Farmington Teen Named America's 'Top Young Scientist'

FARMINGTON, CT — A 13-year-old Farmington girl has been named America's Top Young Scientist after developing an experimental system designed to reduce ocean acidification, a growing environmental threat to marine life.

Raji Doshi, an eighth-grader at Stanford Online High School, won the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge, earning a $25,000 cash prize and the competition's top honor.

The award was announced Oct. 14 by 3M and Discovery Education following the competition's final events Oct. 12-13 at 3M's global headquarters in St. Paul, Minn.

Doshi competed against nine other finalists from across the country, ages 11 to 14, who developed scientific solutions to real-world problems.

Her winning project uses algae and a naturally occurring mineral to help address the effects of excess carbon dioxide on ocean water.

Inspired by a Love of Seashells

Doshi's interest in ocean acidification began with her love of collecting seashells and concern about the effects of changing ocean chemistry on marine organisms.

Ocean acidification occurs when seawater absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, causing chemical changes that can make it more difficult for shellfish, corals, and other marine organisms to build and maintain their shells and skeletons.

Doshi developed a system called ALKACORE, which combines macroalgae cultivation with aragonite, a naturally occurring form of calcium carbonate.

Her project, titled "Engineering a Novel Durable Algae-Aragonite Alkalinity System to Reduce CO2-Driven Ocean Acidification," investigated whether combining algae with natural mineral buffers could provide an affordable, lasting approach to reducing coastal acidification.

According to the competition organizers, Doshi's research demonstrated that aragonite increased algae biomass, helped remove carbon dioxide, and substantially reduced dissolved carbon dioxide in her experimental system.

She also developed a computational model to determine an optimal amount of aragonite, an effort aimed at making the approach more practical for potential use in coastal communities.

The findings are experimental, and the project has not been established as a large-scale solution to ocean acidification.

Farmington Student Tops In U.S.

Doshi was among 10 finalists selected for the annual competition, which encourages middle school students to apply science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to everyday challenges.

Participants submitted short videos explaining problems they wanted to solve and their proposed scientific approaches.

Finalists were evaluated on creativity, scientific knowledge, communication, ingenuity, application of STEM principles, and research.

During the summer, each finalist worked individually with a 3M scientist to develop an initial idea into a working prototype.

Doshi was paired with Deborah Isabelle, a product engineering specialist at 3M.

"Raji's project reminds us that when you're passionate about something, you can use that interest to change the world," Isabelle said.

"She loves collecting seashells and was distressed that ocean acidification is starting to damage the seashells and the creatures that live inside them. It was that passion that led her to create ALKACORE to address the ocean acidification issue."

William Brown, chairman and CEO of 3M, praised the finalists for applying scientific research to practical challenges.

"The 3M Young Scientist Challenge highlights the incredible potential of young people to tackle real-world challenges through science," Brown said. "The talent and creativity displayed by this year's finalists were exceptional, and we congratulate Raji on earning the title of America's Top Young Scientist."

Competition Now in Its 19th Year

The 3M Young Scientist Challenge, organized in partnership with Discovery Education, is in its 19th year.

The competition is intended to encourage middle school students to explore scientific problems and develop potential solutions with guidance from professional scientists.

Previous winners have gone on to file patents, establish nonprofit organizations, deliver TED Talks and earn recognition on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

The program also maintains an alumni network of more than 100 former finalists, winners and mentors.

For Doshi, the national recognition comes with a $25,000 prize and the title of America's Top Young Scientist, recognizing her work on a potential approach to protecting marine ecosystems.

More information about the competition is available at youngscientistlab.com.