Michigan Teen Wins $10,000 Prize for Innovative Plastic-Cleaning Invention

In October 2025, a 16-year-old student from Northville, Michigan, has been awarded the prestigious Gloria Baron Prize for Young Heroes for his innovative invention to tackle plastic pollution. Srihan Sankepalle, a student at Northville High School, roughly 30 miles west of Detroit, received the $10,000 prize for his groundbreaking work.

Srihan's invention involves coating pieces of biodegradable foam with titanium-dioxide nanoparticles. When exposed to ultraviolet light, such as sunlight, the nanoparticles release other particles that degrade plastic. Srihan envisions his creation being used on a large scale to clean up areas with high concentrations of plastic waste, like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

"Since they won't move away, because the riptides and like currents go towards it, I think over ... an extended period of time, it could start being effective in areas with like high concentrations of plastic," Srihan explained.

Microplastic contamination has become a global problem, with the tiny particles found in everything from the air we breathe to the food we eat and the water we drink. While more research is still needed, early indications suggest that microplastics pose a serious threat to human health. Thankfully, young innovators like Srihan are taking action to find solutions to this pressing environmental issue.