New Delhi, Sept. 6 -- As our oceans get busier with boats and fishing vessels, marine life is increasingly paying the price. But where most see an inevitable problem, a Class 6 student from Virginia saw an opportunity for science to step in. Her innovative approach to keeping dolphins safe from human activity has now earned her national recognition.

Ishanvi Sakharpe, a student at Old Donation School in Virginia Beach, has been named the 2026 Virginia State Merit Winner in the prestigious 3M Young Scientist Challenge. Her award-winning project, titled 'Dolphin Guard,' seeks to mitigate the hazards dolphins face in heavily trafficked waters.

According to the official Young Scientist Lab, which lists Sakharpe's project among its top tier o...