The 2025 3M Young Scientist Challenge winners have been revealed by 3M and Discovery Education, who have chosen 32 state merit winners and four honorable mention honorees. Montgomery County’s Visagan Aranganathan is one of those honored. This September, Vishagan, a Germantown native and alumnus of Kingsview Middle School, will begin his freshman year at Northwest High School in Germantown.
The 3M Young Scientist Challenge, recognized as the country’s top middle school science contest, honors outstanding inventions by young scientists that demonstrate how science can make the world a better place. The competition, which is intended for students in grades 5–8, asks contestants to submit short films that highlight their original solutions to common issues. Each contribution is assessed by judges based on their scientific expertise, inventiveness, and communication abilities.
The competition categories were expanded this year, with additional entry possibilities in robotics, home renovation, automotive, safety, AR/VR, and climate technology, among other areas. With his idea, AI-Driven Aircraft-Based IR Imaging System for Early Wildfire Detection, Vishagan won his prize. His creative idea uses infrared imaging technology and artificial intelligence to potentially transform early wildfire detection, improving environmental protection and public safety.
Vishagan’s accomplishment is evidence of the creativity and talent of young scientists. His accomplishment in the 3M Young Scientist Challenge not only makes his community proud, but it also emphasizes how crucial it is to encourage scientific creativity and inquiry from a young age. The honor and hopeful start to his future scientific and technological activities are provided by the acknowledgment from this nationally renowned competition.
