Gwinnett 9th grader America’s ‘Top Young Scientist’ [Video]

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — At 14 years old, Sirish Subash is now America’s “Top Young Scientist.” The 9th-grade student from the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology won the national competition for his invention of PestiSCAND. 

Built to use with a phone application, the PestiSCAND device uses machine learning to detect pesticide residues on produce.

11Alive had the chance to interview the “Top Young Scientist” and peer into his mind and thought process when creating PestiSCAND. 

Scroll below for the Q&A with Sirish Subash.

What was the inspiration behind this? Why pesticides?

This, this problem came up when I was talking with my mom over some produce that we were washing. And my real question was, ‘Why does it matter that we wash them? And how effective is the washing process?’ So I researched, I did, I looked into some papers and I found out that you don’t pesticide residues can stick around after multiple rounds …