Society for Science Names Top 300 Middle School Innovators in National STEM Competition

The Society for Science has announced the Top 300 Junior Innovators in the 2025 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge. The competition attracted nearly 2,000 applicants from 34 states and Puerto Rico, with top project categories including engineering, energy and sustainability, and medicine and health sciences. The students' research topics include artificial intelligence, chronic diseases, waste reduction, and space exploration.

The Society for Science has announced the Top 300 Junior Innovators in the 2025 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, recognizing the best and brightest middle school STEM talent in the U.S. and its territories. The competition, which attracted nearly 2,000 applicants from 34 states and Puerto Rico, showcases the diverse range of innovative projects undertaken by these young scientists and engineers.

The top project categories include Engineering, Energy & Sustainability, Environmental & Earth Sciences, and Medicine & Health Sciences. Research topics span a wide array of fields, such as artificial intelligence, chronic diseases, waste reduction, bioplastics, space exploration, and wildfires. The students' projects reflect a deep passion for solving real-world challenges and demonstrate the potential for impactful change in various sectors.

The competition, a program of Society for Science, is sponsored by Thermo Fisher Scientific, which has a longstanding commitment to broadening access to STEM education. The company's support includes investing in school-based STEM programs and volunteering thousands of hours annually to support educational initiatives worldwide.

The Top 300 Junior Innovators were selected from nearly 2,000 students who placed in the top 10% of their local science fairs. The competition reaches 60,000 students annually through the Society’s Affiliated Fair network. On September 17, Society for Science will announce the 30 Thermo Fisher JIC finalists, who will compete for various awards, including the $25,000 Thermo Fisher Scientific ASCEND Award and the $10,000 Broadcom Coding with Commitment® Award.

Each of the Top 300 Junior Innovators will receive a $125 award from the Department of Defense, highlighting the importance of developing a STEM talent pool ready to serve the nation. Additionally, they will receive a prize package and gifts from partners, including a one-year subscription to Wolfram Mathematica software.

The Society for Science, established in 1921, is dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of science. It is best known for its award-winning journalism, science research competitions, and STEM outreach programming. For more information, visit [Society for Science](https://www.societyforscience.org).

References:
[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/society-science-recognizes-top-300-160500580.html