Florida sixth-grader Naboshree Santra developed biodegradable balls designed to reduce evaporation and retain moisture; the 11-year-old is now competing for a $25,000 science prize

Naboshree Santra developed biodegradable balls that reduce evaporation and help soil retain more moisture, offering a simple solution for drought-affected agriculture.

An 11-year-old schoolgirl from Oviedo, Florida, has created a simple tool to help farmers save water during dry weather. Naboshree Santra, a sixth grader at Jackson Heights Middle School, made special soil shade balls that decompose naturally. These balls slow the evaporation of water and help the soil stay moist for longer. His idea has earned him a spot in the finals of the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge, where he could win a top prize of $25,000.According to a July 6 press release from 3M and Discovery Education, Naboshree is among 10 students selected from across the country for the 19th annual competition. The competition invites children in grades five through eight to use science, technology, engineering and math to solve real, everyday problems.A profile on the Young Scientist Lab website highlights his work with natural materials. He designed his invention as an easy and eco-friendly way to help dry farmland. In her profile, Naboshree shared why she wanted to participate in the contest and work with expert scientists.“As I developed my project to address drought, I realized that there is still a lot to refine and improve,” said Naboshree. “I entered the 3M Young Scientist Challenge because I want to better understand how my biodegradable mulch could be turned into something more useful for the real world. I’m especially looking forward to mentoring and feedback from professionals, as this could help me see gaps in my approach and improve the material’s performance for people actually affected by droughts. I love learning and including new perspectives that I might not think of myself. At the same time, I’m excited to learn from my peers who are working on their own solutions, and see how their ideas might connect with or even improve my project, and how mine might do the same for theirs.”

Preparing for the final round

The competition matches each finalist with a 3M scientist who will guide them through the summer. This gives students the opportunity to test and improve their creations before the final stage. On October 12 and 13, the 10 students will travel to the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. There, they will present their finished work, answer questions from the judges and participate in live science tasks. The top winner will take home $25,000 and the title of America’s Best Young Scientist.Managers of the organizing companies spoke about the main objective of the project in the press release.“The 3M Young Scientist Challenge brings together student curiosity, scientific thinking and 3M mentorship to turn promising ideas into real solutions,” said William Brown, 3M President and CEO. “3M is focused on helping these young innovators strengthen their ideas and apply science in ways that can have a meaningful impact.”Brian Shaw, CEO of Discovery Education, shared a similar thought in the statement.“This year’s 3M Young Scientist Challenge finalists prove that you can be a scientist at any age,” said Brian Shaw, executive director of Discovery Education. “Each outstanding student pursued their curiosity with persistence, turning an idea into an innovation. We can’t wait to see where their ideas take them.”

A nationwide search for smart ideas

To participate, students had to submit a short video of one to two minutes explaining their idea. Judges scored entries based on clear language, scientific knowledge and original thinking. Projects had to fit into 3M’s key focus areas, such as Climate Tech or Safety.The 2026 finalists are between 11 and 14 years old. Along with Naboshree, the shortlist includes:

Find answers step by step

Apart from her work with drought tools, Naboshree enjoys solving fun puzzles. His biography on the Young Scientist Lab site names the Rubik’s Cube as his favorite invention of the past 100 years. She sees the toy as proof that big, messy problems can be solved with clear thinking. He says playing with the cube taught him patience and showed him that difficult problems are just small steps waiting for the right method.Looking to the future, the 11-year-old already has clear plans. In 15 years, she hopes to work as a scientist using natural materials to create eco-friendly products for a healthier planet.The eventual winner in October will join a long list of previous successful entries. Past finalists have addressed issues such as clean water, air pollution, computer security and saving ocean coral reefs. The competition formed an alumni network in 2022 to connect previous finalists and mentors. Past winner Gitanjali Rao was named TIME’s first Child of the Year in 2020. Liam McCarty made the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2022, and Heman Bekele was named TIME’s Child of the Year in 2024. The contest’s learning tools are open to all students and teachers through the Young Scientist Lab website, a free project run by 3M and Discovery Education.