Innovative Minds: Kriesh Tivare

Cooper Middle School | 8th grade grade | 13 years old

Nifty Nanogenerators! - Electricity Generation Using Triboelectricity

About the Idea

Over the years, hundreds of tons of carbon have been emitted into the atmosphere due to causes such as nonrenewable energy sources. Carbon Emissions have had a toll on the Earth and will eventually be irreversible.

Why did you enter the 3M Young Scientist Challenge?

I entered the Young Scientist Challenge so I could have a place where I could share my results and work on my passion project and get additional help from my peers and professionals. The Young Scientist Challenge served as a motivation to push through the challenges and continue working on my triboelectric nanogenerators, and it allowed me to better schedule and organize my working time.

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

My favorite invention of the last 100 years would definitely be the 3d printer. The way that I have the creative freedom to produce anything I want just by designing and inserting a file is just astonishing. I use the 3d printer to help make quick prototypes for all of my projects, making sure to fail quickly and adapt even quicker. 3d printing has also been the solution for many medical issues, offering a cheaper and easier way to produce prosthetics and other medical tools for those who cannot obtain them. The 3d printer is a facilitative invention that has expanded and improved physical prototyping as a whole.

In 15 years I hope to be...

In 15 years I hope to be an aeronautical engineer working to create something that could revolutionize space travel. Astronomy has always intrigued me, and I hope that by working to better myself through engineering, I can make something that can really make an impact in the space industry.