The Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge is a national science competition for students in grades five through eight. The Young Scientist Challenge is designed to encourage the exploration of science and innovation among America’s youth and to promote the importance of science communication. Over the last ten years, more than 600,000 middle school students have been nominated to participate in the competition, and winners have gone on to speak in front of members of Congress, work with the nation’s top scientists, and pursue academic careers in the sciences.