Anitha Cherian

A teenage innovator who developed an affordable water purification system, addressing global health challenges.

Anitha Cherian, born in 2003 in India, gained international recognition at 15 for inventing a low-cost water filtration device using locally sourced materials. Her invention won the Siemens Youth India Innovation Challenge in 2018 and a special award at the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition. The device uses a combination of sand, charcoal, and medicinal plants like neem to remove 99% of pathogens, offering a sustainable solution for communities lacking access to clean water.

Cherian's work intersects science and social impact, embodying the 'maker' ethos. She co-founded Youth for Water, an NGO training young people to build similar systems. Her research on waterborne diseases has been cited in journals like Journal of Environmental Health. In 2020, she partnered with UNICEF to pilot her filtration units in rural Karnataka, benefiting over 5,000 families.

Beyond engineering, Cherian advocates for youth representation in STEM. She delivers workshops at events like World Economic Forum and hosts the podcast STEM Stories. Her TEDx talk, "How I Invented a Water Purifier at 14," underscores the power of interdisciplinary thinking. Anitha's innovations have inspired global replication, including in drought-prone regions of Kenya and Mexico.