Houston teen’s origami packaging idea reaches national science final

Bulky, single-use food and drink containers generate significant waste that persists in landfills for extended periods after disposal. In response, 14-year-old Aiden Jo, a student from Houston, developed an origami-inspired collapsible container called Squeeze-gami. This innovative design can be completely flattened to minimize its volume and reduce waste. Aiden's invention earned him a spot among the ten national finalists in the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge.

3M and Discovery Education announced the ten finalists on July 6, 2026, selecting middle school students aged 11 to 14 from across the United States. The competition, now in its 19th year, invites students in grades five through eight to submit a one- to two-minute video pitch demonstrating how they apply STEM to solve everyday problems.

Finalists receive a summer mentorship with a 3M scientist and compete for the grand prize of $25,000 and the title of America's Top Young Scientist at the October 12-13 finals at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Winners of the challenge aim to turn their innovations into real-world solutions, with 3M supporting their development through mentorship and resources.

Aiden explained his motivation for participating in the challenge, stating that it allows middle school students to showcase their innovative ideas to a community and provides an opportunity to share his research with other passionate students. He also saw the challenge as a platform to improve his scientific knowledge and develop his project further, ultimately bringing it into people's daily lives for a lasting impact.

Aiden's interest in engineering and sustainability stems from his childhood love of building toys and his appreciation for nature. He hopes to one day become an environmental engineer focused on creating revolutionary solutions for critical environmental problems. When asked about his favorite invention from the past century, Aiden chose 3D printing, praising its impact on making prototype creation faster, easier, and more affordable.