Meet 14-year-old Sirish Subash from India, who won Discovery 3M’s Young Scientist Challenge 2024 and emerged as America’s top young scientist out of the 10 finalists including 6 Indian-origin contestants. Among thousands of promising innovators and inventors with a problem-solving attitude, only the best 10 budding scientists made it to the grand finale of America’s premier middle school science competition. While vying for America’s Top Young Scientist title, the finalists demonstrated the transformative power of STEM and their commitment to solving everyday issues and pressing global challenges.
Sirish Subash, Georgia
Sirish Subash from Georgia won America’s Top Young Scientist title and received a whopping $25,000 cash prize for his AI-based handheld device that can easily and accurately detect the presence of pesticide residues on agricultural produces. Science being his only passion, Sirish bagged the Agricultural Research Service Award for Excellence at the Georgia Science & Engineering Fair early this year. His AI-based pesticide detector, if developed further, could greatly enhance public health and food safety. He looks forward to developing futuristic devices to fight climate and environmental challenges for a better world.
Mentored by Aditya Banerji, a senior research engineer, America’s Young Scientist title 2024 winner Sirish says that his device is small, portable, and Bluetooth-enabled. “Some pesticide residue is rigid enough to be washed away when we rinse vegetables and fruits from markets. The idea is not to replace washing, but rather to help ensure that those produces are clean enough for cooking or consumption.”
Prince Nallamothula, Texas
A resident of Frisco in Texas, Prince Nallamothula who hails from the Telugu-speaking region of India has developed an innovative technique to use quantum dots in solar cells and test the cells in quantum chemistry. This wannabe quantum scientist wishes to make breakthroughs in the field of quantum technology. The US President’s Environmental Youth Award 2020 was presented to Prince Nallamothula, a 3M Young Scientist Challenge finalist. Notably, he is a TEDx Youth speaker and coach at the age of 14. He is serving as a young scientist at QuantumAstra, a startup working on next-gen computing, communication and sensing solutions in Frisco, TX.
Interestingly, the Mayor of Frisco declared 15 January 2019 as “Prince Nallamothula Day” in Frisco, recognizing his outstanding talent through an official proclamation.
Ronita Shukla, Massachusetts
Of all the 10 finalists for America’s Young Scientist title 2024, Ronita Shukla has developed a novel solution to get atmospheric carbon dioxide absorbed more than usual through increased photosynthesis by spirulina (blue green algae). Since spirulina grows 10 times faster than trees in the same stretch of land, it can increase the rate of photosynthesis, thereby sequestering more CO2 in the atmosphere. This 7th grader from Acton, Massachusetts adjudges mobile internet as her favorite invention of the past 100 years. She aspires to be a research scientist or professor.
Aakash Manaswi, Florida
Among the finalists of Discovery 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2024, Aakash Manaswi has prototyped a natural solution to save beehives from mite infestation. The livelihood of beekeepers in most parts of the US is threatened by the varroa mite, a parasitic pest that feeds on honey bees. The existing treatment of mite infestation is an expensive, time-consuming process. Since beekeeping is a key to the planet’s ecological balance, his invention could be more effective in saving the world’s most accomplished pollinators, honey bees.
A resident of Orlando in Florida, Aakash Manaswi aspires to become an entomologist and make beekeeping a fruitful practice.
Ankan Das, Florida
8th grader Ankan Das has developed an intelligent walking robot as a fool-proof surveillance solution to vie for the title of America’s top young scientist 2024. The robot can be put in motion without motors or gears. Ankan, an aspiring aerospace engineer, has been passionate about robotics and aeronautics since his elementary school days. He wants to grow up designing and developing new-gen technologies, such as advanced rovers and robots for space explorations. Modern-day aircraft is his favorite invention of the past 100 years. Advanced aircraft facilitates tourism, cultural exchange, global trade, and international relations.
Rithvik Suren, Connecticut
Rithvik Suren, who lives with his parents in Windsor, has made it to the finals of America’s most prestigious STEM competition for his AI-based innovation. Leveraging the power of AI intelligence, he is working on an innovative method that can predict impending occurrence of earthquakes and study sequences to make better predictions of such events in the future. Rithvik Suren wishes to study mechatronics engineering so that he could develop nano-tech solutions to threats to human life. Nanotechnology is his favorite invention of the past 100 years.
From 2012 until 2020, America’s Top Young Scientist title went to 6 Indian-origin kids named Deepika Kurup (2012), Sahil Doshi (2014), Maanasa Mendu (2016), Gitanjali Rao (2017), Rishab Jain (2018), and Anika Chebrolu (2020). Unfortunately, the Indian immigrant community did not have good luck with the ‘America’s Top Young Scientist’ title in the past three years. Hence, Sirish Subash’s win not only filled the three-year void but also brought back the prestigious honor to Indian immigrants in USA.
