Heman Bekele, a 14-year-old ninth grader from Annandale, Virginia, has achieved a remarkable feat by winning the title of America's Top Young Scientist...
Digital Desk: Heman Bekele, a 14-year-old ninth grader from Annandale, Virginia, has achieved a remarkable feat by winning the title of "America's Top Young Scientist." His groundbreaking invention, a soap designed to treat skin cancer, has earned him recognition from 3M and Discovery Education, making him the recipient of one of the nation's most prestigious middle school science awards.
Bekele's innovation is a compound-based soap bar that not only represents a revolutionary breakthrough but is also highly cost-effective, with a production cost of just approximately $0.50 per bar. What makes his achievement even more remarkable is his altruistic vision. Bekele aspires to refine his invention further and establish a non-profit organization dedicated to distributing the soap to communities in need over the next five years.
In his journey to the top, Bekele was fortunate to work with a mentor from 3M, Dr. Mahfuza All, who played a pivotal role in helping him refine his innovation and prepare for the final competition. "I believe that young minds can make a positive impact on the world," Bekele expressed in his award submission. His passion for biology and technology was evident as he remarked, "This challenge gave me the perfect platform to showcase my ideas."
The "America's Top Young Scientist" competition is a platform designed to inspire students from fifth to eighth grades to conceive and present innovative ideas that have the potential to transform the world. The winner of this prestigious competition is awarded a cash prize of $25,000. This year's grand prize ceremony was held at 3M's headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, on October 9 and 10, where Heman Bekele emerged as the victor.
Among the notable participants in this competition was Shripriya Kalbhavi, a ninth-grader from San Jose, California, who secured the second-place position for her invention of a cost-effective patch that enables self-automated medication delivery, eliminating the need for pills or needles. Sarah Wang, a seventh-grader from Andover, Massachusetts, clinched the third-place position with her innovative glove capable of detecting specific epileptic seizures through common hand movements. While Shripriya and Sarah were awarded $2,000 each, students ranking fourth to tenth received a $1,000 prize and a $500 gift card.
Skin cancer has been on the rise in the United States, with the National Cancer Institute reporting a steady increase in new cases from 14.6 per 100,000 people in 1992 to 24.1 in 2019. The National Institute of Health has also recognized skin cancer as one of the most frequently diagnosed cancer groups worldwide, with an estimated 1.5 million new cases in 2020.
Bekele's innovative soap comes at a crucial time, offering a potential low-cost solution to a growing global health concern. As the world eagerly awaits further developments on his groundbreaking invention, Heman Bekele stands as a shining example of the remarkable contributions young minds can make to society, showcasing the power of innovation and dedication in the pursuit of a better world.
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