Innovative Minds: Amaira Srivastava

Arizona College Prep Middle School | 8th grade | 14 years old

FlavoPeel Cups: A Novel Approach to Food Waste, Malnutrition, and Plastic Pollution

About the Idea

Meet Amaira. created biodegradable cups infused with fruit peels to fight plastic waste, reduce food loss, and deliver natural nutrients through flavonoid-rich water.

Why did you enter the 3M Young Scientist Challenge?

I entered this challenge to learn and acquire new skills with the guidance of 3M mentors hoping to deep dive further into making and developing my prototype into a more scalable solution. I want to make my product an everyday household item, thereby playing a role in addressing the prevalent issue of climate change and malnutrition.

What is your favorite invention of the last 100 years, and why?

My favorite invention of the last 100 years has to be the Internet. It has revolutionized connectivity and made information accessible to everyone worldwide. This has empowered individuals to gain knowledge, aim higher, and achieve more making learning and earning opportunities available to everybody.

In 15 years I hope to be...

In 15 years, I hope to be a global scientist, innovator, and purpose-driven entrepreneur tackling the world's biggest challenges, like climate change, pollution, and hunger. My goal is to create solutions that are not only environmentally friendly but also fair and inclusive, helping to protect our planet and improve lives for people everywhere. I believe that with creativity and determination, we can build a future where everyone has the chance to thrive, and I hope to make our world a better place for generations to come.