Florida sixth grader Naboshree Santra developed biodegradable soilshade 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 soilshade 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 soilshade balls that break down naturally. These balls slow down water evaporation and help the soil stay wet for longer. Her idea has earned her a spot in the finals of the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge, where she could win a $25,000 main prize.According to a July 6 press release from 3M and Discovery Education, Naboshree is among 10 students picked from across the country for the 19th annual competition. The contest invites children in grades five to eight to use science, technology, engineering, and math to solve real everyday problems.A profile on the Young Scientist Lab website highlights her work with natural materials. She designed her invention as an easy, eco-friendly way to help dry farmland. In her profile, Naboshree shared why she wanted to take part in the contest and work with expert scientists.“As I’ve been developing my project on addressing drought, I’ve realized there is still a lot to refine and improve,” Naboshree said. “I entered the 3M Young Scientist Challenge because I want to better understand how my biodegradable mulch could be developed into something more useful for the real world. I’m especially looking forward to mentorship and feedback from professionals, since that could help me see gaps in my approach and improve how the material performs for people actually affected by droughts. I love learning and including new perspectives that I might not think of on my own. At the same time, I am excited to learn from my fellow 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 over the summer. This gives the students a chance to test and improve their creations before the final stage. On October 12 and 13, all 10 students will travel to the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. There, they will present their finished work, answer questions from judges, and take part in live science tasks. The top winner will take home $25,000 and the title of America’s Top Young Scientist.Leaders from the organising companies spoke about the main goal 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 Chairman and CEO. “3M is focused on helping these young innovators strengthen their ideas and apply science in ways that can make a meaningful impact.”Brian Shaw, chief executive officer at Discovery Education, shared a similar thought in the statement.“The finalists of this year’s 3M Young Scientist Challenge prove you can be a scientist at any age,” said Brian Shaw, chief executive officer at Discovery Education. “Each remarkable student pursued their curiosity with persistence, turning an idea into an innovation. We cannot wait to see where their ideas take them.”

A nation-wide search for smart ideas

To enter, students had to send in a short video lasting one to two minutes to explain their idea. Judges scored the entries on clear speaking, science knowledge, and original thinking. Projects had to fit into key 3M focus areas, such as Climate Tech or Safety.The 2026 finalists are between 11 and 14 years old. Along with Naboshree, the final list includes:

Finding answers step by step

Aside from her work on drought tools, Naboshree enjoys solving fun brain teasers. Her biography on the Young Scientist Lab site names the Rubik’s Cube as her favourite invention of the last 100 years. She sees the toy as proof that big, messy problems can be sorted out with clear thinking. She says playing with the cube taught her to be patient and showed her that hard 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 final winner in October will join a long list of successful former entries. Past finalists have tackled issues like clean water, air pollution, computer safety, and saving ocean coral reefs. The competition formed an Alumni Network in 2022 to connect past finalists and mentors. Former winner Gitanjali Rao was named TIME’s first Kid of the Year in 2020. Liam McCarty made the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2022, and Heman Bekele was named TIME’s Kid of the Year in 2024. Learning tools from the contest are open to all students and teachers through the Young Scientist Lab website, a free project run by 3M and Discovery Education.