Blue Valley High School junior Noor Haideri took home first place in a global competition aimed at inspiring young minds to think creatively about science.
In winning the eighth annual Breakthrough Junior Challenge, a science video competition sponsored by Khan Academy and National Geographic, Haideri wins a $250,000 college scholarship.
Her submission beat out thousands of entries
- This year, 2,400 students ages 13 to 18 from more than 100 countries, submitted videos for the challenge.
- Haideri’s 90-second video focuses on melanopsin, a protein in the eye that gets stimulated when exposed to blue light emitted by electronics.
- Her video goes on to explain why looking at our phones in bed at night may make it harder to fall asleep.
- “I am so excited that my video has been recognized by Breakthrough’s amazing jury and is reaching so many science-curious students,” Haideri said.
This is Haideri’s third time entering the competition
- The first time she entered in 2020, Haideri’s submission made it to the top 10% out of 5,600 applicants.
- Her next video from last year’s competition reached the top 5% out of about 3,400 applicants.
- In a statement, Khan Academy Founder Sal Khan said Haideri’s videos have “demonstrated both persistence and passion for communicating the wonders of science.”
In total, she garnered $400,000 in prizes
- In addition to her own $250,000 scholarship, Haideri will select a teacher that inspired her to receive a $50,000 prize.
- Haideri’s prize also includes installation of a new science lab at Blue Valley High School.
- Designed by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the new lab build-out is valued at $100,000, according to a press release from Breakthrough.
Haideri dreams to one day cure cancer
- She says she has her eyes set on a Harvard MD/PhD program after she graduates high school in 2024.
- “Winning the challenge is not only an unbelievable honor, but it will help me make my dreams come true,” she said.
Go Deeper: Blue Valley student vying for $250K scholarship in global science contest
