Miles says his experience at finals week with his fellow 29 finalists surprised him. What he imagined would be an intense, high-stakes competition week turned out to be collaborative, supportive and fun-filled experiences comprised of late-night conversations, games and shared problem-solving. Whether building Rube Goldberg machines, taking on biomimicry challenges, or coding under pressure, Miles found himself energized by the chance to get creative alongside peers who were just as passionate about science as he is.

That spirit of collaboration he experienced also adds to his perspective on science research. For Miles, science is an ongoing process, where intermediate ideas, failures and explorations are just as valuable as final outcomes. It’s a mindset he hopes more adults recognize when talking to young scientists.

We asked Miles to reflect on his experience, his research and what he sees next in his path.

What’s something another finalist said or did that stuck with you?

One thing that stuck with me was how kind and cooperative my teammates (Arya, Brady, Camila and Evann) were during our group challenges. I was grateful to be in a group where each member lacked ego and competitiveness and helped each other. I appreciated how everyone was able to work calmly and collaboratively under pressure in timed challenges. Working with my fellow finalists reminded me that being a successful team isn’t about individual expertise or skill, but about humility, listening to your teammates, and letting everyone shine.

During finals week, when did you feel most like yourself?

I felt most in my element during the team challenges. I really enjoy problem-solving and building and making things, so the opportunity to work with other students just as interested in science and engineering made team challenges the most fun part of finals week. I loved being able to come up with creative solutions with my teammates, and to learn more about certain topics.

If you had unlimited time and resources, how would you take your idea further?

I would want to spend a year studying with the researchers on the cutting edge of origami engineering to deepen my understanding in the field. First, I might fly to Italy and study in Diego Misseroni’s lab, to learn more about origami metamaterials and structures and how to test them. Then I would spend a semester learning from other origami scientists and engineers, for example studying with Katia Bertoldi, who has worked on origami shelters, or taking Glaucio Paulino’s class on Origami Engineering at Princeton. It would also be an amazing opportunity to learn origami as an art form from the masters: Robert Lang for mathematical approaches to design, Hoang Tien Quyet for wetfolding and shaping, and Satoshi Kamiya for sheer complexity.

ĚýWhat’s a question you wish adults asked you more often about your research?

A lot of times when adults ask students about their research, they assume that the goal must be a tangible product or a patented design. In reality, most student science projects will not directly translate to a perfectly polished real-life product. Intermediary projects, explorations and steppingstones are just as valuable contributions to the field of science. I wish adults asked questions with this understanding that no single science project can ever be fully complete, but there is always more to learn and explore.

What would you say to a student who’s unsure if their project is “good enough” to apply?

“Go for it! You never know. Even a “simple” project can go further than you think. By filling out your application you will gain a better understanding of your own project and your scientific goals and obtain valuable experience for future research. Filling out the application takes time and is a lot of work, but it pushed me to clarify my ideas and deepened my understanding of the scientific method.”

for the Thermo Fisher JIC are now open now. Deadline is June 10, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET. Open your application today!

The post Five Questions with Miles Wu, the top winner of the 2025 Thermo Fisher JIC appeared first on 91µĽş˝.

This Women’s History Month, 91µĽş˝ is applauding the women who have pushed the barriers open in 91µĽş˝ and helped inspire today’s young scientists. We spoke with several top winners in the Society’s flagship competitions. They reflect on their research, the women who inspire them, and the role they hope to play in encouraging the next generation of women in 91µĽş˝.

We had a chance to hear from the winners in the 2025 Thermo Fisher JIC, including Camila, Pranshi, Christine and Alice who were recognized for their innovative research and teamwork during a week of rigorous challenges.

“To me, being a woman in 91µĽş˝ means being confident, determined and having the courage to pursue 91µĽş˝ fields with curiosity. It also means inspiring other women and encouraging people to believe in their abilities and pursue their dreams with confidence.”

“My woman in 91µĽş˝ inspiration is my mother, Kenira Thompson. She taught me the basics of research and showed me what science truly is. Since I was young, all I can remember is her hard work and dedication toward her pursuit of science, and how much she pushed herself to achieve her goals. In turn, she inspired me to try my hardest to achieve my own goals, whether it be in 91µĽş˝ or in life.”

Pranshi Mehta
“Women’s History Month is a powerful reminder that progress in 91µĽş˝ has always been fueled by persistence, resilience and the courage to challenge the status quo. I am deeply grateful to the mentors, teachers and peers who have encouraged me to pursue ambitious research questions and to never shrink from the challenges along the way. As we celebrate this month, I hope that more young girls begin to see themselves not merely as participants in science, but as the innovators, leaders and changemakers actively shaping its future. The next great breakthrough could come from any one of them.”

