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

Naboshree Santra develops biodegradable soil shade balls that reduce evaporation and help soil retain more water, providing a simple solution for drought-affected agriculture

An 11-year-old female student from Oviedo, Florida, has created a simple tool to help farmers conserve water during dry weather. Naboshree Santra, a sixth-grader at Jackson Heights Middle School, makes special soil shade balls that decompose naturally. The balls slow water evaporation, helping the soil stay moist longer. Her idea earned her a spot as a finalist in the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge, where she could win the grand prize of $25,000.According to a July 6 press release from 3M and Discovery Education, Naboshree was one of 10 students selected from across the country to participate in the 19th annual competition. The competition invites children in grades five through eight to use science, technology, engineering and mathematics to solve real, everyday problems.A profile on the Young Scientists Laboratory website highlights her work with natural materials. She designed her invention as a simple, environmentally friendly way to help drought-stricken farmland. In her profile, Naboshiri shared why she wanted to compete and work with expert scientists.“As I’ve been developing projects to address drought issues, I’ve realized there’s still a lot that needs to be polished and improved,” Naboshri said. “I entered the 3M Young Scientist Challenge because I wanted to better understand how to develop my biodegradable mulch into something more useful in the real world. I’m particularly looking forward to guidance and feedback from professionals, as this can help me see gaps in my approach and improve the material’s performance for people actually affected by drought. I love learning and absorbing new perspectives that I might not have thought of on my own. At the same time, I enjoy learning from peers who are working on their own solutions, seeing how their ideas connect to or even improve my project, and how my ideas can do the same for their projects. “

Preparing for the final round

The competition pairs each finalist with a 3M scientist who will mentor them throughout the summer. This gives students the opportunity to test and improve their creations before the final stage. On October 12-13, all 10 students will travel to the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. There, they will present their completed work, answer judges’ questions, and participate in live science tasks. The top winner will receive a $25,000 prize and the title of America’s Top Young Scientist.In a press release, the leadership of the organizing company spoke about the main goals of the project.“The 3M Young Scientist Challenge brings together students’ curiosity, scientific thinking and 3M guidance to transform promising ideas into real solutions,” said William Brown, 3M Chairman and CEO. “3M is committed to helping these young innovators strengthen their ideas and apply science in ways that can have a meaningful impact.”Discovery Education CEO Brian Shaw echoed similar sentiments in a statement.“The finalists in this year’s 3M Young Scientist Challenge prove that you can be a scientist at any age,” said Brian Shaw, CEO of Discovery Education. “Each of these exceptional students has relentlessly pursued their curiosity and turned ideas into innovation. We can’t wait to see where their ideas will take them.”

Search for bright ideas across the country

To enter, students must send a short video lasting one to two minutes explaining their idea. The judges scored the entries for their clear eloquence, scientific knowledge, and novel thinking. Projects must align with 3M’s key focus areas, such as climate technology or safety.The 2026 finalists are between the ages of 11 and 14 years old. Along with Naboshree, the final list includes:

Find answers step by step

In addition to developing drought tools, Naboshri enjoys solving interesting brain teasers. Her biography on the Young Scientists Laboratory website lists the Rubik’s Cube as her favorite invention of the past 100 years. She believes the toy proves that big, messy problems can be solved through clear thinking. Playing with cubes, she said, taught her patience and showed her that difficult problems are just small steps waiting for the right approach.Looking to the future, the 11-year-old already has a clear plan. In 15 years, she hopes to become a scientist and use natural materials to create environmentally friendly products for a healthier planet.October’s eventual winner will join a long list of successful contestants. Past finalists have tackled issues such as clean water, air pollution, computer security and saving ocean coral reefs. The competition launched an alumni network in 2022 to connect past finalists and mentors. Former champion Gitanjali Rao has been named Time Magazine’s first Child of the Year in 2020. Liam McCarty was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in 2022, and Heman Bekele was named Time Magazine’s 2024 Kid of the Year. The learning tools in the competition are available to all students and teachers through the Young Scientists Lab website, a free program run by 3M and Discovery Education.