This eight-grade student of William Mason High School, Ohio won this award for her cost-effective device to generate electricity from wind power in an eco-friendly way. Apart from the honour, she also received a whopping $25,000 cash prize (Rs.16 Lacs) for her future endeavours.

Mendu got the idea of developing this technology when she visited India and observed few villagers with no access to affordable energy and water.

Mendu then created a technology that could create energy using solar leaves. Solar leaves generate energy from precipitation, wind and the sun using a solar cell and piezoelectric (materials that possess the ability to generate an electric charge in response to applied mechanical stress) material. Just like the plants, the leaves receive energy from nature. 

The device is placed at an affordable cost of $5. 

“Her scientific thinking reflected the competition’s goal of applying science to everyday life, creating a solution that will improve lives and strengthen communities around the globe,” Discovery Education and 3M said in a joint statement.

Mendu wrote in her blogpost, 

“Along the way, I have learned so much about the process of innovation. Innovation is more than just a light bulb moment, it’s rather a continuous expansion very much like our universe.” 

The second position was also secured by an Indian American boy Rohan Wagh from Portland.