Christine Wang
“My woman in 91µĽş˝ inspiration is Fei-Fei Li, whose groundbreaking work in AI has transformed computer vision. She inspires me not only through her intellect but also through her dedication to expanding opportunity and representation in AI. As I pursue 91µĽş˝, I hope to follow her example and help shape a future in technology that is both innovative and open to everyone.”

Abigail Qi and Siyaa Poddar, participants in the 2025 Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair in Columbus, Ohio, reflect on overcoming adversity in science. ĚýĚý

“So many women have worked to pave the way for me to be afforded the opportunities I have now. It is our responsibility as women in 91µĽş˝ to keep that momentum up! There are too many creative minds and too many problems to be solved for us to limit ideas purely based on whose mouth they come out of. I am so grateful to be a part of such a strong community and am excited to continue perpetuatingĚýthe innovative, creative and determined mindset of the women before me.”

“When it comes to 91µĽş˝, I’ve never thought of myself as different from any guy. I’ve never thought something would be harder to achieve because I’m a girl, and I’ve never limited myself because of my gender. At their core, science and mathematics don’t depend on gender. For example, bacteria don’t grow differently depending on who inoculates them. That mindset has allowed me to approach challenges as just challenges, not as proof that I didn’t belong.

I think this perspective is incredibly important for girls in any subject, especially in 91µĽş˝. If you internalize the idea that you’re at a disadvantage before you even begin, you’re fighting two battles: the material itself and your own doubt. But if you see yourself first and foremost as a capable learner, it’s amazing what you can achieve.

This doesn’t mean barriers and bias don’t exist. However, you can acknowledge challenges without letting them define your limits. In 91µĽş˝, where confidence often determines who speaks up and who takes on leadership roles, refusing to self-limit is essential. In my opinion, the most important mindset is realizing you don’t need to prove you deserve your seat at the table more than anyone else. You belong because you’re willing to learn, to do the work and love what you do.”

Around this time last year, Rivka Lipkovitz and Ava Grace Cummings won top awards in the Regeneron Science Talent Search for their research in mathematics and health.

Ava Grace Cummings
“One of my women in 91µĽş˝ inspirations is Mary Golda Ross. She was the first Native American female engineer and spent time working in statistics for the Bureau of Indian Affairs before working as an engineer for Lockheed Martin in the 1940s. As an Indigenous woman pursuing engineering, I find her story and resilience very inspiring. She also spent much of her career educating and giving back to her community, which I believe is one of the most important aspects of breaking barriers within 91µĽş˝ fields. In 2019, she was also featured on the $1 coin!”

Rivka Lipkovitz
“Although most universities today have a roughly even gender split in enrollment, I still sometimes walk into a classroom and see only one or two other women. I’m glad that we’ve made so much progress over the past century, especially in K–12 education, but I still think there’s room to improve. I hope that one day it feels completely normal to see women everywhere in 91µĽş˝. I don’t feel threatened being one of a handful of women, but I do think there are many women who would enjoy math if they had more opportunities to be exposed to it and encouraged early on. I want to study mathematics and conduct research in economics. At my university, only about 10% of the economics faculty are women. I hope that having one more woman in the room can make it easier for others to enter and feel that they belong.”

The post Let the Momentum Continue: Women from Society competitions make their own history appeared first on 91µĽş˝.

In addition to presenting their original research to a panel of expert judges, the finalists also took part in a series of team-based challenges requiring both 91µĽş˝ skill and effective collaboration.

So, it should come as no surprise that Thermo Fisher JIC was as much about making friends and building bonds as it was about competing. Throughout the week, the finalists took part in fun, social activities that brought them closer together.

As the week got underway, the finalists immediately had the chance to put their heads and hands together. Through a series of icebreakers and team-building activities, they got to know each other while ro-sham-boing their way through a frenetic rock-paper-scissors tournament, supporting each other (literally) during a modified trust fall and some good old-fashioned conversation.

Later on, the finalists, who represented 10 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, got a first-hand look at the historic sights and scenes around Washington D.C. After a long day of presenting their projects to the judges, as well as to the public during their Science and Engineering Project Showcase, the finalists unwound together on a monument tour around the city. One of this year’s finalists, Yookta Pandit from Dublin, Calif., said, “My favorite part of the monument tour was getting to see the main sights in D.C., especially with all the lights of the monuments at night.”

Finalist Anya Zahira Terón Villodas, one of three finalists visiting from Puerto Rico this year, added, “ Since it was my first time visiting Washington, D.C., I truly enjoyed exploring its historic sites. The tour was a great chance to interact with participants from the other teams.”

