Thirteen-year-old Aniket Sarkar has been named one of 10 finalists in the 3M Young Scientist Challenge.
The seventh grader from Pine View School in Sarasota, Florida, developed a system to capture atmospheric moisture for agricultural use.
His project aims to help farmers facing water shortages caused by drought and limited irrigation supplies. The system uses the principle that even dry air contains water vapour that can be collected under suitable conditions.
Aniket designed the system keeping simplicity and accessibility in mind. However, details about its materials, water output, and energy consumption have not been publicly disclosed.
As a finalist, Aniket is receiving individual mentorship from Timothy Hebrink, a Senior Staff Scientist at 3M’s Corporate Research Lab.
The competition evaluates scientific creativity, engineering knowledge, communication, and research skills. Finalists will compete for a $25,000 prize and the title of America’s Top Young Scientist.
Aniket hopes to become an environmental engineer and develop technologies that help communities adapt to climate change.
