ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – America has a new Top Young Scientist — and he’s from Snellville.
Sirish Subash, 14, won the 2024 3M Young Scientist Challenge, which asks fifth to eighth graders from all over the country to solve real-world problems using STEM technology. Subash designed a handheld device that detects pesticide residue on produce, earning him the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist” and a $25,000 cash prize.
Srish competed against nine other finalists over the course of four months. He won during the final trials — which challenged each participant’s innovative thinking, STEM knowledge, presentation skills and more — at the 3M global headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, which were held on Oct. 14-15.
“This year’s Young Scientist Challenge finalists have demonstrated an incredible ability to develop creative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges,” Torie Clarke, 3M’s executive vice president and chief public affairs officer, said in a statement. “I am beyond impressed and inspired by their intelligence and their scientific minds. Congratulations to this year’s Top Young Scientist, Sirish Subash, and all the finalists for their phenomenal work.”
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Srish, who currently attends the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology, said he was inspired to one day enter the contest in second grade after seeing Gitanjali Rao win. As an Alton C. Crews Middle School student, he was named a finalist for his invention and paired with Aditya Banjeri, a senior research engineer at 3M, to make a prototype.
Subash’s device is called Pestiscand. Its AI program uses spectrophotometry to analyze wavelengths bouncing off fruits and vegetables and determine if any pesticides are present. During testing, the device’s accuracy rate was greater than 85%, according to Discovery Education.
Certain pesticides have been linked to health issues, including cancer and hormone changes, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said.
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