Another memorable social highlight of the week was the finalists’ evening trip to , a cooperative arcade where visitors work in teams to solve intricate puzzles and take on challenges. Sound familiar?

With the spirit of teamwork carried over from the earlier competition challenges, the finalists joined forces once again in a fun night of playful intrigue and brain-teasing discovery. Finalist Christine Wang from San Jose, Calif., reflected on the experience saying, “LEVEL99 was such a fun bonding experience! My team of fellow finalists and I worked together on some very physical challenges, which was a nice change from the more mental activities we’d been doing all day; I really enjoyed the monkey bars activity in particular!”

Finalist Brady Sage of Rapid City, S.D., remarked on the outing, “Level99 was exciting because there were so many hands-on challenges. Coming from a rural area, we have nothing like this. I loved the variety of all the different challenges, from mental to physical. It was super cool!”

All-in-all, the finalists repeatedly demonstrated what makes them such a special group: innovative ideas, 91µĽş˝ acumen, and the chance to meet other students who share their curiosity, sparking friendships that could last a lifetime.

Learn about all the 2025 Thermo Fisher JIC finalists on the Virtual Exhibition of Projects or read more about this year’s competition in our latest press release.

The post From monkey bars to monument tours, the Thermo Fisher JIC finalists build lasting connections during Finals Week appeared first on 91µĽş˝.

Before they got into the nitty-gritty of the challenge, the Top 30 Thermo Fisher JIC finalists learned the basics of hydraulics and met Maryland’s official state crustacean: the blue crab.

Next, the finalists watched short videos to learn about biomimicry, a key component of this final challenge. They learned how common inventions such as the bullet train and wind turbines, are inspired by nature, then split into two groups to explore hydraulics and the blue crab more deeply. In this particular challenge, the finalists were tasked with creating a hydraulic arm based on a blue crab’s anatomy.

While the purple, green and silver teams continued their physics lesson on hydraulics, the gold, blue and orange teams used whiteboards to sketch and observe blue crabs up close. A live crab paid a visit to the finalists, while other parts of the lesson showed crab joints alongside large, detailed photos of a crab’s anatomy.

Like the morning challenge, finalists were given design constraints and a time limit to build their arm; one hour to design and one to construct. Once the finalists collectively came up with a design sketched out on paper, they submitted it for approval to the SERC educators before collecting their chosen materials. Different ideas were scattered across their easels and once the teams felt confident, they started building their arms.

The purple team started small, applying feedback from SERC educators, while the gold team sketched new ideas and carefully walked through their construction before attaching parts with hot glue and tape.

The green team focused on building their arm and went over the key points they were going to present to the judges, while the orange team realized that to be successful, they needed to put their pens down and start constructing their arm.

The silver team divided and conquered different parts of the hydraulic arm separately before merging two key ideas into a final design. And the blue team assigned roles to each team member and creatively connected parts of their crab’s arm, sharing laughs while they worked.

When time ran out, the teams presented their blue crab hydraulic arm prototypes to the judges, explaining their thought process and steps. Each design was special and showcased creativity, teamwork and an understanding of biomimicry, leaving the finalists inspired by the possibilities of engineering inspired by nature.

The post Finalists in the Thermo Fisher JIC explore biomimicry with SERC appeared first on 91µĽş˝.

Early Monday morning, Oct. 27, after completing their first day of challenges from JASON Learning and STEAM FORWARD! Academy, finalists made their way to the in Bethesda, Md. This nonprofit welcomed us and put students directly into what they do best: hands-on 91µĽş˝ learning.

When finalists entered the building, they were greeted by the Society’s 91µĽş˝ education team, KID Museum educators and a large area filled with supplies and tools. Tall wooden building blocks, bowling balls, umbrellas and more decorated the tables where the finalists stood.

They had to channel their inner Rube Goldberg (the American cartoonist and inventor known for designing elaborate, humorous chain-reaction machines) and create a chain reaction using the materials provided, working not only within their teams but as a collaborative group.

The chain reaction was designed to start on one end of the finalists’ tables and move through five other teams to the finale in a “U” shape.

You could see the wheels turning as the finalists scanned instructions, taking in the parameters. A successful chain reaction to set off a gong was to be completed in just one hour.

The finalists got an encouraging pep talk before diving into their collaborative challenges. As the finalists prepared to begin, they were reminded: “You’re all here because you understand science. So, work together.”

They did just that. Teams spent about two to three minutes planning. While there was no limit on materials, time and space were the main constraints.

