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On this edition of A Beautiful World, Heather McElhatton speaks with Dr. Delony Langer-Anderson about the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. 

Langer-Anderson holds a doctorate in analytic chemistry and works for 3M as a new product developer in the consumer health division. She's worked on iconic projects such as ScotchBlue Painter's Tape and good old-fashioned duct tape. She also studied to become an elementary school teacher before settling on a career in chemistry. She was a natural to tap when 3M sought a mentor for the company's Young Scientist Challenge. 

Langer-Anderson says kids — particularly those in middle school — are often overlooked by adults when it comes to solving real-life problems. The ideas of young people should be encouraged, not ignored. 

More information about the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, is available 

Young Scientists Win Big in 3M/Discovery Challenge by A Beautiful World

Heather McElhatton

Author

The 2015 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge is open for submissions. Heather McElhatton talks with Dr. Delony Langer-Anderson about some of the brilliant ideas her past students have created.

Courtesy of 3M Corporation

A Beautiful World Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/a-beautiful-world/id986469943?mt=2

On this episode of A Beautiful World Heather McElhatton speaks with Dr. Delony Langer-Anderson about the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. Dr. Langer-Anderson has a PhD. in analytic chemistry and works for 3M as a new product developer in the consumer health division. She's worked on iconic projects such as Scotch Blue Painters Tape and good old fashioned Duct Tape. She also studied to become an elementary school teacher before settling on a career in chemistry - so she was a natural to tap when 3M needed a mentor for the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. She says kids - particularly middle school kids are often overlooked by adults when you think about solving real-life problems...but they shouldn't be.  She says kids - particularly middle school kids are often overlooked by adults when you think about solving real-life problems...but they shouldn't be.  Here is ample proof that kids DO have great ideas that not only make the world better, they can make good money too. Winners of the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge take home 25K and even second-place finalists, like Brooke Martin, can go on to turn their ideas into lucrative business. For more information on the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, go to www.youngscientistchallenge.com 

"A Beautiful World" is a news program produced by American Public Media that focuses on inspirational stories from around the world, featuring good news about science, technology, ecology, art, music and medicine. The program is hosted by best-selling author Heather McElhatton, whom listeners may know from her contributions to This American Life, Marketplace and MPR News. Visit www.prettylittlemistakes.com for more stories and audio collections.

A Beautiful World: Brilliant kids and the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge

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