Innovative Minds: Laalitya Acharya

Mason Middle School | 8th grade | 13 years old

TraffEnerate: Generating Electricity from Vehicular Traffic

About the Idea

Laalitya hopes to revolutionize energy in developing countries by using vehicular motion to generate and harness clean and affordable energy.

Why did you enter the 3M Young Scientist Challenge?

I wanted to change the world, that simple. On my family’s yearly trip to India, I saw children who have no power in their homes, huddling near dangerous fires. I wanted to change their position in life, to make it better by creating clean energy and electricity.

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

Bypass Surgery. Two years ago my uncle had a heart attack, it was so severe that he had to undergo an emergency bypass surgery. This bypass surgery saved his life. But before 1976, if you had a heart attack the chances of survival were slim. Now, thanks to modern medicine and bypass surgery invention by Ren Favaloro, survival rates have increased since before 1976.

In 15 years I hope to be...

Still be solving new challenges and saving lives.

Just be you and pave the way to change