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14-year-old Develops Water Filtration System Using Animal Bone Waste to Facilitate Access to Clean Water Globally; Wins $25,000 Top Award at Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge

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Exceptional middle school scientists and engineers rewarded with $100K in prizes for STEM research and innovations that take on global issues

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Society for Science and Thermo Fisher Scientific today announced the winners of the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (Thermo Fisher JIC), the nation’s premier middle school science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competition. Tina Jin, 14, from San Jose, Calif., won the $25,000 Thermo Fisher Scientific ASCEND (Aspiring Scientists Cultivating Exciting New Discoveries) Award, the top prize in the competition.

Tina won the ASCEND Award for her research that proved the ability of animal bones to filter water, in addition to demonstrating leadership, collaboration and critical thinking skills throughout the competition. After learning that one in three people globally lack access to clean water, Tina was inspired to create an accessible and scalable water filtration system that could be used anywhere in the world. She used natural materials and common household supplies to create her filter. Third-party testing by the San Jose Water Company showed that her filter achieved potable standards.

The Thermo Fisher JIC, a program of Society for Science, reaches 65,000 middle schoolers nationwide and inspires them to follow their personal STEM passions to exciting college and career paths. The 30 finalists are counted among the nation’s brightest students, with several, including Tina, collectively accepting more than $100,000 at tonight’s award ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Thermo Fisher’s sponsorship of the Junior Innovators Challenge continues the company’s longstanding commitment to widespread and equitable access to STEM education. Together with Society for Science, Thermo Fisher is helping to increase the number of students who enter the competition and nurture a future STEM talent pool that is more diverse than ever.

Each of the 30 finalists participated in team challenges in addition to being judged on their research projects. The challenges leveraged project-based learning and tested their critical thinking, communication, creativity and collaboration skills across a variety of STEM fields. They included creating home automation systems using Raspberry Pi Pico, diagnosing sickle cell disease and using biocubes to analyze ecosystems.

“Congratulations to Tina for using her STEM skills to develop a solution to a worldwide problem: access to clean drinking water. She used animal bone waste and other household supplies to filter water,” said Maya Ajmera, President & CEO, Society for Science and Executive Publisher, Science News. “Tina’s scientific ingenuity coupled with her exceptional leadership, collaboration and critical thinking skills illustrate what we are looking for in the Thermo Fisher JIC. I look forward to seeing how Tina continues to innovate in the years to come.”

The other top winners included:

Gary Allen Montelongo, 14, La Joya, Texas, won the $10,000 Broadcom Coding with Commitment ® Award for combining expert STEM knowledge and passion for helping or improving one’s community through coding. In his project, Gary used his coding and engineering skills to build models of train suspension systems to learn how the vibrations produced by springs and the weight distribution of the train cars contribute to train derailment.

Sophie Tong, 14, Palo Alto, Calif., won the $10,000 DoD STEM Talent Award for demonstrating excellence in science, technology, engineering or math, along with the leadership and technical skills necessary to excel in the 21st Century STEM workforce and build a better community for tomorrow. For her project, Sophie sought to improve the safety of vehicles, such as airplanes and self-driving cars, by understanding how vision is degraded in dark, foggy conditions. She then developed algorithms to accurately analyze scenes during bad weather. 

Samvith Mahadevan, 14, Austin, Texas, won the $10,000 Lemelson Foundation Award for Invention, awarded by The Lemelson Foundation to a young inventor creating promising product-based solutions to real-world problems. Motivated by his own allergies, Samvith developed a chemical “nose” trained with machine learning to detect allergens in food products; and tested it on common allergens including nuts, eggs and processed foods. 

Tyler Malkin, 14, Greenwich, Conn., won the $10,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement, which recognizes the student whose work and performance shows the most promise in health-related fields and demonstrates an understanding of the many social factors that affect health. Tyler, who has experienced iodine deficiency—a disorder that impacts nearly 2 billion people worldwide—developed a saliva test that makes it easier for people to monitor their iodine levels without medical intervention.

“Congratulations to our 2024 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge award winners!” said Dr. Karen Nelson, Chief Scientific Officer, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “These exceptionally bright students have demonstrated incredible talent and ingenuity, and they are the foundation for the next generation of leaders in STEM. Thermo Fisher is honored to provide a platform from which these rising leaders can advance their research, connect with peers and expose more young students to the wonder and power of STEM.”

Thermo Fisher JIC winners were chosen from the 30 finalists, who were selected from nearly 2,000 applicants from 48 states, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. Winners were selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, engineers and educators. All the finalists’ schools also receive a $1,000 grant to support STEM programming.

