Veer Mehta
Age 16
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Turning the Tide

Veer’s passion for marine conservation led him to create "Turning the Tide," a data-driven initiative leveraging machine learning for real-time marine pollution detection. He organizes evidence-based cleanup drives across India's coastal states, engaging over 400 million coastal residents. His extensive research and advocacy with the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) aim to enhance marine health and conservation. Veer has developed an early warning system for water pollution, using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) to provide timely alerts to communities and authorities, mitigating the impacts of pollution. He has also conducted the RiverWatch initiative, mapping the water quality of Goan rivers and engaging with local fishermen. Veer presented his work at the World Ocean Science Congress 2024, advocating for data-driven change to over 4,000 delegates.

turningthetide.in

Carolyn He
Age 16
Randolph, New Jersey, USA
A Sustainable Future

Carolyn founded A Sustainable Future (ASF) to reduce paper consumption in schools. Her initiative educates students and provides a statistical tool for schools to manage paper use effectively. Through ASF’s Paper Consumption Program (PCP), students learn to research and analyze paper consumption, creating customized models for their schools. Carolyn’s work has engaged over 150 student ambassadors and piloted in several schools. She is driven by the need to address the environmental impact of paper waste and empower students to take action.

asustainablefuture.org

Sophie Zeng
Age 16
San Diego, CA, USA
Project ARISE

Sophie founded Project ARISE to fight invasive plants with AI. Her tool identifies harmful species, aiding volunteers in their removal. The project, which started in May 2023, integrates an AI algorithm into a mobile app, enhancing accessibility for plant removal. Inspired by local wildfire impacts, Sophie’s work has already engaged over 80 volunteers and hosted numerous conservation events. “Using technology to make environmental protection accessible empowers everyone to make a difference.”

project-arise.org

Landon D’Agate
Age 16
Melville, NY, USA
Soil2Salad Community Garden

Landon founded Soil2Salad Community Garden, an initiative addressing food insecurity and promoting environmental justice. Started in May 2022, the project transforms a concrete lot in a food desert into a productive garden, providing fresh, organic produce to the local community. With over $6,000 in grants and community support, Landon’s garden has produced over 1,100 lbs of fresh produce, which has been donated to local food pantries. Motivated by his experiences with food insecurity, Landon created the garden to empower the community through sustainable gardening practices and education. His project includes an "Outdoor Classroom" and a forthcoming children's book to further promote environmental stewardship.

foodsecurefuture.com

Serena Chin
Age 16
Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
Miyawaki Pocket Forest

Serena spearheaded the creation of the first Miyawaki Pocket Forest in Western Canada at Richmond Secondary School. This project uses the Miyawaki Method to restore biodiversity by planting native species densely to form a mini-temperate rainforest. Serena led propagation workshops, educated over 100 people, and organized community planting events, including Equinox Celebrations that featured local artists and Indigenous culture. Her impactful work has been highlighted in local news and Canada’s National Observer.

instagram.com/rhs.greenteam