Raji

The Story

Raji, a 7th grader at Talcott Mountain Academy, was troubled by a problem most middle schoolers never think about: the oceans are absorbing carbon at a rate that is changing their chemistry, threatening marine life and the billions of people who depend on it. Instead of studying ocean acidification only in a classroom, he set out to do something real about it — engineering a novel, durable algae-aragonite alkalinity system that uses algae and natural calcium buffers to lower ocean acidity and boost coastal marine health. His Personify mentor, Kevin Gong, worked with him on the parts that turn a promising idea into a nationally competitive project: sharpening the research paper and crafting the pitch and application. The result — Raji was named one of just 10 national finalists in the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, the nation's premier middle-school science competition, earning a summer mentorship with a 3M scientist and a shot at the $25,000 grand prize and the title of "America's Top Young Scientist."

Outcomes

• Named a Top 10 National Finalist — 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2026
• Engineered an algae-aragonite system to reduce CO₂-driven ocean acidification
• Selected from thousands of entrants in the nation's premier middle-school science competition
• Earned a 3M scientist mentorship + a shot at the $25,000 grand prize