The Broadcom Foundation and Society for Science & the Public (the Society) announced on September 20 the selection of 30 middle school students as finalists in the 2016 Broadcom MASTERS® competition.

At least ten Indian American students are among the 30 finalists in the sixth annual Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering for Rising Stars).

The winners will be named on November 1 in Washington, DC, after completion of a rigorous competition that tests their abilities in STEM subjects, teamwork and collaboration. Congratulations to these 30 finalists, and to the 2,343 outstanding applicants for sharing their work this year.

• The finalists include 15 girls and 15 boys covering 15 states and representing 28 schools and one home school. California has the most finalists with eight, followed by Florida and Georgia with three, and two each from Louisiana, Maryland, Texas and Virginia.
• Finalists were selected by a panel of distinguished scientists and engineers from among 300 semifinalists and 2,342 applicants representing 49 states and 4 U.S. territories.

“There is a sense of urgency to inspire more young people to become the scientists and engineers of the future,” said Paula Golden, President, Broadcom Foundation.

“Our quality of life depends upon solving the grand challenges in health care, transportation, communication, environmental protection and sustainability. Broadcom Foundation is honored to partner with Society for Science & the Public to reach hundreds of thousands of young people with an important message that they can become the STEM innovators who will tackle these 21st century challenges. We look forward to celebrating the extraordinary achievements of this year’s Broadcom MASTERS finalists who are exemplars of inspired young science fair participants throughout the United States at the sixth annual Broadcom MASTERS,” added Golden.

A Look at the Indian Origin Finalists

Daven Yadav, 8th Grade
The Westminster Schools, Atlanta, Georgia
Bruxism: Using Myoelectric Signals to Treat a Health Problem

Akhilesh Balasingam, 7th Grade
Challenger School, San Jose, California
Galloping Prisms: On the Optimal Design of a Novel Aeroelastic Energy Harvester for Remote Environmental Sensing

Maya Chandar, 6th Grade
Canterbury School, Fort Meyers, Florida
The Effects of Ultrasound Waves vs. Laser Beams on the Regrowth of Lumbriculys variegatus (A Novel Study)

Ananya Ganesh, 8th Grade
The Westminster Schools, Sandy Springs, Georgia
Bruxism: Using Myoelectric Signals to Treat a Health Problem

Adishree Ghatare, 8th Grade
Challenger School, San Jose, California
A Software Application as a Learning Platform for Increasing Memory Retention of Definitions of Words

Ashini Modi, 6th Grade
Caddo Middle Magnet School, Shreveport, Louisiana
Dark Matter: The Hidden Universe

Anushka Naiknaware, 7th Grade
Stoller Middle School, Portland, Oregon
Chitosan and Carbon Nanoparticle based Biocompatible Sensor for Wound Management

Aalok Patwa, 7th Grade
Stratford Middle School, San Jose, California
Do I Grind? A Wearable System That Detects Bruxism Ahead of Its Effect on Teeth

Shreya Ramachandran, 7th Grade
Stratford Middle School, Fremont, California
The Effect of Soap Nut Grey Water on the Environment

Emhyr Subramanian, 8th Grade
Challenge School, Aurora, Colorado
A Study of Super-Absorbent Polymers and Their Effectiveness in Organic Waste Extraction