WEST WARWICK – Peter Finch, a seventh-grade student from the Harrisville section of Burrillville, has been named a finalist in the 2015 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, supported locally by Cox Communications.
According to a news release, Finch, who home-schooled, is one of 10 student finalists from across the country recognized for their use of scientific thinking and imagination to dream up a solution to an everyday problem that could ultimately reshape the way we live our lives.
Finch invented “The Helping Hand,” a small device meant to maximize the use of arm strength by reducing the impact on joints and prevent senior citizens from falling on the stairs. Although there are electric chairs on the market to help people navigate stairs, Finch said his invention provides a portable, efficient and less expensive alternative for senior citizens.
Finch and the other finalists will have the opportunity to work directly with a 3M scientist during a summer mentorship program, where they will develop an innovation that positively impacts them, their family, their community, or the global population. Students will meet virtually with their mentors, who will guide them as the finalist develops his or her idea from a concept into a prototype using resources and support provided by 3M and Discovery Education.
The students will present their inventions during the Young Scientist Challenge final event at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minn. Oct. 12 and 13. Each finalist will receive $1,000 and a trip to the 3M Headquarters to participate, where they will be evaluated on a series of three challenges, including presentation of their completed innovation. The winner will receive $25,000, a student adventure trip to a destination such as Costa Rica as well as the title, “America’s Top Young Scientist.”
“On a daily basis at 3M, we see the powerful results of combining science and collaboration,” Jesse Singh, senior vice president for marketing and sales at 3M, said in a statement. “We also know the importance of encouraging the next generation of scientific thinkers, who will ultimately create new ways to solve the issues we see every day. By pairing each of our 10 finalists with a 3M scientist mentor, we look to provide guidance and support through the scientific process as their ideas become reality in anticipation of the competition in October.”
The Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge targets students in the years when research indicates their interest in science begins to wane and encourages them to explore scientific concepts and creatively communicate their findings.
“In order to foster our next generation of STEM leaders, we must provide students with engaging opportunities that support what they’re learning in the classroom and show them how science can be applied to everyday life to solve real-world problems,” Bill Goodwyn, president and CEO of Discovery Education, said. “The Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge fulfills this mission by encouraging the exploration of science and innovation among America’s youth, and inspiring young minds nationwide to dream up their own creative solutions to everyday challenges.”
