America’s national science competition – Discovery 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2025 has announced top 10 finalists including 8 Indian American students. In the past 15 years, the ‘Top Young Scientist’ title has gone to Indian immigrants 7 times. Kids of Indian origin have time and again shined in the competition for their problem-solving ideas and scientific innovations. Just like the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee, where 7 of the 9 finalists were Indian Americans, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge is also being dominated by Indian-origin talents.
List of Indian-origin winners of America’s 3M Young Scientist Challenge:
- Deepika Kurup, New Hampshire in 2012
- Sahil Doshi, Pennsylvania in 2014
- Maansa Mendu, Ohio in 2016
- Gitanjali Rao, Colorado in 2017
- Rishab Jain, Oregon in 2018
- Anika Chebrolu, Texas in 2020
- Sirish Subash, Georgia in 2024
3M Young Scientist Challenge 2025: Eight Indian American Finalists
Divyam Desai, Texas
Divyam Desai, a 7th grader from Frisco, TX, is one of the 10 finalists of the 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2025 for his foundation tilt prevention system. His innovative irrigation system monitors soil moisture and waters the soil, only as needed, around building foundations in order to prevent damages that expansion soils cause to the foundation of brick-and-mortar structures in Texas. It would save his parents and other homeowners hefty repair costs. At the same time, his smart invention would help conserve water in clay-rich regions.
Divyam wants to become a mathematician, as algebra and statistics fascinate him. This 13-year-old believes that 3D printers are the best invention of the last 100 years.
Reanna Bhuyan Patel, New Jersey
13-year-old Reanna from Princeton, New Jersey has built a next-gen device based on thermoelectric principles. Her device captures energy from surrounding heat and converts it into electricity. Thus, her low-cost electricity generation tool has the potential to provide clean energy to communities with zero to little access to reliable power. No wonder why this project earned her a spot among the finalists for America’s Top Young Scientist title in 2025.
She believes, “Intelligence is not defined by what you know, but by the power of what you do with it.” In 2024, Reanna Bhuyan Patel won the New Jersey State Merit Award from 3M for developing a zero-energy air conditioning system. She aspires to become an entrepreneur and an engineer.
Anirudh Rao, Colorado
12-year-old Anirudh Rao is the youngest of all finalists for Discovery 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2025. He built a moisture-powered nano-generator that can provide clean, affordable electricity for health and environmental sensors in areas with limited access to power. His innovation focuses on making renewable energy solutions more practical and accessible, especially in off-grid locations.
Being a prolific inventor, Anirudh competed for America’s Top Young Scientist title in the past three years, each time with a new solution. However, he made it as a finalist this year. He also developed a tornado detection system using a network of drones designed to detect infrasound and sense approaching tornadoes.
Amaira Srivastava, Arizona
Amaira Srivastava’s commitment to curbing food waste, plastic pollution, and climate change brought her to the Discovery 3M Young Scientist Challenge finals 2025. Aiming to promote sustainability, she has created biodegradable cups made with fruit peels not only to reduce plastic waste, but also to deliver natural nutrients through flavonoid-rich water. She believes that the 3M Young Scientist Challenge platform would help make her product a household item in the US and beyond.
Amaira dreams of becoming a global scientist, innovator, and purpose-driven entrepreneur who tackles challenges like climate change, pollution, and hunger.
Sheyna Patel, Florida
Sheyna Patel, an 8th grader from Longwood, has been named a finalist for the 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2025 for her innovative solution to a major environmental problem. She has developed a non-toxic hydrogel that can capture and break down microplastics in water with over 93% efficiency, offering a promising way to protect aquatic ecosystems. Her project showcases both scientific skill and deep concern for the environment.
This 14-year-old is 14-year-old and passionate about STEM research and is driven by a strong desire to solve real-world problems. Sheyna Patel’s favorite invention of the past 100 years is the smartphone, as it helps her explore and understand the possibilities of the world.
Shrey Arora, Tennessee
Among the finalists for America’s Top Young Scientist title 2025, Shrey Arora from Tennessee presents a solution that both homemakers and restaurant owners would love. A resident of Collierville in the Memphis metropolitan area, Shrey has developed FreshMate, a smart fridge device that tracks expiration dates of refrigerated food items, and thus, helps to reduce food waste in everyday life.
Passionate about solving real-world problems, Shrey dreams of working at NASA. He was named the 2024 Tennessee State Merit Winner in the 3M Young Scientist Challenge. He is mentored by Indian-origin Lalitha Ganapatibhotla, an advanced product development specialist in 3M.
Aniket Sarkar, Florida
Aniket Sarkar’s low-cost atmospheric solution for farmers in the arid regions of America will compete for the first prize at Discovery 3M Young Scientist Challenge this year. a 7th grader from Sarasota, Aniket developed an easy-to-use atmospheric moisture capturing system that absorbs water from air to support farming in the arid regions of hinterlands.
Aniket hopes to become an environmental engineer aiming to solve the world’s most pressing problems. Despite being 13-year-old, he has already gained hands-on experience in rocketry and robotics, which has fueled his passion for innovation.
Isha Marla, Oregon
Isha is famed in her school as the “young doctor in the making.” She is 14-year-old and is one of the top 10 finalists of the America’s 2025 Young Scientist Challenge. Isha created AlginaFAB, a fabric made from seaweed and other natural ingredients. Her eco-friendly textile mimics the strength and flexibility of traditional fabrics while being fully biodegradable.
She is an 8th grader from Portland with a strong passion for science, innovation, and music. Isha has been studying piano and percussion for the past 8 years, and her favorite invention of the past 100 years is the drum set. She hopes to become a cardiovascular surgeon, aiming to perform life-saving surgeries and drive innovation in healthcare.