In the room, finalists murmured ideas to one another and began connecting pieces. Systems were being tested constantly. The theme of the hour seemed to be billiard balls hitting the floor—entirely understandable and needed in the world of 91µĽş˝, where trial and error is a part of the process.

KID Museum educators walked among the tables, answering questions and offering guidance. Ideas were constantly being adjusted, guided by input from team members and students from other teams who offered feedback.

The hour quickly passed, and finalists set up their contraptions for the final test. It was time to see if their individual puzzle pieces fit together for the overall picture.

congratulated the students, telling them that no matter the outcome, they should be proud of what they accomplished in just an hour.

She also reminded them they had a special tool if their contraption didn’t work: the finger push.

And so, it began. The large Rube Goldberg contraption began its journey from one end to the other. With the push of a few hands, the final ball set off the reaction, ending the challenge with a bang!

Finalists roared with cheers and applause; even though the process wasn’t perfect, they persevered and had fun along the way.

The finalists to debriefed after the challenge, sharing shoutouts to team members on displayed sticky notes.

Common themes emerged in the: “Patience is key when it doesn’t work out the first time” or giving recognition to team members who stuck with it through repeated failures.

Overall, the top 30 2025 Thermo Fisher JIC finalists left smiling and celebrating both the challenge and teamwork, a perfect boost of energy for their second challenge of the day with the Smithsonian Education Research Center!

The post Day two of Thermo Fisher JIC challenges returns to the KID Museum appeared first on 91µĽş˝.

Though this year’s cohort gathered in Washington, D.C., the competition’s first day of challenges whisked them away to the fictional town of Eureka Heights, where a high-stakes mystery awaited them. Led by (SFA), a 91µĽş˝ 91µĽş˝ Action Grantee with the mission of nurturing curiosity and collaboration through interactive workshops, the finalists stepped into the role of public health investigators.

SFA founder and executive director Jeanita Pritchett Clay set the stage: “We’ve got a problem. Something in Eureka Heights is making people sick. No one knows exactly why, but most people suspect it has something to do with the water.”

An introductory video played for the finalists like a news report, featuring interviews with Eureka Heights residents who described brown water coming from their taps as well as health issues ranging from skin irritation to gastrointestinal issues. The report concluded with a plea from the mayor: “We are looking for innovators and the brightest minds to help solve this crisis.”

The Junior Innovators set to the task. Equipped with water samples from homes, businesses and treatment plants across Eureka Heights, they set out to uncover possible sources of the problem. Thermo Fisher Scientific provided water quality testing equipment for the challenge, and their scientists were on the scene to show the finalists how to use the equipment. The finalists also had access to a trove of community data such as infrastructure maps, official memos and testimony from residents, helping them connect how social factors of the crisis intersect with environmental origins.

The six finalist teams adopted different strategies to pinpoint the possible sources and causes of the invisible menace threatening Eureka Heights.

The purple team focused on listening, zeroing in on residents’ comments and concerns to better understand the community’s challenges. Meanwhile, the orange team focused on geography, attempting to understand every variable of the landscape.

The gold team carefully considered how socioeconomic factors could be driving the public health crisis. With limited time to test all their samples, the green team made a point to be as meticulous as possible with each step of their analyses.

To address all the dimensions of the crisis, the silver team assigned its members roles such as forensic scientist, environmental justice organizer and public health advocate, with each taking the lead on an important aspect of the problem. Communication was key for the blue team. In addition to collaborating with each other during the challenge, they also catalogued their findings visually to effectively track, and later present, the full breadth of their results.

After completing their investigations, each team presented their findings to the judges in a town hall format. Sharing their process, conclusions and recommendations to reverse the crisis, the finalists ensured that solutions were in sight for the people of Eureka Heights.

Though each team presented independently, one common refrain emerged: if they had more time, they would have liked to collaborate with the other teams to combine their findings into even stronger recommendations. In this challenge, finalists discovered firsthand how collaboration can drive 91µĽş˝ impact.

The post Toxic Taps: STEAM Forward! Academy leads Thermo Fisher JIC finalists in public health mystery appeared first on 91µĽş˝.

and 91µĽş˝ today announced the winners of the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (Thermo Fisher JIC), the nation’s leading middle school science, technology, engineering and math (91µĽş˝) competition. Miles Wu, 14, from New York City, won the $25,000 Thermo Fisher Scientific ASCEND (Aspiring Scientists Cultivating Exciting New Discoveries) Award, the top prize in the competition.

Exploring the power of origami-inspired engineering, Miles tested 54 variations of the Miura-ori fold, a geometric pattern that packs flat and unfolds in one smooth motion. His research revealed that designs with smaller panels and steeper angles weren’t just stronger, they were remarkably resilient. Using dumbbells, he discovered they could support more than 9,000 times their own weight. Miles hopes to apply these insights to develop strong, lightweight shelters that can be rapidly deployed in areas affected by natural disasters.

