14-year-old Virginia teenager invents soap to treat skin cancer, wins America Top Young Scientist award

Oct 25,2023

Heman Bekele, a 14-year-old ninth grader from Annandale, Virginia, has been crowned "America's Top Young Scientist" after inventing a groundbreaking soap designed to treat skin cancer. The accolade, awarded by 3M and Discovery Education, is recognized as one of the nation's premier middle school science competitions.

Bekele's innovation, a compound-based soap bar, is not only revolutionary but also cost-effective, with a production cost of approximately $.50 per bar. The young scientist envisions refining his invention further and establishing a non-profit organization to distribute the soap to communities in need over the next half-decade.

Bekele worked with a 3M scientist mentor, Dr Mahfuza Ali, who helped him refine his innovation and prepare for the final event.

"I believe that young minds can make a positive impact on the world," Bekele, who was born in Ethiopia and moved to the US when he was four years old, expressed in his award submission, the USA Today said in a report. He further elaborated on his passion for biolofy and technology, stating, "This challenge gave me the perfect platform to showcase my ideas."

The "America's Top Young Scientist" competition is designed to encourage students between fifth and eighth grades to conceptualize and present innovative ideas that can transform the world. The winner of this esteemed competition receives a cash prize of $25,000. This year, the grand prize ceremony took place at 3M's headquarters in St Paul, Minnesota, on October 9 and 10.

Source: HealthWorld