Founder18
Amaira Srivastava
15 Y/O•Gilbert, Arizona, USA•Other

Amaira Srivastava

2nd-place finisher in the 2025 3M Young Scientist Challenge (Discovery Education / 3M Young Scientist Lab), at age 14 — finalist profile and competition coverage.

What they built

Invented FlavoPeel Cups — biodegradable drinking cups made from fruit peels (blended with vinegar, glycerine, cornstarch, and water) that decompose far faster than petroleum-based plastics and naturally infuse water with flavonoid nutrients. Amaira developed the prototype independently at age 14, testing over a dozen formulations to identify the optimal fruit-peel combinations for nutrient release. The invention addresses three simultaneous problems: single-use plastic waste (the US generates ~40 million tons annually), food waste from discarded fruit peels, and micronutrient deficiency in drinking water.

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The F18 Thesis

Verified track record

  • FOX 10 Phoenix — "Arizona teen named top young scientist finalist" (July 20, 2025, confirms she is a 9th-grader in AZ, age ~14–15 at time of article) (source)
  • 3M & Discovery Education Official Press Release — named 2nd-place finisher in 2025 3M Young Scientist Challenge (Oct 15, 2025) (source)
  • Young Scientist Lab finalist profile (confirms age 14, 8th grade, project description) (source)
  • The South Asian Times — "Indian-American teens bag top honors in 2025 3M Young Scientist Challenge" (Oct 16, 2025) (source)
  • CBS Minnesota News — 3M Challenge coverage (source)
  • Arizona Science Center recognition post (July 22, 2025) (source)
  • Learn and Help blog — personal account of NYC NYSE bell-ringing (Oct 21, 2025) (source)
  • Submission video (YouTube) (source)
Updated April 27, 2026