Meet the 12-year-old whose invention converts movement into clean electricity

Ahmed Abdelsalam, 12, has built a system that converts everyday movement into electricity. The invention has taken him to the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge finals and highlights clean energy potential in routine human activity.

In Short

• Ahmed designed a system that harvests kinetic energy from everyday movement
• The captured energy is stored and redirected to low-power electronic devices
• He drew inspiration from Nobel laureate Ahmed Zewail's scientific journey

Ahmed Abdelsalam, a middle school student from Cambridge, Massachusetts, has developed VERDA, a technology that converts energy from movement into electricity. The innovation has earned him a place among the 10 finalists in the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge, where the winner will receive a $25,000 prize.

Most people see walking as a daily routine. This 12-year-old Ahmed Abdelsalam saw it as an untapped source of clean energy.

The middle school student from Cambridge, Massachusetts, has developed VERDA, a technology that harvests energy from movement -- such as walking, wind and ocean waves -- and converts it into usable electricity. The invention has earned him a place among the 10 finalists in the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge, one of the United States' leading science competitions for middle school students.

Ahmed said he entered the competition because he enjoys using science to solve real-world problems and wanted to demonstrate that young students can build inventions with the potential to benefit both people and the environment. He described the challenge as an opportunity to learn, grow as a young scientist and prove that "even a student can create an invention that could help people and the environment."

HOW VERDA WORKS

VERDA is based on the concept of energy harvesting, a process that captures kinetic energy generated through movement and converts it into electrical power. Instead of allowing that energy to go to waste, the system stores and redirects it to power low-energy electronic devices.

According to Ahmed, the technology could be adapted to harness energy not only from footsteps but also from natural sources such as wind and waves. If developed further, it could find applications in footwear, wearable devices or public spaces where thousands of people move every day, helping power sensors and other low-energy electronics while reducing dependence on conventional power sources.

Ahmed credits Nobel Prize-winning Egyptian-American chemist Ahmed Zewail as one of his biggest inspirations. Among the scientific breakthroughs of the past century, he says Zewail's pioneering work in femtochemistry stands out because it enabled scientists to observe chemical reactions at extraordinarily fast timescales, opening new possibilities for scientific discovery.

As one of the 10 finalists, Ahmed will now work with a scientist mentor from 3M to refine his invention before presenting it at the national finals. The overall winner of the competition will receive a $25,000 prize.

Looking ahead, Ahmed hopes to become an inventor or engineer who develops technologies that help people while protecting the environment. He says he wants to continue creating clean energy solutions and believes curiosity, creativity and a willingness to experiment are essential for turning ideas into innovations.

Ahmed's journey highlights how scientific curiosity can begin at a young age. His invention is a reminder that some of tomorrow's solutions to global challenges may come from students who are already reimagining how everyday life can generate cleaner, more sustainable energy.

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