ECO-HERO AWARD WINNERS
Nithya Tammana
2026: DR. MARY GRIFFIN-JONES SPECIAL AWARD
Nithya Tammana, an 11-year-old water conservation innovator, leads the global movement "Save Drop," empowering over 450 "Water Warriors" through policy advocacy, grassroots campaigns like #ServeHalfGlass and her open-source moss filter that removes up to 95% of lead from school drinking water.
Spencer Hitchen
2026: SHIMON SCHWARZSCHILD SPECIAL AWARD
Spencer Hitchen, a 15-year-old conservationist and nature photographer, leads global efforts to protect Australia's Wallum ecosystem and threatened species like the Glossy Black-Cockatoo through scientific data collection, corporate advocacy and nature education calendars.
Harley Fatahillah Yodhaloka Sunoto
2026: 1st PLACE
Harley Fatahillah Yodhaloka Sunoto, a 14-year-old coastal conservationist, founded "Mangrove Warrior" to protect Surabaya's vulnerable fishing communities by planting tens of thousands of mangroves and developing sustainable products with local women to support the coastal economy.
Lily Valentina Niederhofer
2026: 2nd PLACE
Lily Valentina Niederhofer, an 11-year-old swimmer and ocean advocate, raised over $12,000 through an open-water Atlantic swim and successfully lobbied U.S. and European lawmakers to ban industrial octopus farming.
Hao-Han "Hank" Wu
2026: 2nd PLACE
Hao-Han "Hank" Wu, a 13-year-old environmental leader from Taiwan, founded the "No Butts Alliance" to combat microplastic pollution using AI data mapping, smart drainage inventions, civic activism, and national policy advocacy.
Neha Blunt
2026: 3rd PLACE
Neha Blunt, a 13-year-old software developer and environmental activist, created the "Water Saver" web app to gamify household resource conservation, saving over 20 million gallons of water and educating over one million people.
Juan Sebastián Ávila Pérez
2026: 3rd PLACE
Juan Sebastián Ávila Pérez, a 14-year-old Colombian birdwatcher and inventor, created "Wings of Inclusion" (Alas de Inclusión) to build accessible vibrotactile tech tools that allow deaf youth to "feel" birdsong and connect with nature.
Noah Beshto
2026: HONORABLE MENTION
Noah Beshto, a 10-year-old documentarian and wildlife advocate, created "Noah's Diary" to produce nature documentaries across eight countries, raise awareness for wildlife rescue, and research birds and plastic pollution.
Amaira Kapoor
2026: 1st PLACE
Amaira Kapoor, a 16-year-old innovator, founded "Project Vaayu" to build low-cost evaporative cooling units from upcycled terracotta cups, lowering classroom temperatures in under-resourced schools by up to 10°C during extreme heatwaves.
Hala Sharafeddine
2026: 2nd PLACE
Hala Sharafeddine, a 16-year-old innovator from Beirut, founded "Code for Earth" to empower young women across MENA and South Asia with coding skills to build tech-driven solutions for local environmental challenges.
Jack Aronian
2026: 2nd PLACE
Jack Aronian, a 16-year-old scientist and filmmaker from New York, launched the H5N1 Prevention Initiative to produce educational films on bird flu and establish a national biosecurity network for wildlife sanctuaries.
Gunisha Kaur
2026: 3rd PLACE
Gunisha Kaur, a 16-year-old researcher from Ludhiana, founded "Buzzing Blooms" to build sensory-friendly, chemical-free pollinator gardens across India and Thailand, combining urban ecological restoration with neurodivergent youth inclusion.
Arjun Jain
2026: 3rd PLACE
Arjun Jain, a 16-year-old urban agriculturist from New Jersey, created "HydroBlossom" to build high-yield soil-less hydroponic systems, donating thousands of pounds of organic produce and influencing local food-system policy.
Abhiveer Gulati
2026: 3rd PLACE
Abhiveer Gulati, a 16-year-old activist from Delhi, founded the "NCR Clean Air Campaign" to address environmental injustice by distributing health protection gear, engaging communities, and pursuing legal litigation to mandate municipal accountability for air quality.
Stella Hong
2026: HONORABLE MENTION
Stella Hong, a 16-year-old researcher from Virginia, founded "HydroHarvest" to engineer upcycled, zero-electricity hydroponic grow kits, providing food-insecure urban families with low-maintenance, sustainable access to fresh produce.
Nuha Danish & Inaya Zaidi
2026: FINALISTS
Sisters Nuha Danish and Inaya Zaidi, ages 11 and 15 from Dubai, co-founded "WeGrow" to advance community organic farming, year-round school hydroponics, and surplus food donation drives across the UAE.
Vaishika Satheshwaran
2026: FINALISTS
Vaishika Satheswaran, a 12-year-old activist from Abu Dhabi, founded "Tiny Hands" to divert textile waste from landfills by upcycling discarded fabric scraps and retired school uniforms into practical, eco-friendly accessories.
Ji "Woody" Wu
2026: FINALISTS
At 12 years old, Taiwanese activist Ji "Woody" Wu founded "Recloth Kids" to combat fast fashion waste through upcycling workshops, massive recycled art installations and an AI-powered platform designed to educate consumers.
Isabela Silvério
2026: FINALISTS
At 15 years old, Brazilian researcher Isabela Silvério engineered "Orantire," a bio-tire made from orange peel waste to eliminate microplastic emissions, while training hundreds of underserved youth in environmental engineering.