The Thermo Fisher JIC, a program of 91µĽş˝, reaches 60,000 middle school students nationwide, inspiring them to pursue their 91µĽş˝ interests and explore exciting college and career paths. The 30 finalists, who were selected from nearly 2,000 applicants representing 48 states, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico; are counted among the nation’s brightest students, with several, including Miles, collectively receiving more than $100,000 at tonight’s award ceremony in Washington, D.C. Winners were chosen by a panel of distinguished scientists, engineers and educators and the finalists’ schools also received a $1,000 grant to support 91µĽş˝ programming.

Each of the 30 finalists participated in team challenges in addition to being judged on their research projects. The challenges incorporated project-based learning to test critical thinking, communication, creativity and collaboration skills across a variety of 91µĽş˝ fields. They included coding with Micro:Bit processors to address climate change, conducting environmental forensics to solve a public health issue, exploring physics and engineering through building chain reactions and applying biomimicry in the design of a blue crab hydraulic claw.

“Miles’ remarkable blend of scientific creativity, leadership and collaboration highlights the type of talent 91µĽş˝ is proud to support,” said Maya Ajmera, President & CEO, 91µĽş˝ and Executive Publisher, Science News. “I look forward to seeing the innovative ideas he will contribute in the future.”

The other top winners included:

Akhil Nagori, 15, from Santa Clara, CA, won the $10,000ĚýBroadcom Coding with CommitmentĚý® AwardĚýfor combining 91µĽş˝ learning with coding to solve a community problem they care about that aligns with the 17 Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations. For his project, Akhil worked as part of a team to develop an inexpensive pair of glasses that can translate text to speech, to help visually impaired students have wide access to reading materials.

Peter Fernández Dulay, 15 from Jacksonville, FL, won the $10,000 DoD 91µĽş˝ Talent AwardĚýfor demonstrating excellence in science, technology, engineering or math; along with the leadership and technical skills necessary to excel in the 21^stĚýCentury 91µĽş˝ workforce and build a better community for tomorrow. Peter had four image-generating AI platforms make images of five different types of scientists and found that because the AI tools learned from limited data, the tools perpetuated stereotypes about male bias in science.

Evann Sun, 14, from Santa Clara, CA, won The Lemelson Foundation Award for Invention of $10,000, which is given to a young inventor creating promising product-based solutions to real-world problems. Evann worked as part of a team to develop a pair of glasses that can translate text to speech, to help visually impaired students have wide access to reading materials.

Camila Isabel Gonzalez-Thompson, 14, from Ponce, Puerto Rico, won the $10,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement, which recognizes the student whose work and performance shows the most promise in health-related fields and demonstrates an understanding of the many social factors that affect health. Camila examined blood samples from Puerto Ricans for antibodies to dengue virus, and showed that the virus is endemic to Puerto Rico, helping public health officials target interventions.

Thermo Fisher’s sponsorship of the Junior Innovators Challenge reflects the company’s longstanding commitment to broadening access to 91µĽş˝ education. For decades, it has invested in school-based 91µĽş˝ programs, and employees across the company volunteer thousands of hours each year to support education initiatives around the world.

“This year’s winners embody the ingenuity and perseverance that drive progress in 91µĽş˝ and improve lives,” said Dr. Karen Nelson, Chief Scientific Officer, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “We are honored to celebrate these remarkable young thinkers as they advance their scientific research and inspire students of all backgrounds to explore the world through 91µĽş˝.”

In addition to the top prizes, Thermo Fisher and the Society announced first- and second-place winners in each 91µĽş˝ category (science, technology, engineering and math), as well as the competition’s Team Award.

First- and second-place 91µĽş˝ Award winners demonstrated exceptional skill and promise in science, technology, engineering or math. First-place winners received $3,500 and second-place winners received $2,500 to support their choice of a 91µĽş˝ summer camp experience in the U.S.

