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 College District in Hacienda Heights, California, because the winner of the 2025 3M Younger Scientist Problem, the nation’s premier center college 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 nighttime. Because the grand prize winner, he obtained a $25,000 money prize and the distinguished title of “America’s Prime Younger Scientist.”
Kevin spent the final 4 months competing towards 9 different finalists and finally secured himself the win throughout closing Problem occasions at 3M world headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Oct. 13 and 14. The finalists needed to navigate a collection of scientific duties and have been evaluated on their communication and presentation expertise, ingenuity, revolutionary 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 could actually acknowledge falls with excessive accuracy, even at evening. Analysis from the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention finds that falls are the main explanation for harm amongst 1 in 4 older adults yearly, or over 14 million individuals. Kevin created an algorithm that analyzes video enter to determine falls and triggers alerts to family members by way of a corresponding good telephone utility. His new answer advances present choices in the marketplace by the power to seize imagery at evening and supply around-the-clock monitoring. The gadget may detect irregular actions whereas the person is strolling, which could possibly be a symptom of a stroke.
“By tapping into their curiosity and reimagining what’s potential, these spectacular finalists have developed options to real-world issues,” mentioned Torie Clarke, 3M’s government vp and chief public affairs officer. “Yr after 12 months, the 3M Younger Scientist Problem demonstrates the facility of science to create optimistic influence and emphasizes that the following nice innovation can come from anyplace. We’re so pleased with this 12 months’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 12 months’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,” mentioned Dr. Gilbertson. “His venture 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 12 months’s runners-up are:
- Amaira Srivastava from Gilbert, AZ, a 9th grader at Arizona Faculty Prep Excessive College of the Chandler Unified College District
- Anirudh Rao from Lone Tree, CO, an 8th grader at STEM College Highlands Ranch of the Douglas County College District
The remaining high 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 College of Collierville Faculties
- Divyam Desai from Frisco, TX, an 8th grader at Lamar and Norma Hunt Center College of the Frisco Unbiased College District
- Kiyara Gunawardena from Temecula, CA, a 6th grader at iShine Scholar Middle
of Springs Constitution Faculties - Isha Marla from Portland, OR, a 9th grader at Jesuit Excessive College
- Reanna Bhuyan Patel from Princeton, NJ, a 9th grader at Princeton Day College
- Sheyna Patel from Longwood, FL, a 9th grader at Orlando Science Excessive College of Orange County Public Faculties
- Aniket Sarkar from Folsom, CA, an 8th grader at Sacramento Nation Day College
“We’re extremely proud to proceed our longstanding collaboration with 3M. Through the tenure of this highly effective partnership, the nation’s finest and brightest have created revolutionary options to the world’s most complicated issues. Congratulations to Kevin and every of the finalists. Your incredible work offers me nice hope for the longer term,” mentioned Amy Nakamoto, government vp of company partnerships and advertising and marketing at Discovery Training.
Now in its 18th 12 months, the 3M Younger Scientist Problem continues to encourage and problem center college college students to suppose creatively and apply the facility of STEM to find real-world options. Former America’s Prime Younger Scientists have given TED Talks, filed patents, based nonprofits, and made the Forbes 30 Underneath 30 record. These younger innovators have additionally been named TIME Journal’s Child of the Yr; featured in The New York Instances Journal, Forbes, and Enterprise Insider; and appeared on nationwide tv packages comparable to Good Morning America, The Kelly Clarkson Present, and extra. As well as, a 3M Younger Scientist Problem Alumni Community was fashioned 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 gives no-cost dynamic digital assets for college kids, academics, and households to discover, rework, and innovate the world round them. All of the assets are additionally out there on Discovery Training Expertise, the important companion for engaged PreK-12 school rooms.
To obtain photos from the 2025 science competitors, click on right here. To study extra in regards to the 3M Younger Scientist Problem and meet this 12 months’s winners and finalists, go to youngscientistlab.com.
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About 3M
3M (NYSE: MMM) is concentrated on remodeling industries all over the world by making use of science and creating revolutionary, customer-focused options. Our multi-disciplinary group is working to unravel robust buyer issues by leveraging numerous 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 revolutionary classroom instruments which might be efficient, partaking, 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 international locations 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
