TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— A contest run by the Society for Science and Thermo Fisher Scientific has named the top 300 STEM students in the United States.
This was done through the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators challenge, which is stated as the United States’ premier STEM competition for middle school students. The only student from Indiana to make the top 300 list came from Terre Haute, Indiana. 7th Grader Akalkirat Singh Lehal from Honey Creek Middle School won with her project titled “Year 2 Study: Improving Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Performance and Durability: The Role of Natural Dyes, Semiconductor Technologies, and Extraction Methods”. Lehal, along with the other 299 students, will receive a prize package and gifts from partners of the Society of Science, including a one-year subscription to Wolfram Mathematica software.
“These young innovators embody the most promising science and engineering talent in the nation,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO, Society for Science and Executive Publisher, Science News. “They are taking on complex challenges and demonstrating a passion for STEM that can lead to impactful change. I am thrilled to celebrate their achievements.”
The contest is a program of the Society of Science designed to inspire young scientists, engineers, and innovators to solve the large challenges of the future. Students who placed in the top 10% of their local science fair were eligible to enter.
“We are inspired by the creativity and determination of the Top 300 Junior Innovators, whose projects reflect a true passion for solving real-world challenges,” said Dr. Karen Nelson, Chief Scientific Officer, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “Recognizing and supporting young scientific minds is essential to fostering the next generation of innovators who will shape a brighter, more collaborative future for us all.”
The top 300 Junior Innovators were chosen from nearly 1,890 students from 48 states, as well as American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Of the 300, 30 will be picked to compete in an in-person competition this fall in Washington, D.C. On September 17, the Society for Science will announce the top 30 who were chosen by a nationwide panel of scientists, engineers, and educators. The top 30 will compete for $55,000 worth of awards, and each will receive $125 from the Department of Defense.
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