In addition to the top prizes, Thermo Fisher and the Society announced first- and second-place winners in each STEM category (science, technology, engineering and math), as well as the competition’s Team Award.

First- and second-place winners of STEM Awards demonstrated acumen and promise in science, technology, engineering or math. First-place winners were awarded $3,500 and second-place winners received $2,500 to support their choice of a STEM summer camp experience in the US. All STEM Award winners received an iPad.

Science Award:
First place: Mikah Elizabeth Kaalund, Greenwich, Conn., The Synergistic Improvement of Indoor Air HEPA Filtration Using Concurrent Dehumidification
Second place: Mackensey “Macky” McNeal Wilson, Riverside, Conn., Shedding Light on the Prevalence of Harmful Butylated Hydroxytoluene Preservative in Artificially Formulated Dog Foods

Technology Award:
First place:  Yash Mehta, Durham, N.C. Using Motors To Simulate Braille
Second place: Sophia Yuxin Zhang, Salt Lake City, Utah, Green Solution for Blue Gold: Examining Three Types of Biodegradable Hydrogels on Water Conservation in Irrigation

Engineering Award:
First place: Oliver Nicolas Cottrell, La Jolla, Calif., Automatic Hockey Puck-Passer Machine
Second place: Sophia Hou, Livingston, N.J., The Effect of Methylcobalamin on Vigna radiata Germination Under Heat Stress

Mathematics Award:
First place: Leif Speer, Terre Haute, Ind., Does a Dendroclimatic Reconstruction of the Southern Hemisphere Show a “Hockey Stick Curve”?
Second place: Ezekiel “Zeke” Wheeler, Portland, Ore., An Affordable, Portable Orbital Desktop Satellite Tracker 

Team Award, sponsored by Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM (TIES): Each member of the Finals Week challenge team that best demonstrates an ability to work together and solve problems through shared decision making, communication and scientific and engineering collaboration received a $200 science supply company gift card to support their interests in STEM. The winning team members are Oliver Nicolas Cottrell, Olivia Huang, Tyler Malkin, Jocelyn Mathew and Samhita Paranthaman.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Leadership Award: Bestowed upon one finalist, this award recognizes the student elected by their peers to speak on behalf of their Thermo Fisher JIC class at the Awards Ceremony. The Class Speaker demonstrates the collegiality and spirited leadership that has earned the collective esteem of the class and united them around common goals.

Zealand Murphy Dobrowski, Dehydration Observation: Can Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Be Used To Estimate Fuel Moisture Content?

Media Kit:  https://www.societyforscience.org/thermo-fisher-jic-2024-media-kit/

About Society for Science
Society for Science is a champion for science, dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Established in 1921, Society for Science is best known for its award-winning journalism through Science News and Science News Explores, its world-class science research competitions for students, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, and its outreach and equity programming that seeks to ensure that all students have an opportunity to pursue a career in STEM. A 501(c)(3) membership organization, Society for Science is committed to inform, educate and inspire. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us of Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn and Snapchat (Society4Science).

About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue over $40 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, increasing productivity in their laboratories, improving patient health through diagnostics or the development and manufacture of life-changing therapies, we are here to support them. Our global team delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services, Patheon and PPD. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.

Media Contact: Gayle Kansagor, gkansagor@societyforScience.org 

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SOURCE Society for Science

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Hexaware Hosts Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire Mayoral Delegation, Deepens Partnership with University of Leeds

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October 23, 2026

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Part of the Great North Mayoral Delegation’s visit to India, discussions focused on Hexaware’s UK expansion and planned R&D centers in Leeds and Manchester

MUMBAI, India, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hexaware Technologies (NSE: HEXT), an AI-first digital and IT services company, hosted a delegation led by Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, and Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester, as part of The Great North’s first joint mayoral-led trade mission to India

Hexaware met with Tracy Brabin and delegates from West Yorkshire at its Mumbai office to discuss the company’s UK investment plans, regional employment, and opportunities for technology collaboration across the North of England.

During the visit, Hexaware and the University of Leeds discussed their agreement to strengthen industry–academic collaboration through research, knowledge sharing, and experiential learning opportunities for students.

Earlier in the mission, on October 14 in Bengaluru, Hexaware leaders met Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester, together with representatives of the British Deputy High Commission and the Invest Manchester team, to discuss Hexaware’s investment in the city region.

Hexaware announced that it will create hundreds of jobs and invest £9 million in a new Design and Innovation Centre at Manchester’s innovation district, SISTER, delivered in collaboration with the University of Manchester. By establishing a base at SISTER, Hexaware will have access to Europe’s largest clinical academic campus on Manchester’s Oxford Road Corridor and a rapidly expanding digital and tech ecosystem within the city.

