New York: Sirish Subash, a ninth grader from Snellville, Georgia, has been named “America’s Top Young Scientist” after winning first place in the prestigious 3M and Discovery Education Middle School Science Competition. The young Indian American’s groundbreaking project, PestiSCAND, addresses a pressing concern many have about the safety of their produce—pesticide residues that may linger even after washing.
Subash’s AI-powered handheld device, PestiSCAND, allows consumers to check for pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables from the comfort of their homes. This innovative solution is based on alarming data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which states that 70.6% of produce items contain pesticide residues. These residues have been linked to serious health risks such as brain cancer, leukemia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease.
“The residues can stay on produce after washing, and that’s where they’ve been connected to a variety of health issues,” Subash explained. “If we could detect them, we could avoid consuming them and reduce the risk of those health issues.”
Subash tested his device on spinach and tomatoes, and PestiSCAND proved highly effective, with an accuracy rate of over 85%. His project met the competition’s goals of both effectiveness and speed, earning him the top honor in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Subash had the support of mentor Aditya Banerji, a senior research engineer in 3M’s Corporate Research Process Laboratory. As the grand prize winner Subash was awarded a $25,000 cash prize. “This year's Young Scientist Challenge finalists have demonstrated an incredible ability to develop creative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges,” says Torie Clarke, EVP & chief public affairs officer at 3M. “I am beyond impressed and inspired by their intelligence and their scientific minds.