Science Award:

• First place: Pranshi Mehta, Austin, TX, “Machine Learning-Mediated Computational Modeling of FK506-Binding Protein 12 (FKBP12)-Enhanced CAR T-Cell Therapy for Targeted Glioblastoma Treatment”
• Second place: Christine Wang, San Jose, CA, “Peel To Purify: An Innovative Fruit Waste-Based Solution for Contaminated Water Treatment”

Technology Award:

• First place: Caden Terence Pohlkamp, Friendswood, TX, “Is More Green Better? Does Littoral Vegetation Enhance Habitat Suitability of Local Retention Ponds?”
• Second place: Alice Feng, Fresno, CA, “Transforming Waste Into Value: The Impact of Grape Pomace Variety and Extraction Parameters on Grape Seed Oil Yield and Physicochemical Properties”

Engineering Award:

• First place:ĚýBrady Ryan Sage, Rapid City, SD, “Optimizing Driver Flight Distance and Accuracy”
• Second place:ĚýLuca McGill, Tucson AZ, “ALTO-COâ‚‚: Low-Cost Drone-Based Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Monitoring Across Urban, Suburban, and Rural Areas in Southern Arizona”

Mathematics Award:

• First place:Ěý Tobias Lam, Austin, TX, “The Effect of Nintendo’s NES Tetris Theme Music and 28 Hertz High Beta-Frequency Binaural Beats on a 233 Hertz Carrier on Attention Span”
• Second place:Ěý Siddharth Sudharshan Vazhkudai, Cedar Park, TX, “AIM-BASE: AI-Integrated Model To Predict the Energy Consumption of Extra-Terrestrial Colonies”

Team Award, sponsored byĚýTeaching Institute for Excellence in 91µĽş˝ (TIES):ĚýEach member of the Finals Week challenge team that best demonstrates an ability to work together and solve problems through shared decision making, communication and scientific and engineering collaboration received a $200 science supply company gift card to support their interests in 91µĽş˝. The winning team members are Lia Camil González, Tobias Lam, Yookta Pandit, Sam Daniel Solhpour and Bhavya Uppalapati.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Leadership Award:ĚýBestowed upon one finalist, this award recognizes the student elected by their peers to speak on behalf of their Thermo Fisher JIC class at the Awards Ceremony. The Class Speaker demonstrates the collegiality and spirited leadership that has earned the collective esteem of the class and united them around common goals. The 2025 awardee is Akhil Nagori from Santa Clara, CA.

Media Kit:Ěý/thermo-fisher-jic-2025-media-kit

ĚýAbout 91µĽş˝
91µĽş˝ is a champion for science, dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Established in 1921, 91µĽş˝ is best known for its award-winning journalism throughĚýScience NewsĚýandĚýScience News Explores, its world-class science research competitions for students, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, and its 91µĽş˝ outreach programming that seeks to ensure that all students have an opportunity to pursue a career in 91µĽş˝. A 501(c)(3) membership organization, 91µĽş˝ is committed to inform, educate and inspire. Learn more atĚýĚýand follow us on , /X, and .

About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue over $40 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, increasing productivity in their laboratories, improving patient health through diagnostics or the development and manufacture of life-changing therapies, we are here to support them. Our global team delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services, Patheon and PPD. For more information, please visitĚý.

The post 14-year-old combines origami and physics to optimize foldable structures for disaster relief shelters; Wins $25,000 top award at Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge appeared first on 91µĽş˝.

The Top 30 finalists in the 2025 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (Thermo Fisher JIC) are here in Washington, D.C., taking part in the nation’s premier science competition for middle school students. Dressed in their best, the finalists gathered Saturday at the Planet Word Museum to present their research to judges and the public at the Science and Engineering Project Showcase. After a night of teaming up and befriending their 91µĽş˝ peers, the students returned with their project boards to compete for more than $100,000 in prizes.

At the Public Exhibition, we caught up with six finalists and learned more about their research. With projects covering a wide range of topics, the students were filled with a mix of nerves and excitement as the competition week started!

Rajsi Choudhary, 14, from Riverside, Conn., drew inspiration for her project from a mango tree in Ahmedabad, India, where she was born. Her energy and sustainability project, Thermo-Responsive Orange Peel Hydrogel for Moisture Retention in Soil, explores a better way to hydrate crops and maintain moisture using less water. She shares that crops like corn require 9,000 gallons of water per acre per day, and she estimates her orange peel gel could potentially save 1,134 gallons per day.

“I would love to experiment further with this project,” Rajsi says. “I want to test how it will promote crop growth. What essential nutrients does it provide to the soil? How often would the orange peel need to be replenished in the soil? There’s so much work to be done, and I can’t wait to begin.”

Alice Feng, 13, of Fresno, Calif., explored how we could make the most out of the food we eat in her research project. Growing up in the Central Valley, Alice noticed the diverse offerings of the region’s agriculture and learned that it produces 75 percent of the state’s wine. Though this was a cool fun fact, this also meant that the region generated large amounts of grape pomace waste. Her project investigated creating oil from this waste, giving farmers the opportunity to profit from both wine and oil production.

