Hiruni Wansapura, a 9th-grade student at Jasper High School in Plano ISD, was named one of the top 30 finalists in the 2024 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (JIC), a prestigious national STEM competition. This challenge, organized by Thermo Fisher Scientific in partnership with the Society for Science & the Public, recognizes middle school students who have demonstrated excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Wansapura earned this recognition for her project titled "Sycamore Seed Inspired Fan Blade Design for a Portable Air Purifier." According to the official statement by Plano ISD, the innovative project, which reflects her interest in engineering and environmental sustainability, drew inspiration from the natural aerodynamic design of sycamore seeds to improve the efficiency of air purifier fan blades.
The Thermo Fisher JIC is designed to foster and celebrate the next generation of scientists and innovators who are poised to tackle the challenges of the 21st century. The competition invites students who placed in the top 10% of society-affiliated science fairs to apply. The top 30 finalists were chosen from an initial pool of 300 participants, a testament to Wansapura’s scientific acumen and creativity.
Wansapura will now travel to Washington, D.C., from Oct. 25-30, 2024, to participate in the final stage of the competition. During finals week, she and other finalists will present their research projects and engage in a series of STEM-related challenges designed to assess their critical thinking, collaboration and communication skills. The competition offers more than $100,000 in prizes, including a grand prize of $25,000 and various scholarships and stipends for STEM summer programs.
For more information on the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, visit the Society for Science & the Public website.
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