Teen From Area School Among Top 10 Finalists In National Science Challenge

News from 3M Discovery Young Scientist Challenge:

Raghav Ganesh, a 7th grader in the Cupertino School District was one of 10 national finalists in the 3M Discovery Young Scientist Challenge (YSC), the nation’s premier competitive science event for middle school students.

Raghav was selected for his invention, a wireless machine that helps prevent Autism meltdowns.

This is Raghav’s second health-related invention; he preivously developed a device to aid the blind, which was the subject of a report in April by KNTV 11 (http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/San-Jose-13-Year-Old-Invents-Device-To-Help-White-Canes-For-The-Blind-To-See-300235931.html). A video overview of his device Ganesh made is available here: http://www.youngscientistchallenge.com/contests/entry/19111

In October, Raghav will compete against the other 9 national finalists in Minnesota for a chance to win $25,000, go on a research expedition to Costa Rica, and be named America’s “Top Young Scientist” for 2015.

Discovery Education and 3M announced the following 10 finalists (in alphabetical order)*:

• Peter Finch, Harrisville, R.I., Homeschool
• Arthur Frigo, III, Jupiter, Fla., Turtle River Montessori
• Raghav Ganesh, San Jose, Calif., Joaquin Miller Middle School, Cupertino Union School District
• Amulya Garimella, Pittsburgh, Pa., Dorseyville Middle School, Fox Chapel Area School District
• Iris Gupta, North Potomac, Md., Robert Frost Middle School, Montgomery County Public Schools
• Hannah Herbst, Boca Raton, Fla., Alexander D. Henderson University School, Florida Atlantic University Schools
• Alec Lessing, New York, N.Y., Collegiate School
• Conner Pettit, Lone Tree, Colo., Cresthill Middle School, Douglas County School District
• Krishna Reddy, Wichita Falls, Texas, Kirby World Academy, Wichita Falls Independent School District
• Sanjana Shah, Cupertino, Calif., John F. Kennedy Middle School, Cupertino Union School District

* Schools listed are from time of competition entry (January – April 2015).

Each finalist will now have the exclusive opportunity to work directly with a 3M Scientist during a unique summer mentorship program, where they will be challenged to develop an innovation that positively impacts them, their family, their community or the global population.

For more information on the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, visit www.youngscientistchallenge.com.