Dreaming of a Cure

When Heman Bekele was 6, he got a chemistry set. He used it to mix “potions.” Only his parents paid attention. Heman is 15 now. He’s a 10th grader at Woodson High, in Fairfax, Virginia. And he’s used to a lot more people watching his work.

In October 2023, 3M and Discovery Education named Heman the winner of their Young Scientist Challenge. His prize: $25,000. His accomplishment: inventing a soap. It could one day treat and prevent some forms of skin cancer.

EYES ON THE PRIZE Fifteen-year-old Heman Bekele has been fascinated by chemistry since he was 4.

It could be years before the soap is available to buy. But Heman is determined. This summer, he spent most days in a lab at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. It’s in Baltimore, Maryland. When he goes back to school, he’ll be at the lab less often (see “Beyond the Lab”). But he’ll keep working to make his dream come true.

“I’m really passionate about skin-cancer research,” he told TIME. “One day, my bar of soap will be able to make a direct impact on somebody else’s life.”

That passion and the desire to help others have earned Heman the title of TIME’s Kid of the Year.

Bright Idea

Heman moved to the United States when he was 4. But he was born in Addis Ababa. The city is the capital of Ethiopia, in Africa. Heman remembers seeing people there out in the sun without protection for their skin. They were vulnerable × vulnerable open to attack, harm, or damage (adjective) to skin cancer. It’s a disease that can be caused by too much exposure to the sun.

Heman’s parents told him about the dangers of spending too much time outdoors without sunscreen or proper clothing. “I realized what a big problem the sun [is] when you’re exposed to it for a long time,” he says.

Skin-cancer treatments can cost about $40,000. Heman wondered if there was a more affordable way for people to begin to treat the disease. He thought of adding a skin-cancer medicine to “something that everyone can use,” Heman says. “Everyone uses soap and water for cleaning. So soap would probably be the best option.”

Next Level

Heman needed help to bring his idea to life. He came across the 3M challenge. He submitted a video explaining what he had in mind. Soon, he received an invitation to speak in front of a panel of judges. That day, he was named the winner.

Since then, Heman has been hard at work. Experts are guiding him. One is Deborah Isabelle. She’s a mentor × mentor someone who shares knowledge (noun) from 3M. Isabelle describes Heman as a “very inspiring young man.”

Heman encourages kids to dream big. “Just keep inventing,” he says. “Keep thinking of new ways to improve our world.”

Beyond the Lab

Heman is serious about science and about reaching his goals as an inventor. But he’s also a regular teen. He has hobbies and other interests. He plays flute and trombone for the Woodson High School Marching Band. He plays basketball. And he enjoys reading a good book, especially if it’s fantasy.

Playing chess is another thing Heman loves to do. He says he considers chess “a turn-my-brain-off-and-play kind of thing.”