Posts Tagged ‘America’s Top Young Scientist’

Deepika Kurup Named ‘America’s Top Young Scientist’ in 2012 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge

October 17, 2012 | by aharris
2012 DE3MYSC Winner Deepika Kurup (Second from Left) with Discovery Education's Lori McFarling, 3M's XXXX and Science's Danny Forster

2012 DE3MYSC Winner Deepika Kurup with Representatives from Discovery Education and 3M and Science’s Danny Forster

This week, some of the best and brightest students from across the country gathered at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota to showcase their scientific smarts and compete for the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.” The competition was the culmination of a three-month collaboration with 3M scientists as they created their personal innovations as a part of a summer mentoring program — going from concept to prototype — with the goal of solving an everyday problem.

Earlier today, Discovery Education and 3M announced the results, as 14-year-old Deepika Kurup from Nashua, New Hampshire was named the winner of the 2012 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge for her innovative, cost effective and sustainable water-purification system. Her prototype, which harnesses solar energy to disinfect contaminated water, can help improve the lives of the 1.1 billion people around the world who lack access to clean drinking water. Kurup and nine other finalists shared their completed innovations with a panel of judges, including Danny Forster of Science‘s Build it Bigger.

The remaining finalists also received a variety of prizes from Discovery Education and 3M. The second, third and fourth place winners each received a $1,000 cash prize and a trip from Discovery Student Adventures to Costa Rica. Congratulations to:

  • Carolyn Jons , Eden Prairie High School in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, second place
  • Anin Sayana, Bellarmine College Preparatory in Cupertino, California, third place
  • Anishaa Sivakumar, Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, Pennsylvannia, fourth place
  • Aidan Dwyer, Northport High School in Northport, New York
  • Naren Gaurav, Meadow Park Summa Middle School in Beaverton, Oregon
  • Brandon Gong , Garden City Middle School in Garden City, New York
  • Chase Lewis, homeschooled in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
  • Gabriel Mesa, Canton Intermediate School in Canton, Connecticut
  • Patrick Shea, Routt Catholic High School in Jacksonville, Illinois

For more information on the 2012 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge and to learn more about this year’s finalists, please visit www.youngscientistchallenge.com.

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‘America’s Top Young Scientist’ Uses Science to Help Athletes

October 8, 2011 | by aharris
DE3MYSC 2011 Winner Presentation

Benedict with 3M CEO George Buckley, Discovery Communications' Bill Goodwyn and Reed Timmer

Thinking back to middle school, science projects seemed to revolve around model volcanoes and basic chemical reactions. However, in 2011, young scientific minds are using the power of science to solve problems, big and small. The Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge is committed to encouraging budding scientists and rewarding innovation among students each year, and Braeden Benedict of Rancho Palos Verdes, California is the latest to earn the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.”

Benedict competed alongside nine other finalists during the competition’s final event held at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota last week. As the grand prize winner, he has won $25,000 and a trip from Discovery Student Adventures for his innovation in developing a low-cost impact detection device that can make it easier to spot harmful concussions in athletes (watch his video entry).

Over the past three months, all of the finalists spent their summers participating in a mentorship program working directly with a 3M scientist as they created an innovation that solved a problem in everyday life. During the final event, the finalists presented their completed innovations to a panel of judges, including Reed Timmer from Discovery Channel’s Storm Chasers, Discovery Education and 3M representatives and educators from across the country.  In addition to presenting their prototypes, the ten finalists competed in two additional challenges, which tested their scientific knowledge, creativity and use of 3M technology.

Along with naming Benedict as the grand prize winner, Discovery Education and 3M awarded the nine other finalists with prizes. The second, third and fourth place winners each received a $1,000 cash prize and a trip from Discovery Student Adventures. Congratulations to:

  • Cheyenne Hua from Hunter College High School in New York, New York
  • Nolan Leonard from St. Luke’s Episcopal School in Mobile, Alabama
  • Caroline Boschetto from Villa Joseph Marie High School in Holland, Pennsylvannia

The fifth through tenth place winners each received a $1,000 cash prize and a $500 gift card from Discovery Experiences. These finalists include:

  • Jack Andraka from North County High School in Glen Burnie, Maryland
  • Austin Curtis from Bedford Middle School in Bedford, Indiana
  • Shawn Farmand from Arcola Intermediate School in Eagleville, Pennsylvannia
  • John Holtgrewe from Paducah Middle School in Pudacah, Kentucky
  • Diyva Ravinder from Lawton Chiles Middle Academy in Lakeland, Florida
  • Albert Tung from University High School in Irvine, California

To learn more about this year’s finalists, please visit YoungScientistChallenge.com.

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