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Subash’s innovative approach not only highlights his technical expertise but also demonstrates a significant step forward in food safety and public health
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This achievement serves as an inspiring reminder of the power of STEM and youth innovation in addressing global challenges
A 9th-grade Indian-origin student, Sirish Subash, from the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology in Snellville, Georgia, recently won the prestigious ‘2024 Young Scientist Challenge.’ Recognized as the premier middle school science competition in the U.S., this annual event is organized by 3M and Discovery Education, thelocal.es reported.
The device features a sensor, power source, display screen, and processor, making it portable and user-friendly for farmers and consumers
Subash earned the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist” and a $25,000 (₹21.10 lakh) cash prize for developing PestiSCAND, an innovative handheld device designed to detect pesticide residues on farm produce. Competing against nine other talented finalists, Subash showcased his winning project during the final challenge in Minnesota on October 14 and 15.
Guided by Aditya Banerji, a senior research engineer at 3M, Subash turned his concept into a working prototype over the summer. The challenge evaluated finalists on creativity, STEM application, research skills, presentation, and their ability to inspire others. Subash’s project stood out for its ingenuity and practical application.
PestiSCAND employs spectrophotometry, a non-destructive technique that measures the reflection of light at different wavelengths from the surface of fruits and vegetables. The collected data is processed by a machine learning model to detect pesticide presence with over 85% accuracy, particularly effective on spinach and tomatoes.
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