On March 18, 2019, I competed in the Mercer Science and Engineering Fair to advocate for my Guardians of the Coast (GoC) research to save the ocean. The judges were very interested in the Guardians of the Coast system novel smart material (Nitinol) technology to save the ocean from the dangerous amounts of plastic in the ocean. I received valuable information and feedback from the judges, which is very critical for me to improve the GoC system.

It was great to see that the judges took interest in the cause, asked great questions, and awarded the project with following –

• NASA Earth System Science Award
• The United States Air Force – Certificate of Achievement
• American Meteorological Society – Certificate of Outstanding Achievement

We need to save the ocean because without addressing the loss of flora and fauna in the ocean, we will face biodiverse catastrophe, for our food chain, as well as the potential infectious diseases that may arise. We need mediation immediately; the longer we wait the more severe the problem becomes. I want my generation, gen Z, to create innovative solutions to solve the issues affecting the ocean. The team has been formed to take action on the climate crisis and it is really powerful and inspiring for me to see more and more people join this collective.