14-Year-Old Invents Pesticide Detector, Wins America's Top Young Scientist Award

Sirish Subash, a ninth grader from Snellville, Georgia, has earned the title of "America's Top Young Scientist" in the prestigious 3M Young Scientist Challenge. The young innovator captivated judges with PestiSCAND, an AI-powered handheld device designed to detect pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables with an impressive 85% accuracy. Subash's win secured him a $25,000 prize, which he plans to invest in his education as he aspires to study at MIT.

Inspired by concerns his mother raised about thoroughly washing produce, Subash discovered that around 70% of fruits and vegetables can retain pesticide residues even after rinsing. Motivated by FDA statistics linking these residues to serious health conditions such as brain cancer, leukemia, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson’s disease, he developed PestiSCAND. The compact device uses spectrophotometry combined with AI to provide a reliable analysis of produce at home.

Subash's journey was supported by mentorship from a 3M scientist, helping him refine the technology to be portable and Bluetooth-compatible. While PestiSCAND enhances food safety, Subash emphasized it is not a replacement for washing but an added measure to ensure produce cleanliness.

Subash’s advice to other young STEM enthusiasts? “Pursue what you’re passionate about. When you care deeply about your project, it pushes you to work harder and achieve your best.”

Reference:

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