Raji Doshi Won 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge
A 13-year-old student earned the grand prize for an innovative system to combat ocean acidification.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Chemistry
Live Poll
Do you believe youth science competitions effectively inspire long-term innovation in students?
Raji Doshi, an eighth grader from Farmington, Connecticut, won the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge. The student received the $25,000 top award after engineering a natural algae-and-aragonite system designed to address ocean acidification.
Why it matters
The competition encourages young students to develop scientific solutions for real-world environmental challenges. By providing mentorship from experts, the program fosters the next generation of scientific innovators.
The competition features contestants between the ages of 11 and 14, with 51 State Merit Winners recognized this year. Ten finalists spent several months developing prototypes with 3M scientist mentors.
The players
Raji Doshi
The 13-year-old eighth grader from Farmington, Connecticut, was named the 2026 grand prize winner.
3M
This multinational conglomerate hosts the annual Young Scientist Challenge to promote youth innovation.
Kevin Tang
He was the recipient of the 3M Young Scientist Challenge grand prize in 2025.
The details
Raji Doshi presented the system at the final event held at 3M's Innovation Center in St. Paul. The project was developed during a summer mentorship program that allowed finalists to refine their concepts with professional scientists.
Timeline
The 3M Young Scientist Challenge began in 2008.
The 2026 submission window was open from January 7 to April 30, 2026.
The final project presentations and award ceremony occurred on October 13, 2026.
The Big Picture
This win represents the latest chapter in the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, which has operated since 2008 to cultivate middle school talent. The competition serves as a benchmark for youth scientific achievement and provides a platform for solving global environmental problems.
Young students interested in science can use this competition as a pathway to professional mentorship and potential funding for environmental prototypes. The success of this year's project highlights the practical potential for algae-based solutions to mitigate ocean acidification.
The takeaway
Innovation challenges provide a critical bridge between classroom learning and real-world scientific application for middle school students. Budding inventors should start documenting their research process early to meet the technical requirements of future competitions.
What happens next
Prospective participants for the 2027 challenge must prepare a one to two minute video presentation to enter the competition.
Further reading
Find more information about local scientific initiatives on the Saint Paul chemistry page.
Live Poll
Do you believe youth science competitions effectively inspire long-term innovation in students?
