Campaigning for world leaders to act on climate change since she was 15 years old.
Anna was walking along Castle Island Beach near her hometown in Boston one day when she noticed plastic scattered along the shore. She bent down to pick it up and realized there was much more plastic than she originally saw. There were lots of tiny little pieces too small to spot or handle. This is when Anna realised a tool was needed to spot plastic on the shores and seabed. Anna decided she was going to be the one to invent this tool.
She attended lectures and workshops at her nearby university, got books from local libraries and watched videos on YouTube. Then, using the skills Anna had learnt, she designed a robot that uses infrared light to detect plastics and identify where they are accumulating. Anna’s idea is that once she has mapped out where the plastic is accumulating, she can plan how to clean up the ocean floor, starting with the most affected areas.
On top of Anna’s amazing robot creation, she wrote a book called ‘Microplastics and Me’ to spread the word about microplastics. She hopes to inspire young change-makers to follow in her footsteps by identifying a problem, researching it and acting upon it. Anna says, ‘I encourage my fellow students to visit local libraries, universities, environmental and other organisations to find out about the pollution issues facing your own community.’
Campaigning for access to clean water for Canada’s indigenous communities since she was 8 years old.
Raising awareness of the effects of the Syrian civil war and calling for peace since she was 6 years old.
Challenging the representation of girls and women in society since she was 11 years old.
Running a marathon in 10 days to raise money for homeless people when he was 7 years old.
Fundraising for the farmers whose incomes have been affected by drought in Australia since he was 11 years old.
Inspiring girls to learn about and aspire to work in science and technology subjects since she was 16 years old.
Creating and growing a bank that helps children save money by recycling since he was 12 years old.
Designing technology to supply electricity and water without emitting greenhouse gases since he was 15 years old.
Campaigning for the banning of plastic bags in Bali since they were 10 and 12 years old.
Designing a solar powered ironing cart to reduce charcoal burning in India since she was 12 years old.
Petitioning for schools to give children reusable water bottles since he was 7 years old.
Campaigning for people and businesses to stop using single-use plastics since they were 10 and 12 years old.
Set up organisations supporting cancer patients, people in poverty, and promoting golf in young black girls, since she was 10 years old.
Saving the lives of hundreds of hedgehogs in the UK since they were 9 years old.
Campaigning to promote proper battery disposal and recycling since he was 10 years old.
Campaigning for people and businesses to stop using single-use plastics since they were 10 and 12 years old.
The world’s youngest sustainability advocate – working to make the world a better place since she was 3 years old.
Solving the problem of water contamination using science and technology since she was 11 years old.
