A Plano ISD student has been named as a Top 30 finalist in the 2025 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge® – the nation’s premier STEM competition for middle school students by Thermo Fisher Scientific and the Society for Science.
The Junior Innovators Challenge recognizes and inspires young scientists, engineers and innovators to tackle 21st-century challenges. Students qualify by placing among the top 10% of participants at Society-affiliated science fairs during the 2024–25 school year. From 1,890 applicants across 34 states and Puerto Rico, 300 were named semifinalists on September 3, and only 30 were selected as national finalists.
Congratulations to:
Matthew Kuo, 8th, Renner Middle School (now a 9th grader at Jasper High School)
Project title: Factors Affecting Fuel Cell Energy Efficiency
Matthew will receive a $500 award from the Department of Defense STEM Education Consortium and will compete for more than $100,000 in prizes during Finals Week in Washington, D.C., October 24–29. Finalists will be judged on both their research projects and their ability to demonstrate collaboration and critical thinking during team challenges, highlighting the essential role of teamwork in STEM.
Read more about the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge on the Society for Science & the Public website.