Anika Chebrolu Takes Home Top Prize and Improving Lives Award at
This Year’s 3M Young Scientist Challenge
3M (@3M) and Discovery Education (@DiscoveryEd) have named
14-year-old Anika Chebrolu from Frisco, Tex. the winner of the 2020
3M Young Scientist Challenge (#YoungScientist), the nation’s
premier middle school science competition. Anika used in-silico
methodology for drug discovery to find a molecule that can
selectively bind to the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to
find a cure for COVID-19.
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Anika Chebrolu named America's Top Young
Scientist at this year’s 3M Young Scientist Challenge (Photo:
3M).
The SARS-CoV-2 virus is the cause of hundreds of thousands of
deaths worldwide and was declared a worldwide pandemic and public
health emergency earlier this year. With the virus continuing to
spread far and wide, there is an urgent need to find an effective
anti-coronavirus drug. In her study, Anika discovered a molecule
that can selectively bind to the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2.
Binding and inhibiting this viral protein would potentially stop
the virus entry into the cell, creating a viable drug target. In
her research, Anika screened millions of small molecules for
drug-likeness properties, ADMET properties, and binding affinities
against the spike protein using numerous software tools. The one
molecule with the best pharmacological and biological activity
towards the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was chosen as the
lead molecule that can be a potential drug for the effective
treatment of COVID-19.
For the first time in the history of the competition, the 3M
Young Scientist Challenge showcased the top ten finalist projects
and announced this year’s winner in a virtual event, held October
12-13, 2020. Anika, an eighth-grader at Nelson Middle School in
Frisco Tex., at the time of entry, competed against nine other
finalists in an interactive virtual competition. Each finalist was
evaluated on a series of challenges and the presentation of their
completed innovation. These young inventors – aged 12-14 – won the
top ten spots in this year’s challenge through their innovative
thinking, scientific acumen, and display of exceptional
communication skills.
"Amidst the challenges of a global pandemic, quality STEM
education for all has become an even more urgent need, and 3M’s
commitment to fostering the next generation of science leaders has
never been more determined,” said Denise Rutherford, senior vice
president of Corporate Affairs at 3M. “In spite of challenges,
like adjusting to new norms of distance learning and participating
in virtual events, this year’s 3M Young Scientist Challenge
finalists have smashed through barriers with grit, creativity,
innovative thinking, and excitement – all in the name of applying
science to improve lives. 3M is inspired by these young innovators
and we celebrate each one of them. Our heartfelt congratulations go
to this year’s winner, Anika Chebrolu, and our many thanks to all
our 3M Young Scientist Challenge finalists.”
Over the past few months, each 3M Young Scientist Challenge
finalist worked with a 3M scientist who played the role of mentor
and worked one-on-one with each finalist to transform their idea
from concept to physical prototype. Anika was paired with Dr.
Mahfuza Ali, a 3M corporate scientist in the materials resource
division and a recent Carlton Society inductee.
As part of the program, challenge finalists received a variety
of prizes from 3M and Discovery Education. The grand prize winner
received a $25,000 cash prize, the prestigious title of “America’s
Top Young Scientist,” and a special destination trip. The second
and third place winners each received a $1,000 prize and a special
destination trip. This year’s 3M Young Scientist Challenge winner,
two runners up, and their mentors will also have the exciting
opportunity to ring the New York Stock Exchange Closing Bell in a
virtual event on October 15 at 4:00 p.m. EST. These exceptional
middle-school-aged students at the time of entry are:
- In second place, Kyle Tianshi, an eighth-grader at The
Cambridge School from San Diego, Calif. Kyle designed a portable
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) device that detects invisible
particles in water to monitor water quality and contamination
levels.
- In third place, Laasya Acharya, a seventh-grader at Mason
Middle School in Mason City School District from Mason, Ohio.
Laasya utilized a neural network to detect crop diseases through
image analysis.
The fourth through tenth place winners each receive a $1,000
prize and a $500 excitations gift card. These middle-school aged
finalists at the time of entry, in alphabetical order by last name,
are:
- Xavier Baquero-Iglesias from Naples, Fla., a fifth-grader at
Community School-Naples in the Collier County School District.
- Rithvik Ijju from Englewood, Colo., an eighth-grader at
Challenge School in the Cherry Creek School District 5.
- Ekansh Mittal from Beaverton, Ore., an eighth-grader at Meadow
Park Middle School in the Beaverton School District.
- Harsha Pillarisetti from San Ramon, Calif., an eighth-grader at
Windemere Ranch Middle School in the San Ramon Valley Unified
School District.
- Samhita Pokkunuri from Old Bridge, N.J., a seventh-grader at
Carl Sandburg Middle School in the Old Bridge Township Public
School District.
- Samvrit Rao from Ashburn, Va., a seventh-grader at Stone Hill
Middle School in the Loudoun County Public School District.
- Sophia Weiner from Rockledge, Fla., an eighth-grader at Holy
Trinity Episcopal Academy.
For the second time in competition history, the 3M Young
Scientist Challenge has named a recipient of the Improving Lives Award; the competition's public
voting process recognizes one project from the top ten that has the
potential to change the most lives. Anika Chebrolu, this year’s
2020 3M Young Scientist Challenge winner, was also selected as the
recipient of the competition’s Improving Lives Award. Anika was
selected through an online public vote from September 28 – October
9, 2020.
“For over a decade, Discovery Education and 3M have shared a
commitment to empowering young people to bring the power of STEM
learning to life,” said Lori McFarling, president of Corporate
& Community Partnerships at Discovery Education. “All of
this year’s participants demonstrated their deep engagement in
these critical disciplines, and we are so pleased to have supported
the 2020 participants in their endeavors.”
In its 13th year, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge continues to
inspire and challenge middle school students to think creatively
and apply the power of STEM to discovering real-world solutions.
Winners have gone on to give TED Talks, file patents, found
nonprofits, make the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, ring the bell at the
New York Stock Exchange, and exhibit at the White House Science
Fair. These young innovators have also been featured in The New
York Times Magazine, Forbes, Business Insider, and on national
television programs such as Good Morning America and The Ellen
DeGeneres Show.
The award-winning 3M Young Scientist Challenge supplements the
3M and Discovery Education program – Young Scientist Lab – which
provides no-cost dynamic digital resources for students, teachers,
and families to explore, transform, and innovate the world around
them. All resources are also available through the 3M Channel and
Corporate Education Partnerships Channel on Discovery Education
Experience, the digital service whose high-quality resources and
instructional supports for educators are enriching student learning
and extending it to the real world.
To download images of the 2020 science competition, click here.
To learn more about the 3M Young Scientist Challenge and meet this
year’s finalists, visit youngscientistlab.com.
About 3M At 3M, we apply science in collaborative ways to
improve lives daily. With $32 billion in sales, our 96,000
employees connect with customers all around the world. Learn more
about 3M’s creative solutions to the world’s problems at www.3M.com
or on Twitter @3M or @3MNews.
About Discovery Education Discovery Education is the
global leader in standards-aligned digital curriculum resources,
engaging content, and professional learning for K-12 classrooms.
Through its award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia resources,
and the largest professional learning network of its kind,
Discovery Education is transforming teaching and learning, creating
immersive STEM experiences, and improving academic achievement
around the globe. Discovery Education currently serves
approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students
worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 140 countries and
territories. Inspired by the global media company Discovery, Inc.,
Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and
like-minded organizations to empower teachers with customized
solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the
future of education at www.DiscoveryEducation.com.
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Robert Brittain | 3M | rbrittain@mmm.com Grace Maliska |
Discovery Education | gmaliska@discoveryed.com
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