USA
Indian-American Kids Dominate 2025 3M Young Scientist Challenge Finalists: In a remarkable display of talent and innovation, students of Indian origin have overwhelmingly dominated the list of top 10 finalists for the prestigious 2025 3M Young Scientist Challenge, the nation’s leading middle school science competition. This year, 9 out of the 10 finalists are Indian American, highlighting the community’s growing influence in STEM fields at a young age.
3M and Discovery Education announced this year’s finalists, selected from thousands of applicants across the United States. The competition, open to students in grades 5-8, offers a $25,000 grand prize, a coveted mentorship with a 3M scientist, and the honor of being named America’s Top Young Scientist.
Indian-Origin Finalists Shine Bright
Among the top 10 selected for their cutting-edge innovations and creative solutions to real-world problems are:
- Shrey Arora – Collierville, TN
- Divyam Desai – Frisco, TX
- Kiyara Gunawardena – Temecula, CA
- Isha Marla – Portland, OR
- Reanna Patel – Princeton, NJ
- Sheyna Patel – Longwood, FL
- Anirudh Rao – Lone Tree, CO
- Aniket Sarkar – Sarasota, FL
- Amaira Srivastava – Gilbert, AZ
- Kevin Tang – Hacienda Heights, CA
Notably, eight of the ten finalists are of Indian origin, reflecting the growing interest and achievements of the Indian-American community in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Creativity, Curiosity, and a Commitment to Change
“This year, the nation’s brightest young minds have once again reimagined what’s possible,” said Torie Clarke, Executive Vice President and Chief Public Affairs Officer at 3M. “For 18 years, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge has empowered middle school students to bring science to life. Congratulations to each of the top 10 finalists! I can’t wait to see how you make the world a better place.”
Finalists, aged 11 to 14, submitted 1–2-minute videos proposing innovative solutions to everyday problems. Their concepts span a wide array of themes, including robotics, safety, AR/VR, home improvement, climate technology, and more.
Mentorship and Innovation at the 3M Innovation Center
Each finalist has been paired with a 3M scientist-mentor who will guide them through a summer-long innovation development program. The journey culminates from October 13–14 at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, where finalists will present their completed projects and participate in interactive challenges.
Their performance will be independently judged based on creativity, scientific knowledge, problem-solving, and communication skills. The winner will walk away with $25,000, a unique destination trip, and the prestigious title of America’s Top Young Scientist.
Celebrating Past Indian-Origin Winners
Last year’s winner, Sirish Subash, a 14-year-old Indian-origin student from Snellville, Georgia, developed PestiSCAND, a handheld device that non-destructively detects pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables using spectrophotometry and machine learning.
His innovation is a testament to the life-changing impact of the competition and a source of inspiration for this year’s finalists.
Learn More
To explore the brilliant minds behind the 2025 finalists and learn more about the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, visit YoungScientistLab.com.
