16-Year-Old Wins $250,000 Scholarship in Global Science Competition

Her submission was selected from thousands of entries worldwide. In addition to the scholarship, Haideri's prize includes the installation of a state-of-the-art science lab at her high school and $50,000 for her science teacher.

Jun 23, 2024 - 17:44

16-Year-Old Wins $250,000 Scholarship in Global Science Competition

Noor Haideri, a 16-year-old high school junior from Overland Park, United States, has won first prize in the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, a global science video competition for high school students. Her winning entry on the impact of blue light on sleep cycles earned her a $250,000 scholarship to university.

Haideri's video explained how blue light from phones and computers disrupts sleep quality by stimulating melanopsin, a protein in the eye, which in turn reduces melatonin production. "In our eye, there’s this protein called melanopsin. When blue light enters your eye, it gets stimulated, and that sends a signal through the optic nerve to your brain to reduce the production of melatonin. And as we know, melatonin is what makes us go to sleep," she explained.

Her submission was selected from thousands of entries worldwide. In addition to the scholarship, Haideri's prize includes the installation of a state-of-the-art science lab at her high school and $50,000 for her science teacher.

Reflecting on her achievement, Haideri said, "They called my name, and I thought I was getting a different award. Then I found out it was actually the Breakthrough Junior Challenge. It was one of the best surprises."

Haideri plans to use the scholarship to pursue multiple doctorate degrees.