5 Indian-American students eye $25,000 in 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge

Five Indian-American students are among the top 10 finalists of the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge for projects tackling healthcare, climate change, drought, food safety and marine science. The winner will receive USD 25,000 and the title of America's Top Young Scientist.Five Indian-American students are finalists out of ten in the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge (Left to right: Arika Kundu, Naboshree Santra, Raji Doshi, Sharvi Mahajan, Aaisha Asif)Five Indian-American middle school students have secured a place among the top 10 finalists of the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge, one of the United States' most prestigious science competitions for students in Class 5 to 8.The students were selected for projects that tackle real-world challenges, including pollution, food safety, road safety, climate change, healthcare, and water conservation. Out of the 10 finalists announced this year, half are Indian-American students whose innovations focus on practical solutions with the potential for real-world impact.PROJECTS TACKLE EVERYDAY GLOBAL CHALLENGESAmong the finalists, Sharvi Mahajan was recognised for NeuroDrive Alert, an EEG-based machine learning system designed to predict driver fatigue in real time.Raji Doshi earned a place for engineering a durable algae-aragonite alkalinity system aimed at reducing CO2-driven ocean acidification, while Naboshree Santra was selected for developing environmentally friendly materials to help combat drought. Arika Kundu created LIGNEX, a biosorption-based solution that uses agricultural waste to remove pesticide residues from fresh produce. Aaisha Asif was recognised for Muscle Power of Mussels, a project exploring the remarkable abilities of mussels with potential applications in marine science.The remaining finalists come from across the United States and represent a wide range of scientific disciplines and innovative ideas.MENTORSHIP, FINAL COMPETITION AND $25,000 PRIZE As part of the competition, each finalist will participate in an exclusive summer mentorship programme with a 3M scientist, receiving guidance to refine and strengthen their projects.The finalists will then travel to the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, where they will compete on October 12 and 13. During the final event, students will take part in live science challenges before presenting their projects to a panel of judges.At the end of the competition, one student will be named America's Top Young Scientist and receive the grand prize of USD 25,000.TOP 10 FINALISTSAhmed Abdelsalam – Cambridge, MassachusettsAaisha Asif – Sarasota, FloridaRaji Doshi – Farmington, ConnecticutAiden Jo – Houston, TexasRoy Kim – Beaverton, OregonArika Kundu – Shorewood, MinnesotaSharvi Mahajan – San Diego, CaliforniaMillie Pradawong – Fairfax, VirginiaNaboshree Santra – Oviedo, FloridaAbigail Stein – Nashville, TennesseeThe 3M Young Scientist Challenge has long served as a platform for young innovators to showcase ideas with the potential to solve real-world problems. This year's strong representation of Indian-American students among the finalists highlights their growing presence in STEM and reflects how young minds are using science and technology to address global challenges from an early age.- EndsPublished By: Karan YadavPublished On: Jul 30, 2026 11:45 IST