16-year-old South African scholar Kiara Nirghin has won the top prize at Google’s 2016 Science Fair for her invention which tackles drought in South Africa.
The last time we reported on Kiara Nirghin, the 16-year-old South African had won Google’s Community Impact Award for creating a super absorbent polymer that could combat drought. Now, we’re ecstatic to report that Kiara has officially taken the top honours at Google’s 2016 Science Fair, and will walk away with roughly R687,480 ZAR which will be put towards her education in scholarship funding.
Read: 16-year old South African Kiara Nirghin wins the Google Science Fair‘s Community Impact Award
Kiara’s invention – a project entitled No More Thirsty Crops – makes use of orange peel and avocado skins to develop what is known as a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) which is capable of storing reserves of water hundreds of times its own weight. The creation effectively would allow farmers to maintain their crops at a reduced cost, and the solution is entirely based on recyclable and biodegradable waste products.
Speaking on the origin her idea, the scholar stated that “œI wanted to minimise the effect that drought has on the community and the main thing it affects is the crops“¦ That was the springboard for the idea.“
On the potential for the creation to assist in averting disaster across South Africa‘s drought-stricken farms, Kiara stated her belief that “œIf the idea was commercialised and applied to real farms and real crops I definitely think the impact that drought has on crops would be reduced.“
The project has placed the scholar as the overall winner of Google’s 2016 Science Fair, where she was awarded her prize in California.
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What are your thoughts on Kiara’s impressive success? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Follow Bryan Smith on Twitter: @bryansmithSA
