Silver Spring, Md. & ST. PAUL, Minn. (Monday, September 28, 2020) – 3M and Discovery Education today welcome students, teachers, and communities nationwide to help identify the winner of the 2020 3M Young Scientist Challenge Improving Lives Award. Selected through a nationwide online vote, the Improving Lives Award highlights one project from the 2020 3M Young Scientist Challenge top 10 finalists the public believes has the potential to change the most lives. The online public voting period is open September 28 – October 9, 2020 at youngscientistlab.com.

The winner of the 2020 3M Young Scientist Challenge and the Improving Lives Award will be revealed at an interactive virtual celebration on October 13, 2020. For the first time ever, the public will be invited to watch the final event live.

“At 3M, improving lives is at the core of what we do. The 3M Young Scientist Challenge finalists exemplify the power of scientific inquiry: ingenuity, problem solving, and critical thinking, while working towards a common goal. With the Improving Lives Award, communities across the U.S. can see first-hand the importance of STEM education for fostering a growth mindset that can lead to greater equity and new ideas for change,” said Denise Rutherford, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs at 3M.

As part of the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, each of the top 10 finalists will receive $1,000 and the opportunity to work virtually with a 3M scientist who will mentor them as they evolve their invention from idea to prototype. The grand prize winner will receive $25,000 and the prestigious title of America’s Top Young Scientist. In its 13th year, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge continues to inspire and challenge middle school students to think creatively and apply the power of STEM to discovering real-world solutions.

“The Young Scientist Challenge celebrates the power our nation’s students have to tackle real-world problems by using STEM and collaborating with scientist mentors to bring their ideas to life,” said Lori McFarling, President of Corporate & Community Partnerships at Discovery Education. “This is project-based learning at its best, and we’re especially excited to welcome the public to watch these incredible students when they demonstrate their work live on October 13^th.”

To learn more about the 3M Young Scientist Challenge and meet this year’s finalists, visit youngscientistlab.com. The award-winning 3M Young Scientist Challenge supplements the 3M and Discovery Education program – Young Scientist Lab – which provides no-cost dynamic digital resources for students, teachers, and families to explore, transform, and innovate the world around them. All the resources are also available through the Young Scientist Lab Channel and Community Partnerships Channel on Discovery Education Experience, the digital service whose high-quality resources and instructional supports for educators are enriching student learning and extending it to the real world.

For more information about Discovery Education’s digital resources and professional learning services, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Facebook or find us on Instagram and Pinterest.

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About 3M
At 3M, we apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily. With $32 billion in sales, our 96,000 employees connect with customers all around the world. Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to the world’s problems at www.3M.com or on Twitter @3M or @3MNews.

About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-aligned digital curriculum resources, engaging content, and professional learning for K-12 classrooms. Through its award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia resources, and the largest professional learning network of its kind, Discovery Education is transforming teaching and learning, creating immersive STEM experiences, and improving academic achievement around the globe. Discovery Education currently serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 140 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and like-minded organizations to empower teachers with customized solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.DiscoveryEducation.com.

Contacts
Rainah Chang-Faulk | Ketchum | rainah.chang-faulk@ketchum.com
Robert Brittain | 3M | rbrittain@mmm.com
Grace Maliska | Discovery Education | gmaliska@discoveryed.com

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