14-year-old inventor from California named ‘America’s Top Young Scientist’

[Anonymous]

A 14-year-old student who invented a device that detects and treats mid-ear infections in children was awarded this year’s 3M Young Scientist Challenge grand prize.

Leanne Fan, an eighth grader from San Diego, California, developed the low-cost wearable device by using machine learning technology and blue light therapy.

Fan named them “Finsen Headphones” after Niels Finsen, the Nobel Prize recipient who discovered that ultraviolet light can help treat bacterial infections.

“Every year over 10 percent of the world's population experience a mid-ear infection, most of which are children or underprivileged people,” Fan explained in her submission entry to the renowned science competition. “Furthermore, not everyone has access to a doctor which makes it difficult to diagnose and treat a mid-ear infection. My solution to this mid-ear infection problem is to create a low-cost device that can both detect and treat a mid-ear infection.”

In addition to potentially preventing up to 60 percent of hearing loss in children, Fan’s Finsen Headphones can also play music. Fan said she likes to listen to K-pop group BTS on her smart headphones.

Last month, Fan unveiled her final presentation at the 3M headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she competed against eight other finalists.

Along with the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist,” Fan won a $25,000 cash prize and a special destination trip. According to Fan, she plans to use some of the prize money to process the patent application for her invention.

The second prize was awarded to Harini Venkatesh from New Hampshire, who invented a cost-efficient solution that calculates myopic power quickly and accurately in patients. Meanwhile, Shanza Sami from Iowa came in third for developing a five-stage air pollution filtration device. Each of them received a $1,000 prize and a special destination trip.

https://news.yahoo.com/14-old-inventor-california-named-233833373.html

[Anonymous]

These great creative kids and their mentors deserve a lot more than these pittance amounts! They are helping to solve problems that affect lives, that alleviate pain, that help people have hope and live more fully.

Meanwhile sneaker designers complain when their billions are jeopardized, actors like Matthew Perry tells us he “ bought Iowa” from the residuals of his silly sitcom, and sports stars make so much to throw and catch. Our society is unwell.

[Anonymous]

She will either get beaten up by a racists, or get accused of spying by FBI.

[Anonymous]

Fighting bacterial infections in small areas such as the ear with ultraviolet light is a big deal. Oral antibiotics are systemic; it affects the entire body.

Great idea...hit the infection directly with no threat of building antibiotic resistance.

[Anonymous]

I understand they attended the Curie equivalent in their city.

Hey Curie poster where are you when we need you?

[Anonymous]

I love medical improvements. She’s a hero, and worth more than any athlete or actor.

[Anonymous]

But we don’t need talent from those groups. They should step aside.

Scientific discoveries lack equity.

[Anonymous]

I think this is brilliant, my mom grew up in a rural town with frequent ear aches and all her mother could do was use warm compresses and herbal remedies as she writhed in pain. Hopefully these will be available far and wide.

[Anonymous]

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[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But we don’t need talent from those groups. They should step aside.

Scientific discoveries lack equity.

[Anonymous]

Congratulations. We need more people like her.

[Anonymous]

Bravo! So much amazing talent and hard work out there! These are real achievements. I would be so proud if my child did something like this. It’ll be exciting to see what these kids do next.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A 14-year-old student who invented a device that detects and treats mid-ear infections in children was awarded this year’s 3M Young Scientist Challenge grand prize.

Leanne Fan, an eighth grader from San Diego, California, developed the low-cost wearable device by using machine learning technology and blue light therapy.

Fan named them “Finsen Headphones” after Niels Finsen, the Nobel Prize recipient who discovered that ultraviolet light can help treat bacterial infections.

“Every year over 10 percent of the world's population experience a mid-ear infection, most of which are children or underprivileged people,” Fan explained in her submission entry to the renowned science competition. “Furthermore, not everyone has access to a doctor which makes it difficult to diagnose and treat a mid-ear infection. My solution to this mid-ear infection problem is to create a low-cost device that can both detect and treat a mid-ear infection.”

In addition to potentially preventing up to 60 percent of hearing loss in children, Fan’s Finsen Headphones can also play music. Fan said she likes to listen to K-pop group BTS on her smart headphones.

Last month, Fan unveiled her final presentation at the 3M headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she competed against eight other finalists.

Along with the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist,” Fan won a $25,000 cash prize and a special destination trip. According to Fan, she plans to use some of the prize money to process the patent application for her invention.

The second prize was awarded to Harini Venkatesh from New Hampshire, who invented a cost-efficient solution that calculates myopic power quickly and accurately in patients. Meanwhile, Shanza Sami from Iowa came in third for developing a five-stage air pollution filtration device. Each of them received a $1,000 prize and a special destination trip.

https://news.yahoo.com/14-old-inventor-california-named-233833373.html

So how often do you think these inventions are these the work of their parents?

[Anonymous]

"In second place, Harini Venkatesh from Brentwood, N.H., a 9th grader at Phillips Exeter School. In third place, Shanza Sami from Iowa City, Iowa, a 9th grader at West High School in the Iowa City Community School District. Shanza designed a five-stage air pollution filtration device.

The fourth through ninth place winners each receive a $1,000 prize. These finalists, in alphabetical order by last name, are:

John Lee from Oviedo, Fla., a 9th grader at Hagerty High School in Seminole County Public School District.

Samaira Mehta from Santa Clara, Calif., a 9th grader at Archbishop Mitty High School, Private.

Amritha Praveen from Buffalo Grove, Ill., an 8th grader at Aptakisic Junior High School in Aptakisic-Tripp Community Consolidated School District 102.

Sahasra Swargam from Portland, Ore., a 9th grader at West View High School in Beaverton School District.

Asvini Thivakaran from Round Rock, Texas, an 8th grader at Cedar Valley Middle School in Round Rock Independent School District.

Daniel Thomas from Colleyville, Texas, a 9th grader at Colleyville Heritage High School in Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District.

1st to 9th winners appear to be ALL Asians/Indians. Do you think All of their parents conducted the experiments/inventions as well?

[Anonymous]

"Leanne Fan developed Finsen Headphones, a low-cost headphone device that uses machine learning and blue light therapy to detect and treat mid-ear infections in children—potentially preventing up to 60% of hearing loss in children.

As a finalist, Leanne had been assigned a mentor—Dr. Ross Behling, a research specialist in 3M’s material laboratory—who worked with her one-on-one to transform her idea from concept to prototype over the summer.

Then, for two days in October, the nine finalists competed at the 3M headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, giving their final presentations of their innovations. (Watch her qualifying presentation below…)

The world sees 700 million cases of mid-ear infections and nearly 21,000 deaths annually. Many of those impacted are children in underprivileged populations. Without medical access and or healthcare, diagnosis and treatment are often difficult. Leanne’s invention aims to provide an antibiotic free, low-cost option to detect—and treat—any mid-ear infection."

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/teen-wins-award-for-her-headphones-that-treat-ear-infection/