The visits follow Hexaware’s June 2026 announcement of a £25 million UK expansion, expected to create approximately 1,200 jobs over three to five years across Manchester, Leeds, and Birmingham, including 420 in Manchester and 240 in Leeds. Plans include proposed R&D centers in Manchester and Leeds, with Newcastle also under consideration as a potential future location, given the region’s strong university talent pool and proximity to Scotland.

Parameshwaran Iyer, Executive Vice President & Head – Europe, Hexaware, said, “The North of England is an important part of our UK growth plans. Our investment goes into developing technology capabilities and recruiting graduates from the region’s universities, training them to work with enterprise and public-sector customers. Our new agreement with the University of Leeds will strengthen this pipeline, giving us closer access to graduate talent as we grow our presence in the region. We see considerable potential in the talent and expertise available across these cities.”

Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said, “Greater Manchester has established strengths in healthcare, life sciences, and AI, supported by close cooperation between universities, researchers, and industry. We welcome Hexaware’s plans for Manchester and the opportunities they present for investment, innovation, and employment in these sectors.”

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said, “It was great to visit Hexaware’s headquarters in Mumbai and hear first-hand about the company’s ambitious plans for growth in the UK. Their investment in Leeds and the creation of hundreds of new jobs is fantastic news for West Yorkshire and a strong vote of confidence in our region. Trade missions like this give us the opportunity to meet decision-makers directly, strengthen international relationships and explore how businesses like Hexaware can deepen their links with West Yorkshire to create a stronger, better-off region that works for all.” 

Glenn McCauley, Head of Proposition Development at the University of Leeds, said, “We were delighted to join this Great North Mayoral Delegation to India and to discuss with Hexaware leadership and with the Mayor of West Yorkshire how the University of Leeds’ agreement with Hexaware can be a catalyst to drive economic growth in our region.”

India and the North of England are connected above all through people, with more than 81,000 people of Indian heritage living in Yorkshire and the Humber, and 50,000 people of Indian diaspora in Greater Manchester. Thousands of Indian students also choose universities in the two regions every year. Increasingly, Indian companies are also among the region’s investors and employers. The India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), in force since July 2026, alongside The Great North’s investment initiatives, gives that relationship fresh momentum.

Hexaware will continue discussions with regional partners on its proposed R&D facilities, graduate recruitment, and technology partnerships across the North of England, drawing on Leeds’ strengths in digital engineering, data science, robotics, fintech, and technology-enabled care, and Manchester’s strengths in healthcare, life sciences, cyber, and AI.

About Hexaware

Hexaware is a global technology and business process services company. Every day, Hexawarians wake up with a singular purpose: to create smiles through great people and technology. With offices across the world, we empower enterprises worldwide to realize digital transformation at scale and speed by partnering with them to build, transform, run, and optimize their technology and business processes. Learn more about Hexaware at https://hexaware.com.

 

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Fosun Wealth Opens Its First Private Wealth Center in Hong Kong at Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui

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October 23, 2026

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Appointment-Only Center for High-Net-Worth Clients, Partnering with Fosun Wealth IFA to Expand Wealth Management Capabilities

HONG KONG, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Fosun Wealth International Holdings Limited (“Fosun Wealth”) announced the official opening of its first Private Wealth Center on the 23rd floor of Prudential Tower, at The Gateway, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. The center provides a dedicated offline space for meetings and wealth planning in Hong Kong, exclusively tailored for high-net-worth clients. Visits are by appointment only, and the center operates in partnership with Fosun Wealth IFA (Independent Financial Advisor), supporting clients from initial discussions and tailored proposals through to signing and implementation.

The opening ceremony, themed “A Starry New Chapter on Victoria Harbour”, brought together business partners from fund, asset management and insurance industries in Hong Kong to celebrate the occasion.

Expanding amid Industry Growth to Address Clients’ Demand for Long-Term Advice

The opening comes as Hong Kong’s wealth management sector continues to expand. According to the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong, as of the end of 2025, total assets under management (AUM) in Hong Kong jumped 20% year-on-year (YoY) to a record high of HK$42.2 trillion. Among the major segments, AUM of private banking and private wealth management business increased by an impressive 24% YoY to HK$12.9 trillion. At the same time, client expectations have shifted. High-net-worth individuals are increasingly looking beyond fragmented, one-off product recommendations and seeking professional institutions that can deliver cross-market and multi-generational support over the long term.

The center’s location in Harbour City offers views across Victoria Harbour and a calm, private setting. It features four dedicated meeting rooms, with each client received by a relationship manager throughout their visit to allow for in-depth discussions in a confidential environment. In addition to client meetings and document signing, the center will also host smaller, focused sessions to help clients better capture opportunities in Hong Kong’s wealth management market.

