Heman Bekele – a 15-year-old scientist from Arlington, Virginia – was named TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year on Thursday, 15 August, for his groundbreaking work in skin cancer treatment.

Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Bekele has developed an innovative bar soap designed to combat and prevent skin cancer. His creation, known as “Skin Cancer Treating Soap” (SCTS), utilises imiquimod — a drug commonly used in the treatment of abnormal cells that lead to the medical ailment — which can provide a more accessible and affordable solution.

The teenager’s pioneering work earned him the title of America’s Top Young Scientist at the annual 3M Young Scientist Challenge, making him the first Black recipient of this honour.

The $25 000 prize from the competition will support his ongoing research at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the US city of Baltimore, Maryland.

Under the guidance of molecular biologist and professor at the esteemed institution, Vito Rebecca, Bekele is working to refine SCTS for market readiness by 2028. He also aspires to make his project into a nonprofit organisation.

“It’s absolutely incredible to think that one day my bar of soap will be able to make a direct impact on somebody else’s life. That’s the reason I started this all in the first place,” the youngster said proudly.

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