SRIRAM BHIMARAJU
INDIA & UNITED STATES, 16
He/Him
Project: Seas Brighter Foundation
In 2019, Sriram attended a scuba diving camp in the British Virgin Islands. He was aware that the world’s marine ecosystem was in danger, but it wasn’t until he saw large swaths of bleached coral firsthand that he understood the magnitude of the problem. In December 2020, Sriram created the Seas Brighter Foundation to reduce anthropogenic pollution in ocean waters by developing technological solutions and educational tools that promote environment-friendly decisions. Seas Brighter operates on a three-pronged approach: prevention, cure and awareness. Sriram researched and discovered personal care products were a large source of chemicals harming marine life. The Saagara: Stay Green app helps users choose eco-friendly products to prevent harm to the environment. Sriram also developed novel beads that adsorb pollutants from marine water, which was awarded the Wells Fargo Community Innovation Award in Arizona State University’s International Sustainability Solutions Science Fair. Seas Brighter’s Instagram account spreads ocean conservation awareness to thousands of followers worldwide and they distribute environmental awareness materials to students across the United States and India. In April 2022, Seas Brighter organized two youth-led events for Earth Day in Kanchi and Tirupati, India, which attracted attention from numerous media outlets and community leaders. His goal is to integrate sustainability into school curricula worldwide, so every student around the world can protect our planet. Sriram is currently identifying marine robotics institutions to implement mass manufacturing of his novel bead innovation.