South African Kiara Nirghin, 16, won Google's Community Impact Award for creating a super absorbent polymer that could be used to combat the nation's crippling drought crisis.
Precocious talent —
South African Kiara Nirghin, 16, won Google's Community Impact Award for creating a super absorbent polymer that could be used to combat the nation's crippling drought crisis.
google science fair
The polymer uses orange peel and avocado skins, which combine to form a material that can store hundreds of times its weight in water, creating reservoirs that would allow farmers to maintain their crops through droughts.
Sustainable solution —
The polymer uses orange peel and avocado skins, which combine to form a material that can store hundreds of times its weight in water, creating reservoirs that would allow farmers to maintain their crops through droughts.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
South Africa is experiencing the worst droughts on record, with thousands of communities and millions of people experiencing water shortages.
Urgent crisis —
South Africa is experiencing the worst droughts on record, with thousands of communities and millions of people experiencing water shortages.
MUJAHID SAFODIEN/AFP/AFP/Getty Images