A 12-year-old student from Connecticut has designed a science project aimed at tackling one of the ocean’s most persistent problems: rising acidity. Raji Doshi’s system, which pairs algae with natural calcium buffers, has made her a finalist in the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge.
A problem playing out in every ocean
Ocean acidification is driven by the same process everywhere: the world’s oceans absorb a large share of the carbon dioxide humans release into the atmosphere. As that CO₂ dissolves into seawater, it lowers the water’s pH and makes it progressively more acidic. Over time, this makes it harder for corals, shellfish and other marine organisms to build and maintain their shells and skeletons, threatening the wider food chain that depends on them. Scientists have flagged the trend as one of the more serious long-term risks facing marine ecosystems, alongside warming waters and habitat loss.
Two natural processes, one system
Rather than pursuing a single intervention, Raji’s project looks at what happens when two separate natural mechanisms are combined. The first is algae’s own photosynthesis, through which it absorbs carbon dioxide from the surrounding water as it grows. The second is the buffering effect of natural calcium, specifically aragonite, which raises seawater’s alkalinity and helps counteract the acidifying effect of dissolved CO₂.
Individually, both processes are well documented in marine chemistry. Raji’s project, according to her profile on the Young Scientist Lab website, explores whether deploying them together produces a more effective result than either would alone, essentially attacking the problem from two directions: reducing the CO₂ entering the water while simultaneously buffering the acidity that’s already there.
It is worth noting that this remains a student research proposal rather than a tested or commercially deployed technology. Still, it reflects the kind of cross-disciplinary thinking, drawing on both biology and chemistry, that judges in youth science competitions tend to reward.
From classroom idea to national finalist
The 3M Young Scientist Challenge is a US-based competition that identifies young innovators working on solutions to significant global issues, and being named a finalist is itself a notable achievement given the scale of entries the competition typically draws. Finalists don’t just submit a written proposal; they get mentorship from working scientists to help refine their projects before presenting to a judging panel for a shot at the top prize.
Raji’s project has already drawn attention to how younger students are engaging with complex environmental science, and to the fact that meaningful ideas for protecting marine ecosystems aren’t limited to research labs or universities.
Economic Times, 2 Septembre 2026. Article.
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