Who is Aarin, and what is he passionate about?

Our guest for this story, Aarin Bothra, is a junior at Oswego East High School in Oswego, Illinois, where he is dedicated to advancing environmental sustainability and innovation. As a proactive resident of Oswego, Aarin has tackled pressing local challenges, including the scarcity of prairie plants inspiring Seeds of Hope and the need for effective air purification solutions, which inspired his development of the Algae Air system.

Through his school endeavors and impactful projects, such as founding the nonprofit Seeds of Hope, inventing Algae Air, and contributing as a Policy Drafting Member of the Youth Advisory Council, Aarin has cultivated valuable skills in collaboration, problem-solving, and technical expertise. These experiences have also built his confidence in addressing challenges using a multidisciplinary approach that combines technology, business, and legislative action, offering holistic solutions to environmental issues.

What problem is Aarin solving?

A few years ago, Aarin noticed how light or heavy rain during annual spring thunderstorms would change lawn dips into ponds and cause localized flooding. Curious about this fascinating phenomenon, Aarin began researching and discovered the important contributing factor: the decline of native plants, especially prairie plants, which resulted in the lack of root systems needed to absorb the water. Despite Illinois’ legacy as a “prairie state,” the abundance of the well-known plant had decreased, yielding exacerbated flooding, worsening droughts, and disrupting animal ecosystems.

Another issue that caught Aarin’s attention was the poor air quality around his area in Oswego, which is ranked as one of the worst in the nation. Various coal plants surrounding the region significantly contributed to the worsening air quality. This negatively impacted many teachers, students, and other community members. Recognizing these environmental challenges, Aarin became motivated to create and develop innovative solutions.

How is Aarin solving these problems?

In collaboration with another student, Aarin co-founded Seeds of Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to combating the decline of prairie plants in Illinois by actively engaging the community in environmental restoration. This organization, championing environmental activism, has introduced seed libraries that store prairie seeds and planting instructions to be distributed at various libraries and planted in the local community. Aarin believes that by involving community members and encouraging them to change themselves, Seeds of Hope can “foster individual environmental activism but also wide scale community action.” Now, a year into the nonprofit, Aarin has implemented his seed libraries into five libraries and has gained over $10,000 in funding.

In addition to Seeds of Hope, through his innovation, Algae Air, Aarin has developed a solution to the low air quality in his region. Algae Air is an optimized algae air purification system that is 400 times more efficient than trees and utilizes a user-friendly device to convert airborne contaminants into oxygen and other helpful biomass.  Through the Lemelson-MIT’s InvenTeam Challenge, Algae Air received $7,500 in funding and mentorship under an LMIT mentorMIT professor to engineer Algae Air.

What obstacles or issues did he have to overcome?

As the team technical lead, Aarin experienced a few obstacles in developing Algae Air, which tested his resilience and adaptability. During the experience, he learned how to use various machines, such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and power tools. Along the way, he invested significant time in watching tutorials and conducting research to understand the intricacies of patent filing. He underwent multiple iterations before finalizing a version complete with detailed technical diagrams and drafts. In addition, as a Policy Drafting Member of the Youth Advisory Council, Aarin encountered challenges in drafting a bill. Still, through the process, he developed his skills in the policy process and is now making strides in drafting a bill regarding restrictions on artificial turf to address environmental concerns through legislative action.

What has he accomplished?

Aarin has successfully grown his Seeds of Hope nonprofit within five libraries and plans to use his $10,000 in funding to expand the organization’s reach. Alongside his nonprofit work, Aarin and his team have secured a provisional patent for their innovative Algae Air system. This invention earned them 2nd place globally in the Social Innovation category of the prestigious Diamond Challenge, the world’s largest entrepreneurship competition. At this summit, Aarin learned about product-market fit, cost analysis, and how to bring their product to market. Through his journey in Algae Air, Seeds of Hope, and as a Policy Drafting Member, Aarin has developed various skills, including technical, legal, and business skills, in addition to iterative problem-solving and perseverance.  

What are his goals for the future?

In the future, Aarin plans to expand his Seeds of Hope nonprofit into 10-15 local libraries within the following year. Although he has chosen not to pursue a nonprovisional patent for Algae Air at this time due to the high costs as a high school student, his experience with the Diamond Challenge and the market process has provided him with the knowledge and skills to take his invention to the next level when the opportunity arises. In addition, as the Policy Drafting Member, he hopes to pass his bill to the General Assembly in the following spring. The bill aims to restrict the usage of artificial turf to advocate for more environmentally friendly alternatives.

How can others help or get involved?

There are several ways to get involved with Seeds of Hope. You can partake in the prairie restoration process by planting seed packets in your lawn or local community, contributing directly to reintroducing the native plants. To learn more about Seeds of Hope or get involved, contact Aarin at aarinbothra@gmail.com. Aarin also encourages everyone to take initiative by identifying challenges in their surroundings and brainstorming innovative solutions.