Riverside STEM Academy Students Named Top 30 Finalists in National STEM Competition

Riverside STEM Academy students Henry Grover and Jack Grover, who are twins, have been named Top 30 finalists in the 2026 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (Thermo Fisher JIC), a national STEM research competition for middle school students. 

Henry and Jack were selected from 1,997 applicants representing 47 states, Washington, D.C., and five U.S. territories. A panel of scientists and engineers selected the 30 finalists from the competition’s Top 300 Junior Innovators. Each finalist’s school will also receive $1,000 to support STEM activities.

Henry and Jack’s project, “Sprayable Hydrogels for Preventing the Rekindling of Wildfires,” explores how hydrogels could be used to help prevent wildfires from reigniting after they have been extinguished. Inspired by their own experience nearly losing their home in a wildfire, the twins investigated nine different hydrogels, testing their ability to retain water, adhere to surfaces and cool hot materials. Their research identified sodium polyacrylate as a promising option, and they designed a sprayer capable of spraying the hydrogel more than 18 meters.

Thermo JIC is designed to celebrate young scientists, engineers, and innovators who are using curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving to explore challenges facing their communities and the world.

As finalists, Henry and Jack will travel to Washington, D.C., October 23-28 for Thermo Fisher JIC Finals Week. During the competition, they will put their STEM knowledge, critical thinking, communication, creativity and collaboration skills to the test while competing for more than $100,000 in awards, including a $25,000 top award.