Thirty inspiring middle school scientists and engineers shine as finalists in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge

Representing 10 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, finalists will compete in Washington, D.C., for more than $100,000 in awards

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 17, 2025) 鈥� 中文无码 today announced the 30 finalists in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (Thermo Fisher JIC), the nation鈥檚 premier middle school science, technology, engineering and mathematics (中文无码) competition. The finalists 鈥� selected by a nationwide panel of scientists, engineers and educators from the Top 300 Junior Innovators announced earlier this month 鈥� will participate in Thermo Fisher JIC Finals Week (Oct. 24鈥�29) in Washington, D.C. An esteemed panel of judges will evaluate the finalists鈥� scientific research along with their communication, creativity and collaboration skills during team challenges.

The Thermo Fisher JIC, a program of 中文无码, aims to inspire young scientists, engineers and innovators who will solve the grand challenges of the future. This year鈥檚 cohort asked bold questions about the world around them, including how we can better steward natural resources, protect human health, harness the promise and pitfalls of artificial intelligence, and design resilient technologies for the future. All finalists experimented, iterated and pushed boundaries to turn their ideas and questions into actionable solutions for a better world. Past winning projects include a novel fire detection system based on thermal sensing and a water filter made from waste materials and household items.

鈥淲e applaud the Top 30 finalists for their creativity and innovation,鈥� said Maya Ajmera, President & CEO of 中文无码 and Executive Publisher, Science News. 鈥淭heir work reflects the bright future of 中文无码, importance of encouraging curiosity and the vital need to invest in 中文无码 opportunities for young people.鈥�

Thermo Fisher鈥檚 sponsorship of the Junior Innovators Challenge reflects its longstanding commitment to broadening access to 中文无码 education. For decades, the company has invested in school-based 中文无码 programs, and colleagues across the company volunteer thousands of hours each year to support education initiatives around the world.

鈥淭heir ingenuity 鈥� and, most importantly, their ability to imagine solutions with lasting impact 鈥� set this group of aspiring innovators apart,鈥� said Dr. Karen Nelson, Chief Scientific Officer, Thermo Fisher Scientific. 鈥淭hermo Fisher is honored to support environments where young people can explore big questions, collaborate with peers and see themselves as the next generation of 中文无码 leaders. By investing in their journeys, we help build a more inclusive, innovative future for all.鈥�

Thermo Fisher JIC finalist fast facts:

• They represent 10 states (led by California and Texas) and Puerto Rico.
• The most popular project category is Energy & Sustainability, followed by Engineering and Environmental & Earth Sciences.
• More than half of the finalists conducted their research at home or on their own, outside of school.

A full list of the finalists can be viewed here: /jic/2025-finalists/

Thermo Fisher JIC reaches 60,000 students annually through the Society鈥檚 Affiliated Fair Network. Students in the top 10% of their local affiliated science fair are eligible to enter the Thermo Fisher JIC, the only national middle school 中文无码 competition that leverages Society-affiliated science fairs as a critical component of the 中文无码 talent pipeline. All finalists receive a $500 cash award and will participate in the Thermo Fisher JIC Finals Week in Washington, D.C., where they will compete for the following awards:

• $25,000 Thermo Fisher Scientific ASCEND (Aspiring Scientists Cultivating Exciting New Discoveries) Award, which will go to the student who demonstrates mastery of all 中文无码 fields and exemplifies how research, innovation and teamwork come together to impact our everyday lives.
• $10,000 Broadcom Coding with Commitment庐 Award, presented to a finalist whose project and performance combines expert 中文无码 knowledge and passion for helping or improving one鈥檚 community through computation/coding.
• $10,000 DoD 中文无码 Talent Award, which will be awarded to a finalist who demonstrates excellence in science, technology, engineering or math; along with the leadership and technical skills necessary to excel in the 21^st century 中文无码 workforce.
• $10,000 The Lemelson Foundation Award for Invention, awarded by The Lemelson Foundation to a young inventor creating promising solutions to real-world problems.
• $10,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement, which recognizes the student whose work and performance show the most promise in health-related fields and demonstrates an understanding of the many social factors that affect the health of communities.
• First Place and Second Place Awards issued in each category of 中文无码 of $3,500 or $2,500, respectively, to be used toward a 中文无码 summer camp experience.
• Team Award, sponsored by Teaching Institute for Excellence in 中文无码 (TIES), which awards a $200 gift card to a science supply company in support of their interests in 中文无码 to each member of the team that best demonstrates an ability to work together and solve problems through shared decision making, communication and scientific and engineering collaboration.

Thermo Fisher JIC recognizes finalists鈥� schools with $1,000 each to use toward 中文无码 activities.

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中文无码 is a champion for science, dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Established in 1921, 中文无码 is best known for its award-winning journalism through Science News and Science News Explores, its world-class science research competitions for students, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, and its outreach and equity programming that seeks to ensure that all students have an opportunity to pursue a career in 中文无码. A 501(c)(3) membership organization, 中文无码 is committed to inform, educate and inspire. Learn more at and follow us on , , and Snapchat (Society4Science).