ST.
PAUL, Minn. and CHARLOTTE,
N.C., May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/
-- 3M (@3M) and Discovery
Education (@DiscoveryEd) today announced the recipients in the 2025
Alumni Grants Program. As part of the Young Scientist Challenge
Alumni Network, the Alumni Grants Program supports past
participants of the 3M Young
Scientist Challenge (#YoungScientist).
The 3M Young Scientist Challenge
Alumni Network is comprised of former 3M Young Scientist Challenge participants,
ranging from middle school to PhD candidates, and individuals
pursuing full-time careers. Alumni collaborate in networking
events, collaborate in a scientific community, and cheer on the
next generation of young scientists.
As part of the Alumni Network, former finalists are eligible to
apply for continued support through the annual Grant Awards. The
Grant Awards provide additional funding for current Alumni projects
such as continuation of their original entry project, a new
innovation that improves upon the world with STEM, or promoting
science in their community and creating the next generation of
young scientists.
The 2025 Alumni Grants Program recipients are listed below by
category and including their 3M Young
Scientist Challenge participation year:
Continuation of 3M Young
Scientist Challenge Project
- Sean Jiang, Baltimore, Maryland, Infosound - A Novel
Navigation Device Powered by AI and Depth-Sensing Technology for
the Blind, 2023
- Aakash Manaswi,
Orlando, Florida, Evaluating the
Efficacy of Novel Carbon Dioxide Spray and Pesticides Using a
Convolutional Neural Network for Varroa Mite Treatment in Honeybee
Colonies, 2024
This grant supports Alumni who are interested in continuing to
progress or evolve the project they originally developed during the
3M Young Scientist Challenge. Each
winner in this funding category receives $5,000.
New Idea to Improve the World
- Viraj Pandey,
San Jose, CA, A Novel Triad for
Clean Energy: Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation Using Graphene
Quantum Dots, Titanium Dioxide, and Sunlight, 2020
- Moitri Santra,
Oviedo, Florida, Development of a
Microneedle Patch Sensor for Detecting Oxytetracycline in Citrus
Root Tissues, 2021
Scientists are always exploring new ideas, and this category of
funding is available to Alumni to support projects that are
different from their original 3M
Young Scientist Challenge innovation but have the goal of helping
improve the world. Each winner in this funding category receives
$2,500.
Science in Your Community
- Anish Kosaraju,
Saratoga, California, VeriCare,
2023
- Veda Murthy, Fairfax,
Virginia, Vishnu Murthy Foundation Science in Your
Community, 2021
- Amritha Praveen,
Buffalo Grove, Illinois, Amethyst
Changemakers- Bridging Abilities in STEM, 2023
- Daniel Thomas,
Colleyville, Texas, Mwalimu
(Swahili for Teacher), 2022
- Harini Venkatesh,
Brentwood, New Hampshire,
STEMpower!, 2022
3M Young Scientist Challenge
Alumni are wonderful advocates for STEM in their communities.
Funding can be used to support Alumni initiatives, such as
community enrichment opportunities, school events, or community
activation projects that help support the next generation of young
scientists. Each winner in this area of funding receives
$2,000.
"The 3M Young Scientist Challenge
showcases the power of middle school minds to change the world. The
Alumni Grant Program offers past Young Scientist Challenge
participants new opportunities to follow their curiosity," said
Torie Clarke, 3M's executive vice
president and chief public affairs officer. "I'm proud of 3M's
support for this program. Congratulations to each of this year's
recipients!"
As the nation's premier middle school science competition, the
annual 3M Young Scientist Challenge
invites students in grades 5-8 to compete for a mentorship with a
3M scientist, a $25,000 grand prize, and the chance to earn the
title of "America's Top Young Scientist." America's Top Young
Scientists have gone on to give TED Talks, file patents, found
nonprofits, make the Forbes 30
Under 30 list, ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange, and
exhibit at the White House Science Fair. These young innovators
have also been named TIME Magazine's first Kid of the Year,
featured in The New York Times Magazine, Forbes, and Business Insider, and appeared on
national television programs such as Good Morning America, The
Kelly Clarkson Show, and more. All previous 3M Young Scientist Challenge finalists who are
part of the Alumni Network were eligible to apply for an Alumni
Grant.
"The 3M Young Scientist Challenge
demonstrates what can happen when students apply what is learned in
the classroom to the world around them," said Amy Nakamoto, executive vice president of
marketing and corporate partnerships at Discovery Education. "These
alumni are exemplars of cultivating curiosity to make the world a
better place and we are excited that they are able to continue
their work. Congratulations!"
To learn more about the Alumni Grants Program, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, and to find
supporting resources, visit YoungScientistLab.com.
About 3M
3M (NYSE: MMM) believes science helps
create a brighter world for everyone. By unlocking the power of
people, ideas and science to reimagine what's possible, our global
team uniquely addresses the opportunities and challenges of our
customers, communities, and planet. Learn how we're working to
improve lives and make what's next at 3M.com/news-center.
About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose
state-of-the-art, PK-12, digital solutions support learning
wherever it takes place. Through award-winning multimedia content,
instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and strategic
alliances, Discovery Education helps educators deliver powerful
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 over 100 countries and
territories. Through partnerships with districts, states, and
trusted organizations, Discovery Education empowers teachers with
essential edtech solutions that inspire curiosity, build
confidence, and accelerate learning. Explore the future of
education at www.discoveryeducation.com.
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SOURCE 3M Company