding Academy, Nashville Independent Schools

"The 3M Young Scientist Challenge brings together student curiosity, scientific thinking and 3M mentorship to turn promising ideas into real solutions," said William Brown, 3M chairman and CEO. "3M is focused on helping these young innovators strengthen their ideas and apply science in ways that can make a meaningful impact."

This year's 10 finalists, aged 11 to 14, each spotted an everyday problem, developed an innovative solution, and pitched their project through a one- to two-minute entry video. The company said their proposals align to two of 3M's 49 technology platforms, including Climate Tech and Safety. A group of judges, including 3M scientists and leaders in education from across the country, evaluated the entries based on creativity, scientific knowledge and communication effectiveness.

"The finalists of this year's 3M Young Scientist Challenge prove you can be a scientist at any age," said Brian Shaw, chief executive officer at Discovery Education. "Each remarkable student pursued their curiosity with persistence, turning an idea into an innovation. We cannot wait to see where their ideas take them."

Each of the 10 finalists will participate in a summer mentorship program with a 3M scientist. These mentors will provide guidance and advice to help advance each finalist's solution. 3M said on October 12-13, all 10 finalists will gather at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minn., to go head-to-head in the final interactive competition.

At this final event, each finalist will participate in a series of live challenges before presenting their final project and answering questions from a panel of judges. At the close of the competition, one finalist will be named the grand prize winner, receiving $25,000 and the title of America's Top Young Scientist.

3M said previous challenge finalists and 3M scientists have created solutions for a wide variety of real-world problems, including cybersecurity, coral reef health, water conservation, food safety, energy consumption, air pollution and transportation efficiency. Former America's Top Young Scientists have given TED Talks, filed patents and founded nonprofits. In addition, a 3M Young Scientist Challenge Alumni Network was formed in fall 2022 and includes more than 100 former challenge winners, finalists and mentors, who take part in networking opportunities and more. Past honors include:

• Gitanjali Rao became TIME's first-ever Kid of the Year in 2020
• Liam McCarty was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2022
• Heman Bekele was TIME's 2024 Kid of the Year

The 3M Young Scientist Challenge is complemented by Young Scientist Lab, a free digital resource program from 3M and Discovery Education that gives every student, regardless of background, access to standards-aligned, hands-on science experiences designed to spark curiosity and build STEM skills.

To learn more about the 3M Young Scientist Challenge and meet the 2026 finalists, visit YoungScientistLab.com.