12-Year-Old Cambridge Student Becomes Finalist in National Young Scientist Contest
Sixth-grader Ahmed Abdelsalam from Cambridge, Massachusetts, entered the final ten of the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge with his VERDA system that captures energy from everyday motion.
Ahmed Abdelsalam, a sixth-grade student at Darby Vassall Upper School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has engineered VERDA, a system designed to harvest kinetic energy from activities like walking, wind, and waves. The project secured him a place among the ten finalists of the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge, which spotlights innovative solutions from youths aged 11 to 14. As a finalist, Abdelsalam will receive guidance this summer from 3M Advanced Research Specialist Abhishek Srivastava, refining his prototype ahead of the October showdown in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The competition offers a $25,000 grand prize and the designation of America’s top young scientist. Abdelsalam explained that his interest in clean energy and admiration for chemist Ahmed Zewail motivated the invention, and he hopes to become an inventor or engineer focused on sustainable technologies. The event will feature live challenges, project presentations, and a judges’ panel to select the winner.
Why it matters
A young inventor's breakthrough in energy harvesting highlights emerging talent and potential new approaches to clean power.
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