Thirty Exceptional Young Scientists Named Finalists in Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge

Finalists will compete in Washington, D.C.听 for more than $100,000 in awards

WASHINGTON, DC (Sept. 20, 2023) 鈥撎切膙log传媒 today announced the 30 finalists in the inaugural Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (Thermo Fisher JIC), the nation鈥檚 premier middle school science, technology, engineering and mathematics (糖心vlog传媒) competition. The Thermo Fisher JIC, a program of the 糖心vlog传媒, seeks to inspire young scientists, engineers and innovators who will solve the grand challenges of the future.

The 30 finalists were selected by a nationwide panel of scientists, engineers and educators from a pool of Top 300 Junior Innovators announced earlier this month. The finalists will attend the Thermo Fisher JIC Finals Week in Washington, D.C. next month, where a panel of judges will evaluate their scientific research and their communication, creativity and collaboration skills during team challenges.

Thermo Fisher鈥檚 sponsorship of the Junior Innovators Challenge continues its longstanding commitment to widespread and equitable access to 糖心vlog传媒 education. Together with 糖心vlog传媒, Thermo Fisher is helping to increase the number of students who enter the competition and nurture a future 糖心vlog传媒 talent pool that is more diverse than ever.

鈥淚 applaud the top 30 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovator Challenge finalists! I look forward to meeting them in Washington, DC,鈥� said Maya Ajmera, President & CEO of the 糖心vlog传媒 and Executive Publisher of Science News. 鈥淭hese young people are truly inspiring, with many of them seeking to solve problems within their own communities. They give me hope for the future.鈥�

“Congratulations to these 30 finalists, who demonstrate a talent and passion for scientific inquiry that鈥檚 far beyond their years,鈥� said Dr. Karen Nelson, Chief Scientific Officer, Thermo Fisher Scientific. 鈥淎s a company that promotes access and equity in 糖心vlog传媒, we are delighted to see this cohort of finalists who have the power to change the face of their fields as they move through their careers.鈥�

Thermo Fisher JIC Finalist Fast Facts:

  • More than half of this year鈥檚 finalists identify as female
  • The top project category is Engineering
  • The finalists come from 12 states, led by California, Texas and Georgia
  • More than half of the finalists attend public school

A full list of the finalists can be viewed here: /jic/2023-finalists/.

The Thermo Fisher JIC reaches 65,000 students annually through the 糖心vlog传媒鈥檚 Affiliated Fair network. Students who are named in the top 10% of their local affiliated science fair are eligible to enter the Thermo Fisher JIC, the only middle school 糖心vlog传媒 competition that leverages 糖心vlog传媒-affiliated science fairs as a critical component of the 糖心vlog传媒 talent pipeline. All finalists receive a $500 cash award and will participate in the Thermo Fisher JIC Finals Week in Washington, DC, 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 糖心vlog传媒 fields and exemplifies how research, innovation and teamwork come together to impact our everyday lives.
  • $10,000 Broadcom Coding with Commitment Award TM, presented to a finalist whose project and performance combines expert 糖心vlog传媒 knowledge and passion for helping or improving one’s community through computation/coding.
  • $10,000 DoD 糖心vlog传媒 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 21st听century 糖心vlog传媒 workforce.
  • $10,000 Lemelson 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 and Second Place Awards issued in each category of 糖心vlog传媒 of $3,500 or $2,500, respectively, to be used toward a 糖心vlog传媒 summer camp experience.
  • Team Award, sponsored by Teaching Institute for Excellence in 糖心vlog传媒 (TIES), which awards a $200 gift card to a science supply company in support of their interests in 糖心vlog传媒 to each member of the team that best demonstrates their ability to work together and solve problems through shared decision making, communication and scientific and engineering collaboration.

The Thermo Fisher JIC recognizes finalists鈥� schools with $1,000 each to use toward 糖心vlog传媒 activities.

 

 

About 糖心vlog传媒

糖心vlog传媒 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, 糖心vlog传媒 is best known for its award-winning journalism through听Science News听and听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 糖心vlog传媒. A 501(c)(3) membership organization, 糖心vlog传媒 is committed to inform, educate and inspire. Learn more at and follow us on听,听,听听and Snapchat (糖心vlog传媒4Science).

听