Wilton teen Anika Bhagavatula was just named one of 10 finalists from around the country in the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, the nation’s premier science competition for grades 5-8. She now will compete to earn the winning spot and $25,000.
Bhagavatula (center, above) is an 8th grader at Middlebrook Middle School. Her project details her hope to find a natural sorbent which would be effective in replacing current environmentally damaging solutions to remedy oil spills, using pomegranate husk and orange peels.
The Young Scientist Challenge is a one-of-a-kind video competition that sparked the imaginations of hundreds of thousands of students and enhanced science exploration, innovation and communication across the United States. The program aims to foster a new generation of American scientists at an age when interest in science generally declines, and to cultivate the next generation of problem-solvers as well as give students the unique opportunity to work directly with 3M scientists.
To enter, students need to submit a 1-2 minute video which describes a new invention or solution that could solve or impact an everyday problem that directly affects them, their families, their communities, and/or the global population. Idea starters include: science that is sustainable, science that cleans; science that moves; science that saves. Only individual submissions will be accepted.
Bhagavatula wants to be an environmental scientist and innovator. As part of the program she was matched with a 3M Scientist Mentor, Dr. Döne Demirgöz, to help guide her project.
“I was particularly excited about the potential opportunity to work with a 3M Scientist Mentor to further develop my idea. I am extremely interested in environmental research and water purification and I am eager to learn and develop new ideas for preserving the environment,” Bhagavatula says.
The video competition is judged by a field of experts in science and communication including current and former teachers, scientists, and representatives from school districts across the country.
The ten student finalists were announced this week. They all will receive a trip to the competition finals in October at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, MN,, where they will each give a presentation based on their work in the summer mentorship program, and participate in a series of scored challenges to demonstrate their scientific knowledge.
At the end of the competition, America’s Top Young Scientist will be awarded $25,000, and other finalists will receive other prizes.
Bhagavatula comments about what her belief is with regard to science: “Never hesitate to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Amazing experiences and opportunities are waiting to be discovered.”