Meet Alumni:

Aakash Manaswi

2024 3M Young Scientist Challenge Finalist
2025 Alumni Grant Recipient

Aakash was the Continuation of 3M Young Scientist Challenge Project Grant for their work on their 3M Young Scientist Challenge Project, “Evaluating the Efficacy of Novel Carbon Dioxide Spray and Pesticides Using a Convolutional Neural Network for Varroa Mite Treatment in Honeybee Colonies.”

About their Project

Honeybees are essential to our food supply, pollinating 80% of crops and contributing over $180 billion to the global economy each year. But in the U.S., beekeepers are losing up to half their hives annually—mostly due to a deadly parasite called the Varroa mite.

Current chemical treatments can help, but they come with risks to bees, the environment, and long-term effectiveness. That’s why they are exploring a safer, smarter solution: carbon dioxide (CO₂).

Their research tested CO₂ as a non-toxic, affordable alternative to traditional pesticides. In field trials with 45 hives, CO₂ eliminated over 96% of mites—matching or outperforming industry-standard treatments. We also developed innovative tools, including a CO₂ delivery device, a mite-counting AI system, and a predictive model to help beekeepers monitor hive health.

This breakthrough could transform how we protect honeybees—and help reverse their global decline.

What was the inspiration behind your project?

Five years ago, I visited a local beekeeper, Mr. Griner's apiary. When we suited up and went to look at the hives, I noticed nearly half of them were completely empty! When I asked him why, his answer was just one word; varroa. After finding out that bees are responsible for 80% of global crop pollination, but there is a 40-50% decline in bee populations every year, I was inspired by my love for food and knew I had to help. My research began with a promise. After three years of research later, and I think I have a solution for beekeepers across the globe.