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Through his invention, Subash not only showcased his technical brilliance but also highlighted the potential of STEM to address real-world challenges
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His achievement reinforces the vital role of young minds in advancing sustainability and public health.
Sirish Subash, a ninth-grader at Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology in Snellville, Georgia, has been crowned America’s Top Young Scientist for 2024, reported english.gujaratsamachar.com.
Subash triumphed in the prestigious Young Scientist Challenge, an annual competition organized by 3M and Discovery Education. Recognized as the premier middle school science competition in the United States, this event celebrates innovation and excellence in STEM.
Subash earned the title and a grand prize of $25,000 (approximately INR 21.10 lakh) for his groundbreaking invention, PestiSCAND, a handheld AI-powered device that detects pesticide residues on fresh produce.
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Subash’s journey was supported by his mentor, Aditya Banerji, a senior research engineer at 3M, who collaborated with him during the summer to transform his concept into a working prototype
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The device integrates components such as sensors, a power supply, a display screen, and a processor, offering farmers and consumers an efficient, accurate, and eco-friendly solution to monitor pesticide contamination
The device uses a non-destructive spectrophotometry technique, which measures the reflection of light at various wavelengths from the surface of fruits and vegetables. A machine learning model processes this data to identify the presence of harmful pesticide residues with an impressive accuracy rate exceeding 85%.
The final leg of the competition took place in Minnesota on October 14 and 15, where Subash competed against nine other talented finalists. Each participant underwent rigorous evaluations, which tested their innovative thinking, application of STEM principles, research skills, and ability to inspire others.
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