Riverside Twins Win Junior Innovators Challenge Prizes
Henry and Jack Grover earned a combined $20,000 for their research on fire prevention hydrogels.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Chemistry
Live Poll
Do you feel your local schools provide enough support for students pursuing science and technology careers?
Riverside 14-year-olds Henry and Jack Grover were named finalists in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge. The twins received a combined $20,000 in awards for developing a hydrogel-based method to stop fires from re-igniting.
Why it matters
The brothers investigated the use of sodium polyacrylate hydrogel to enhance fire safety protocols following wildfires. Their research aimed to determine if such materials could prevent dangerous fire re-ignition in dry environments.
The twins utilized sodium polyacrylate hydrogel as a primary chemical agent for fire prevention. Their research design focused specifically on a sprayer system capable of applying the substance to areas identified at high risk for rekindling.
The players
Henry Grover
He is a 14-year-old student from Riverside who secured the Broadcom Coding with Commitment Award.
Jack Grover
He is a 14-year-old student from Riverside who received the DOW STEM Talent Award.
The details
The research was directly inspired by the 2025 Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County. Henry received the $10,000 Broadcom Coding with Commitment Award, while Jack earned the $10,000 DOW STEM Talent Award.
Timeline
The Palisades Fire occurred in 2025.
The Junior Innovators Challenge took place the week of October 29, 2026.
The Big Picture
This project builds upon the chemical challenges highlighted by the 2025 Palisades Fire. By focusing on hydrogel stabilization, the work moves beyond static fire suppression to address the active prevention of secondary re-ignition.
This research could influence how emergency services utilize water-retention polymers during wildfire recovery efforts. If scaled, these methods might lead to safer, more efficient containment strategies in fire-prone regions like Southern California.
The takeaway
The success of the Grover twins highlights how regional environmental challenges can drive youth innovation in applied chemistry. Their work serves as a reminder of the potential for material science to offer practical solutions for disaster management.
Further reading
Learn more about local students excelling in Chemistry at our science hub.
More information
Find further details on the project at the Society for Science project information.
Source note: This article includes information reported by My News LA.
Live Poll
Do you feel your local schools provide enough support for students pursuing science and technology careers?