Strengthening Collaboration with Fosun Wealth IFA to Enrich Service Matrix

The Private Wealth Center will also serve as a working base for Fosun Wealth IFA, supporting professional discussions and the review of more complex cases. Launched by Fosun Wealth in 2025, Fosun Wealth IFA is Hong Kong’s first one-stop platform for independent financial advisors (IFAs) to establish and grow their practices. It has already built a team of nearly 500 advisors. Built on a compliant licensing framework, the platform integrates diversified financial products, AI-powered tools and structured trainings, supporting advisors from licensing through ongoing professional development to independent practice. The goal is to help raise standards and professionalism across Hong Kong IFA industry.

Fosun Wealth subsidiaries hold securities and insurance brokerage licenses. Under strict compliance, they provide access to insurance, securities, asset management, and corporate financing services. Fosun Wealth has also established partnerships with numerous leading fund houses, asset managers, and insurers, supporting both the Private Wealth Center and the IFA platform.

Cheng Kang, CEO of Fosun Wealth, said: “Hong Kong continues to strengthen its position as an international hub for asset and wealth management, supported by its resilience and openness. This creates a valuable opportunity for us to deepen our presence in the local market. The opening of the Private Wealth Center is more than the launch of a new location—it marks a new chapter in Fosun Wealth’s commitment to serving high-net-worth clients in Hong Kong with a more personal, long-term approach, bringing our ‘warm private wealth stewardship’ to a broader client base. Whether we are serving high-net-worth clients or building a stronger ecosystem for financial advisers, we aim to set a high standard in Hong Kong’s wealth management industry. We will focus on turning our capabilities into lasting value for clients, and work with clients and partners to support the continued growth of the sector.”

About Fosun Wealth International Holdings Limited

Fosun Wealth International Holdings Limited (hereinafter referred to as “Fosun Wealth”) is an AI-driven global one-stop Web5(Web2+Web3) wealth management platform wholly owned by Fosun International Limited (stock code: 656.HK) in Hong Kong. With its solid financial position, Fosun Wealth has obtained various licenses via its subsidiaries, including Type 1, 2, 4, 6, and 9 licenses granted by the Securities and Futures Commission(SFC) of Hong Kong, and an insurance broker license granted by the Insurance Authority(IA) of Hong Kong. Fosun International Securities Limited, a subsidiary of Fosun Wealth, is one of the first batch of brokerages to provide virtual asset dealing service. Fosun Wealth has launched several industry-leading brands, including the Fosun Wealth App, Finloop, FinChain, and Fosun Wealth IFA. For more information, please visit: www.fosunwealth.com.

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SOURCE Fosun Wealth International Holdings Limited

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WOLFX Student Super App Reaches 104 Universities One Month After US Launch

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October 23, 2026

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All-in-one college platform reports 300 percent subscription growth following Arizona campaign 

MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — WOLFX, an all-in-one app designed to help college students thrive academically, socially and financially, has been downloaded by students at 104 universities in 130 cities across the US just one month after its launch in Indiana.

The platform recorded a 300 percent increase in subscriptions following its Rush WOLFX campaign in Arizona. Rush WOLFX is a game of skill that involves college fraternities and sororities putting their business skills to the test to win a $10K prize. 

WOLFX plans to hold six additional Rush competitions at Universities across the country next month.

WOLFX brings together AI-powered study tools, wellness support, a student marketplace and opportunities for student entrepreneurs in a single app, giving students who juggle academic, social and financial pressures one place to manage college life.

“I developed WOLFX to make the lives of college kids better. To see the app being so well received across America gives everyone involved a huge boost,” said Simon Bishop, founder of WOLFX. “As a father, I know college can be a daunting time for students and parents. WOLFX is aimed at easing those fears of loneliness and isolation. I’m so happy WOLFX is making a difference.”

Students say the app is already part of their daily routine.

“This is honestly the only college app you’ll ever need,” said Katie Wolf, a cheerleader at Indiana University. “Whether it’s managing my schedule, working on a business idea or even selling some items on the student marketplace, WOLFX has me covered. This app is a game changer for college students.”

WOLFX Platinum is available for $28.99 per month. WOLFX can be downloaded on iOS and Android.

About WOLFX

WOLFX is a student-focused super app designed to help college students navigate campus life through AI-powered study tools, wellness support, a student marketplace and entrepreneurial opportunities. The platform aims to make college life more connected, manageable and rewarding. WOLFX is available on iOS and Android. Learn more at https://wolfxapp.com/.

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SOURCE WOLFX

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