–Discovery Education and 3M have named 14-year-old Sahil Doshi from Pittsburgh, Penn. the winner of the 2014 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge for his innovative, eco-friendly battery design. Inspired by the 1.2 billion people worldwide who lack access to electricity and the rising levels of toxic air pollution, Doshi was determined to create an energy storage device that could help lower harmful greenhouse gases while generating electricity for those in need. His prototype – the PolluCell – converts carbon dioxide into electricity, ingeniously helping to reduce our carbon footprint while offering power for household uses and developing nations.
Doshi, a ninth grader from Upper St. Clair School District’s Upper St. Clair High School, competed alongside nine other finalists yesterday during a live competition at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minn., and was awarded the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist,” $25,000 and a student adventure trip to a destination such as Costa Rica.
Over the past three months, Doshi and the other finalists had the exclusive opportunity to work directly with a 3M Scientist as they created their personal innovations as part of a summer mentorship program. Students met virtually with their 3M Scientist Mentors, who provided guidance to the finalists as they developed their ideas from a theoretical concept into an actual prototype that would help solve a problem in everyday life.
For more information, go to www.YoungScientistChallenge.com.
