Nithya is the 12-year-old founder of Save Drop, tackling the water crisis since age 9 through recirculation pump advocacy. Through Save Drop, Nithya is working to ensure every child has access to clean water by reducing waste and making water safer through nature-inspired solutions.
Nithya’s original invention, BioLayer, is a $38 nature-inspired filter that reduced lead to non-detectable levels in testing — making safe water accessible anywhere. This breakthrough helped earn her recognition as National Winner of the 2026 Mott Million Dollar Challenge and NJ Winner of the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge.
Save Drop has reached over 1 million people, built 100+ student clubs, and partnered with 22 restaurants across 11 states, while Nithya has sent letters to all 50 governors advocating for change. At just 12 years old, she proves age is no barrier to creating real-world solutions that matter.