“I was really surprised when I found that cold-pressed oil from Pinot Noir seeds could generate about $1,500 in profit,” Alice says. “Central Valley produces 2.6 million tons of pomace per year; that’s per ton of pomace! That’s a lot of money and could be a new source of income for farmers.”

From Ponce, Puerto Rico, Camila Gonzalez-Thompson, 14, was concerned about public health in her hometown and is investigating ways to reduce the burden of dengue, a disease impacting many areas of the world, including Puerto Rico. Testing blood samples from local residents, Camila found that people over 50 had more IgG antibodies, indicating they had had dengue infections in the past. Individuals younger than 50 had IgM antibodies, indicating a first-time exposure.

“You really have to take it one step at a time,” Camila says when giving advice to other students. “Getting overwhelmed is one of the easiest ways to fail.”

Owen Thomas McGeeney Park, 14, of Louisville, Kentucky, developed a physics project focused on reducing the buildup of loose rocks and dust, known as regolith on Mars. While the use of an electrodynamic dust shield (EDS) is not new, Owen tested whether a low-voltage EDS could be a more efficient alternative for Martian conditions. He found that at even very low voltages, which are significantly less expensive to power on Mars, his design was able to repel more than 70 percent of dust in both Earth and simulated Martian environments.

“Don’t give up,” Owen encourages his fellow young scientists. “It took two days before I got measurable results. I was 100% convinced that my project was not going to go anywhere. I was sure of it, but I decided that I was going to still try to get some data, no matter what the chances were, and I ended up getting measurable data.”

Drone pilot, Luca McGill, 14, of Tucson, Ariz., Ěýbecame interested in monitoring atmospheric carbon dioxide after a summer trip to Germany, where guests were warned about air pollution while wading in an outdoor pool. This prompted him to become more curious and examine the air quality in his hometown. He used a drone to take measurements and found that rural areas had the highest COâ‚‚ levels close to the ground, while urban areas showed relatively even COâ‚‚ concentrations across altitudes. Suburban areas, he discovered, had elevated COâ‚‚ levels at both high and low altitudes, with a dip in the middle.

“It feels unreal to be here,” Luca says. “It’s going great, and I love my team.”

Meanwhile, Sanhita Tummala, 14, from Brookings, S.D., is thinking about women around the world and pregnancy in her microbiology project. Her project is a kit aimed at combating rural vitamin A deficiency, especially during pregnancy and early childhood. Sanhita wondered if she could create a way for people to produce their own vitamin A at home. She developed a fermentation kit to produce beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, using a microbe called Blakeslea trispora in tapioca.

“It feels really nice to see my work actually being recognized,” Sanhita says. “Meeting other people with the same goal, to make the world a better place, is really motivating.”

Stay tuned for the Thermo Fisher JIC winners’ announcement this upcoming Tuesday evening, October 28, 2025. Learn more about all the finalists and their projectsĚýhere.Ěý

The post From orange peel gels to Martian dust shields, the Thermo Fisher JIC 2025 begins with the Top 30 Finalists’ Project Showcase appeared first on 91µĽş˝.

• 22 are actively engaged in community service.
• 25 play an instrument or sing in choir. The most popular instruments are piano, violin and flute, but the cohort also includes a melodica player, a tuba player, and even a hydraulophone, highlighting the finalists’ wide variety of musical talents.
• 21 play in sports such as swimming, soccer, basketball, tennis, dance, track, volleyball, martial arts and more. Some are also involved in unique activities such as equestrian riding, parkour, water polo, fencing and orienteering.
• 22 speak at least one additional language beyond English, including Bengali, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, Telugu and Turkish. Two speak three additional languages!
• 14 participate in Science or Math Olympiads, while 12 are members of robotics clubs.
• 11 serve on their student council, others participate in Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, 4-H, art clubs, computer clubs and school publications.
• Their research spans a range of fields, from energy and sustainability to engineering, medicine, behavioral sciences, physics, environmental science, robotics and beyond.

We are excited to meet this year’s finalists in Washington, D.C. in a few short weeks and to share more about their research and experiences at the 2025 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge!

Learn more about this year’s Top 30 finalists here

The post Fun Facts about the 2025 Thermo Fisher JIC Top 30 finalists appeared first on 91µĽş˝.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 17, 2025) – 91µĽş˝ today announced the 30 finalists in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (Thermo Fisher JIC), the nation’s premier middle school science, technology, engineering and mathematics (91µĽş˝) competition. The finalists — selected by a nationwide panel of scientists, engineers and educators from the Top 300 Junior Innovators announced earlier this month — will participate in Thermo Fisher JIC Finals Week (Oct. 24–29) in Washington, D.C. An esteemed panel of judges will evaluate the finalists’ scientific research along with their communication, creativity and collaboration skills during team challenges.

