Founder18
Yashwin Adusumilli
16 Y/O•Parkland, Florida, USA•Other

Yashwin Adusumilli

Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes 2025 Runner-Up at age 16 for Marine Guard biofilters combating harmful algal blooms in South Florida — Barron Prize 2025 winners/runners-up listing (2025).

What they built

Yashwin founded Marine Guard after witnessing a massive fish kill caused by a harmful algal bloom in the Florida Keys while fishing with his father. He engineered seaweed biofilters using Gracilaria, a non-invasive red algae that naturally absorbs excess nitrogen and phosphorus from waterways, preventing destructive algal blooms that deplete oxygen and kill marine life. His solution is self-funded through science fair awards and pitch competitions ($25,000+ raised) and directly addresses a looming environmental crisis threatening South Florida's coastal ecosystems.

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The F18 Thesis

Verified track record

  • Gloria Barron Prize 2025 Runner-Up (barronprize.org); Action for Nature 2024 International Young Eco-Hero Award – Honorable Mention; ISEF 2024 Finalist; Purdue Business Pitch Grand Prize $10,000 (2024); EarthEcho OurEcho Challenge 2024 Grand Prize $5,000; Boca Raton Tribune feature; Parkland Talk feature; City of Parkland City Commission recognition; FAU High School blog; MIT Solve 2024 Climate Challenge entry
Updated April 27, 2026