New York: Indian-American students have done it again at the 2025 3M Young Scientist Challenge, clinching two of the top three awards and accounting for eight of the ten finalists nationwide.
Amaira Srivastava of Arizona and Anirudh Rao of Colorado took second and third place, respectively, earning $1,000 each for their pioneering projects addressing plastic pollution and renewable energy. Their achievements reinforced the community’s growing leadership in STEM innovation.
Srivastava, a ninth-grader at Arizona College Prep High School, created NutriCup—a biodegradable drinking cup made from fruit peels that cuts single-use plastic waste while infusing water with natural nutrients. Her design not only tackles the U.S.’s annual 40 million tons of plastic waste but also promotes sustainable consumption.
Rao, a 12-year-old student at STEM School Highlands Ranch in Colorado, designed a moisture-powered nanogenerator that converts humidity into electricity. The device could power health and environmental sensors in off-grid regions, offering an affordable solution for underserved areas worldwide.
The strong Indian-American showing extended across the finalist pool, with innovations spanning sustainability, disaster resilience, and resource efficiency.
The remaining Indian-American students in the top 10 included Shrey Arora (Tennessee), Divyam Desai (Texas), Isha Marla (Oregon), Reanna Patel (New Jersey), Sheyna Patel (Florida), and Aniket Sarkar (Florida). Kiyara Gunawardena (California), of Sri Lankan-American origin, was also one of the top 10 finalists.
The 3M Young Scientist Challenge forms part of the Young Scientist Lab initiative, which provides free STEM resources through Discovery Education.
