ST. PAUL, Minn. & CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Wednesday, October 15, 2025) – 3M (@3M) and Discovery Training (@DiscoveryEd) named Kevin Tang, an 8th grader at Cedarlane Academy of the Hacienda La Puente Unified Faculty District in Hacienda Heights, California, because the winner of the 2025 3M Younger Scientist Problem, the nation’s premier center faculty science competitors. Kevin distinguished himself with a novel fall detection gadget that may speed up emergency responses to falls amongst older adults at residence, even at the hours of darkness. Because the grand prize winner, he obtained a $25,000 money prize and the celebrated title of “America’s High Younger Scientist.”
Kevin spent the final 4 months competing towards 9 different finalists and in the end secured himself the win throughout last Problem occasions at 3M world headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Oct. 13 and 14. The finalists needed to navigate a sequence of scientific duties and had been evaluated on their communication and presentation expertise, ingenuity, progressive considering, utility of STEM ideas, demonstration of ardour and analysis, and the power to encourage others.
Kevin’s customized in-home gadget makes use of video evaluation and good alerts to guard older adults of their houses. It may possibly acknowledge falls with excessive accuracy, even at night time. Analysis from the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention finds that falls are the main reason behind damage amongst 1 in 4 older adults yearly, or over 14 million individuals. Kevin created an algorithm that analyzes video enter to establish falls and triggers alerts to family members by way of a corresponding good cellphone utility. His new resolution advances present choices in the marketplace via the power to seize imagery at night time and supply around-the-clock monitoring. The gadget may also detect irregular actions whereas the person is strolling, which might be a symptom of a stroke.
“By tapping into their curiosity and reimagining what’s attainable, these spectacular finalists have developed options to real-world issues,” stated Torie Clarke, 3M’s government vice chairman and chief public affairs officer. “12 months after yr, the 3M Younger Scientist Problem demonstrates the ability of science to create optimistic affect and emphasizes that the following nice innovation can come from anyplace. We’re so happy with this yr’s opponents and might’t wait to see what they accomplish subsequent.”
Every 3M Younger Scientist Problem finalist is paired with a 3M scientist who mentors and works with them one-on-one over the summer time to remodel their concepts from idea to prototype. This yr’s winner was paired with Dr. Mark Gilbertson, analysis specialist, robotics and AI, Superior Supplies and Transportation.
“Kevin’s journey into the world of falls and strokes was sparked by private experiences, and it’s inspiring to see how he’s utilizing that to make a distinction,” stated Dr. Gilbertson. “His challenge is a robust reminder of how science will be each private and common. I hope he continues diving deeper into robotics and AI – his potential in these fields is immense.”
The second and third place winners from the 2025 3M Younger Scientist Problem additionally obtain particular recognition, together with a $1,000 prize. This yr’s runners-up are:
- Amaira Srivastava from Gilbert, AZ, a 9th grader at Arizona Faculty Prep Excessive Faculty of the Chandler Unified Faculty District
- Anirudh Rao from Lone Tree, CO, an 8th grader at STEM Faculty Highlands Ranch of the Douglas County Faculty District
The remaining prime finalists from the 2025 3M Younger Scientist Problem in alphabetical order by final title, are:
- Shrey Arora from Collierville, TN, a 9th grader at Collierville Excessive Faculty of Collierville Colleges
- Divyam Desai from Frisco, TX, an 8th grader at Lamar and Norma Hunt Center Faculty of the Frisco Unbiased Faculty District
- Kiyara Gunawardena from Temecula, CA, a 6th grader at iShine Scholar Middle
of Springs Constitution Colleges - Isha Marla from Portland, OR, a 9th grader at Jesuit Excessive Faculty
- Reanna Bhuyan Patel from Princeton, NJ, a 9th grader at Princeton Day Faculty
- Sheyna Patel from Longwood, FL, a 9th grader at Orlando Science Excessive Faculty of Orange County Public Colleges
- Aniket Sarkar from Folsom, CA, an 8th grader at Sacramento Nation Day Faculty
“We’re extremely proud to proceed our longstanding collaboration with 3M. Throughout the tenure of this highly effective partnership, the nation’s finest and brightest have created progressive options to the world’s most advanced issues. Congratulations to Kevin and every of the finalists. Your improbable work provides me nice hope for the longer term,” stated Amy Nakamoto, government vice chairman of company partnerships and advertising and marketing at Discovery Training.
Now in its 18th yr, the 3M Younger Scientist Problem continues to encourage and problem center faculty college students to suppose creatively and apply the ability of STEM to find real-world options. Former America’s High Younger Scientists have given TED Talks, filed patents, based nonprofits, and made the Forbes 30 Underneath 30 listing. These younger innovators have additionally been named TIME Journal’s Child of the 12 months; featured in The New York Occasions Journal, Forbes, and Enterprise Insider; and appeared on nationwide tv applications similar to Good Morning America, The Kelly Clarkson Present, and extra. As well as, a 3M Younger Scientist Problem Alumni Community was shaped in fall 2022 and consists of greater than 100 former problem winners, finalists, and mentors, who participate in networking alternatives and extra.
The award-winning competitors dietary supplements the 3M and Discovery Training program Younger Scientist Lab, which supplies no-cost dynamic digital assets for college students, academics, and households to discover, rework, and innovate the world round them. All of the assets are additionally accessible on Discovery Training Expertise, the important companion for engaged PreK-12 lecture rooms.
To obtain photos from the 2025 science competitors, click on right here. To be taught extra in regards to the 3M Younger Scientist Problem and meet this yr’s winners and finalists, go to youngscientistlab.com.
###
About 3M
3M (NYSE: MMM) is targeted on remodeling industries world wide by making use of science and creating progressive, customer-focused options. Our multi-disciplinary group is working to unravel robust buyer issues by leveraging various know-how platforms, differentiated capabilities, world footprint, and operational excellence. Uncover how 3M is shaping the longer term at 3M.com/information.
About Discovery Training
Discovery Training is the worldwide edtech chief whose state-of-the-art, PreK-12, digital options assist educators interact all college students and assist increased tutorial achievement. By award-winning multimedia content material, tutorial helps, and progressive classroom instruments which are efficient, participating, and straightforward to make use of, Discovery Training helps educators ship highly effective studying experiences. Discovery Training serves roughly 4.5 million educators and 45 million college students worldwide, and its assets are accessed in over 100 nations and territories. By partnerships with districts, states, and trusted organizations, Discovery Training empowers academics with important edtech options that encourage curiosity, construct confidence, and speed up studying. Be taught extra at www.discoveryeducation.com.
Contacts
3M
3MNews@mmm.com
Grace Maliska
Discovery Training
gmaliska@discoveryed.com
