Ariana Agarwal

What they built

Co-founded Plas-Stick, a biodegradable magnetic powder made from discarded tamarind seeds that removes microplastics from drinking water. The solution was inspired by rural community visits where people stored water in plastic containers with no access to filtration. The powder causes microplastics to clump together for easy extraction with a handheld magnet — low-cost, biodegradable, and deployable without electricity or infrastructure.

Verified track record

• 2026 Earth Prize Global Winner (21,000+ students from 169 countries); CNN interview with Ariana Agarwal directly (June 16, 2026); Mongabay India (May 25, 2026); PR Newswire / Earth Prize Newsroom (May 29, 2026); IJNRD published research paper (as high school freshman); multiple Indian and international outlets. Sources: ; https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/16/world/video/earth-prize-winner-ariana-agarwal-full-intv-061302aseg2-cnni-world-fast ; https://ijnrd.org/author_details.php?name=Ariana+Agarwal (source)