Discovery Education And 3M Announce National Finalists In 2014 Young Scientist Challenge

SILVER SPRING, Md. and ST. PAUL, Minn., July 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Discovery Education and 3M announced today the top 10 finalists in the annual Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, the nation's premier science competition for students in grades 5-8.

Discovery Education and 3M are proud to announce the following 10 finalists (in alphabetical order)*:

• Mythri Ambatipudi, San Jose, Calif., Stratford Middle School
• David Cohen, Dallas, Texas, Akiba Academy of Dallas
• Sahil Doshi, Pittsburgh, Pa., Fort Couch Middle School
• Ana Humphrey, Alexandria, Va., George Washington Middle School
• Christopher Isozaki, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., St. John Fisher School
• Anthony Kim, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., Ridgecrest Intermediate School
• Jai Kumar, South Riding, Va., J. Michael Lunsford Middle School
• Andrew Masek, North Attleborough, Mass., North Attleborough Middle School
• Nikita Rafikov, Evans, Ga., Riverside Middle School
• Katherine Wu, North Potomac, Md., Takoma Park Middle School

* Schools listed are from time of competition entry (January – April 2014).

After submitting a short video communicating the science behind a possible solution to an everyday problem, these budding young scientists rose to the top of the competition due to their science acumen, inventive thinking and exceptional communication skills demonstrated in their entry videos.

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 create an invention that solves a problem in society. As part of the world-renowned program, students will meet virtually with their mentors, who will provide guidance as the finalist develops his or her idea from a concept into an actual prototype. Students will then present their inventions during the competition's final event at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minn. October 13^th and 14^th. Throughout the program, each student has access to resources and support provided by 3M and Discovery Education.

Finalists will receive $1,000 and be awarded a trip to 3M Headquarters to participate in the final competition where they will be evaluated on their creativity, scientific knowledge, persuasiveness and overall performance during a series of three different challenges, including a presentation of their completed innovation. Each challenge will be scored independently by a panel of judges. The winner will receive $25,000, a student adventure trip to a destination such as Costa Rica, and the title of "America's Top Young Scientist."

"It is imperative that we cultivate our nation's next generation of great thinkers, innovators and science communicators by providing them with engaging ways to explore the science that goes on every day in the world around them," said Dr. Cindy Moss, Director of Global STEM Initiatives for Discovery Education. "The Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge encourages the exploration of science and innovation among America's youth and helps develop students who are prepared for success in college, career and life." 

"The opportunity to foster the next generation of innovative scientific thinkers is at the core of 3M's culture," said Jesse Singh, Senior Vice President, 3M. "The summer mentorship program is a great opportunity for the 10 finalists to work with 3M scientists to further their learning and application of STEM principles and to create solutions to everyday problems. We look forward to seeing the students present their solutions at the 3M Innovation Center in October."

The Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge targets students in the years when research indicates their interest in science begins to wane and encourages them to explore scientific concepts and creatively communicate their findings. Each January, students nationwide are asked to create a short video describing a new innovation or solution that could solve or impact an everyday problem. In addition to the 10 finalists, 36 students have been selected as state merit winners in this year's competition and each will receive a 3M innovation prize pack.

For more information on the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, including photos and bios of the 10 finalists and a list of the state merit winners, go to www.youngscientistchallenge.com.

About Discovery Education

Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital content and professional development for K-12, transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content that supports the implementation of Common Core, professional development, assessment tools, and the largest professional learning community of its kind.  Available in over half of all U.S. schools and primary schools in England, community colleges and in 50 countries around the world, Discovery Education partners with districts, states and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that accelerate academic achievement. Discovery Education is powered by Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in the world. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

About 3M

3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms them into thousands of ingenious products. Our culture of creative collaboration inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies that make life better. 3M is the innovation company that never stops inventing. With $31 billion in sales, 3M employs 89,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit www.3M.com or follow @3MNews on Twitter.

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SOURCE Discovery Communications