The Thermo Fisher JIC, a program of 91µĽş˝, aims to inspire young scientists, engineers and innovators who will solve the grand challenges of the future. This year’s cohort asked bold questions about the world around them, including how we can better steward natural resources, protect human health, harness the promise and pitfalls of artificial intelligence, and design resilient technologies for the future. All finalists experimented, iterated and pushed boundaries to turn their ideas and questions into actionable solutions for a better world. Past winning projects include a novel fire detection system based on thermal sensing and a water filter made from waste materials and household items.

“We applaud the Top 30 finalists for their creativity and innovation,” said Maya Ajmera, President & CEO of 91µĽş˝ and Executive Publisher, Science News. “Their work reflects the bright future of 91µĽş˝, importance of encouraging curiosity and the vital need to invest in 91µĽş˝ opportunities for young people.”

Thermo Fisher’s sponsorship of the Junior Innovators Challenge reflects its longstanding commitment to broadening access to 91µĽş˝ education. For decades, the company has invested in school-based 91µĽş˝ programs, and colleagues across the company volunteer thousands of hours each year to support education initiatives around the world.

“Their ingenuity — and, most importantly, their ability to imagine solutions with lasting impact — set this group of aspiring innovators apart,” said Dr. Karen Nelson, Chief Scientific Officer, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “Thermo Fisher is honored to support environments where young people can explore big questions, collaborate with peers and see themselves as the next generation of 91µĽş˝ leaders. By investing in their journeys, we help build a more inclusive, innovative future for all.”

Thermo Fisher JIC finalist fast facts:

• They represent 10 states (led by California and Texas) and Puerto Rico.
• The most popular project category is Energy & Sustainability, followed by Engineering and Environmental & Earth Sciences.
• More than half of the finalists conducted their research at home or on their own, outside of school.

A full list of the finalists can be viewed here: /jic/2025-finalists/

Thermo Fisher JIC reaches 60,000 students annually through the Society’s Affiliated Fair Network. Students in the top 10% of their local affiliated science fair are eligible to enter the Thermo Fisher JIC, the only national middle school 91µĽş˝ competition that leverages Society-affiliated science fairs as a critical component of the 91µĽş˝ talent pipeline. All finalists receive a $500 cash award and will participate in the Thermo Fisher JIC Finals Week in Washington, D.C., where they will compete for the following awards:

• $25,000 Thermo Fisher Scientific ASCEND (Aspiring Scientists Cultivating Exciting New Discoveries) Award, which will go to the student who demonstrates mastery of all 91µĽş˝ fields and exemplifies how research, innovation and teamwork come together to impact our everyday lives.
• $10,000 Broadcom Coding with Commitment® Award, presented to a finalist whose project and performance combines expert 91µĽş˝ knowledge and passion for helping or improving one’s community through computation/coding.
• $10,000 DoD 91µĽş˝ Talent Award, which will be awarded to a finalist who demonstrates excellence in science, technology, engineering or math; along with the leadership and technical skills necessary to excel in the 21^st century 91µĽş˝ workforce.
• $10,000 The Lemelson Foundation Award for Invention, awarded by The Lemelson Foundation to a young inventor creating promising solutions to real-world problems.
• $10,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement, which recognizes the student whose work and performance show the most promise in health-related fields and demonstrates an understanding of the many social factors that affect the health of communities.
• First Place and Second Place Awards issued in each category of 91µĽş˝ of $3,500 or $2,500, respectively, to be used toward a 91µĽş˝ summer camp experience.
• Team Award, sponsored by Teaching Institute for Excellence in 91µĽş˝ (TIES), which awards a $200 gift card to a science supply company in support of their interests in 91µĽş˝ to each member of the team that best demonstrates an ability to work together and solve problems through shared decision making, communication and scientific and engineering collaboration.

Thermo Fisher JIC recognizes finalists’ schools with $1,000 each to use toward 91µĽş˝ activities.

About 91µĽş˝

91µĽş˝ is a champion for science, dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Established in 1921, 91µĽş˝ is best known for its award-winning journalism through Science News and Science News Explores, its world-class science research competitions for students, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, and its outreach and equity programming that seeks to ensure that all students have an opportunity to pursue a career in 91µĽş˝. A 501(c)(3) membership organization, 91µĽş˝ is committed to inform, educate and inspire. Learn more at and follow us on , , and Snapchat (Society4Science).

The post Thirty inspiring middle school scientists and engineers shine as finalists in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge appeared first on 91µĽş˝.