{"id":42577,"date":"2025-05-16T07:00:49","date_gmt":"2025-05-16T01:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/?post_type=story&p=42577"},"modified":"2025-05-15T10:32:06","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T05:02:06","slug":"anjali-chadha-the-innovator-tackling-arsenic-contamination-with-science","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/anjali-chadha-the-innovator-tackling-arsenic-contamination-with-science\/","title":{"rendered":"Anjali Chadha: The innovator tackling arsenic contamination with science"},"content":{"rendered":"

(May 16, 2025)<\/strong> In parts of the world\u2014even in the United States\u2014people still drink water that can poison them. That\u2019s not an exaggeration. It\u2019s the reality for millions who rely on wells contaminated with arsenic, a toxic chemical that causes cancer and other serious health problems. Anjali Chadha was just a teenager when she found out that several counties in her home state of Kentucky had dangerously high levels of arsenic in their groundwater. What shocked her more? Most people didn\u2019t even know their water was unsafe.<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t believe this was happening so close to home,\u201d she said in an interview. That moment changed everything for Anjali. Determined to find a solution, she started building a simple, affordable sensor that could detect arsenic in water and send the results to the cloud in real-time.<\/p>\n

The project took over a year to build\u2014but it worked. And in 2019, her invention earned her national recognition as a finalist in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, one of the most prestigious science competitions for high school students in the United States. At just 17, Anjali stood among the top 40 teen scientists in the country\u2014not for a lab experiment, but for creating a device that could save lives.<\/p>\n

\"Anjali

A Love for Science from the Start<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Anjali\u2019s interest in science began early. Growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, she was the kind of kid who preferred books about the solar system and the human body over fairy tales. \u201cSome of the first real books I read were scientific,\u201d she shared. \u201cI liked learning things that helped me understand how the world works.\u201d<\/p>\n

With both parents in technology and a mother who worked in STEM, Anjali had plenty of support at home. \u201cMy family encouraged me to ask questions and solve problems,\u201d she said. Her grandparents, too, inspired her. They often spoke about the importance of education, especially for girls.<\/p>\n

But it wasn\u2019t until middle school that Anjali saw just how unequal opportunities in science could be. Her school had a special math and science magnet program, but half the students came from the nearby neighborhood. \u201cThe difference between the two groups was huge,\u201d she said. \u201cA lot of girls, especially from minority backgrounds, felt intimidated by STEM. They didn\u2019t think it was for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

That stuck with Anjali\u2014and later became part of her mission.<\/p>\n

Creating the Arsenic Sensor<\/strong><\/h5>\n

After learning about the arsenic crisis in Kentucky, Anjali started researching. She discovered the problem was even bigger than she thought. In the U.S., around 50 million people use private wells, which aren\u2019t regularly tested for arsenic. Globally, countries like India and Bangladesh face major health risks because of arsenic-contaminated groundwater.<\/p>\n

She wondered: why wasn\u2019t there an easy way for people to test their water?<\/p>\n

\"Anjali

So, she set out to build one. Her goal was to create a low-cost, easy-to-use device that didn\u2019t need lab equipment. The result was a small sensor that used a chemical reaction to turn arsenic into a gas. This gas would change the color of a test strip, and a built-in computer would measure the color and calculate the arsenic level. The results could be uploaded instantly to the cloud.<\/p>\n

The best part? It cost around $350 to make\u2014and one sensor could be used by a whole village.<\/p>\n

Her invention caught the attention of the Regeneron Science Talent Search, and in 2019, Anjali became one of just 40 students selected from across the country. She won a $25,000 prize and got the chance to present her project in Washington, D.C. \u201cBeing from Kentucky, a state that deals with coal mining and environmental issues, I wanted to find a solution that actually helps people,\u201d she told Society for Science.<\/p>\n

Bridging the STEM Gap with Empowered<\/strong><\/h5>\n

While building her sensor, Anjali was also thinking about something else: how to bring more girls like her into science and tech. In 2016, she founded a nonprofit called Empowered, Inc. Its mission? Teach minority high school girls technology skills\u2014and then connect them with small, women-owned businesses that need digital support.<\/p>\n

At first, Empowered was just Anjali helping local entrepreneurs build websites and manage social media. But soon, she started training girls to take on those projects themselves. Each summer, Empowered hosts a seven-week program where students learn web design, marketing, and coding. After that, they\u2019re paired with real businesses to put their new skills to work.<\/p>\n

\u201cConfidence and passion can take you a long way,\u201d Anjali said in an interview. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to wait to be older or more experienced to make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

Through Empowered, she\u2019s helped dozens of girls get hands-on experience\u2014and shown them that STEM isn\u2019t just for a select few.<\/p>\n

\"Anjali

Proudly Indian, Proudly Global<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Anjali\u2019s journey is deeply connected to her identity as an Indian-American. She\u2019s grown up balancing two cultures and using that blend to guide her goals. She studied Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance form, for over 10 years. Her family\u2019s background in India\u2014where access to clean water wasn\u2019t always guaranteed\u2014also played a big role in shaping her outlook.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy family in India now has clean water, but my grandparents didn\u2019t always have that,\u201d she said. \u201cIt made me realize how lucky I am\u2014and how much work there\u2019s still to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her arsenic sensor wasn\u2019t just for the U.S. It was designed with global communities in mind\u2014places where testing water is still a luxury. Her invention shows how one person can help people both at home and across the world.<\/p>\n

Anjali has also become a role model. She was named a \u201cVoice of the Year\u201d by Seventeen magazine, and became an ambassador for the AAAS IF\/THEN initiative, which highlights women in STEM. A life-size 3D-printed statue of her was even displayed in a museum to inspire other girls to pursue science.<\/p>\n