Be Creative. Have original unique ideas that stand out. A lot of time people are afraid to step out of their comfort zone and worry about whether their project is relevant and significant enough but having uniqueness is what will make it significant and help you to stand out!
As part of my series about young people who are making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Arya Gurumukhi.
Arya Gurumukhi is a high school junior doing research in the energy storage field. Arya was named the winner of the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes for her innovation which can provide clean, sustainable energy to millions across society.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit about how you grew up?
Of course! I grew up in India for the first couple of years of my life before my parents moved to Texas. Growing up I always loved to read and my parents would always take me to local libraries and book talks. I think being surrounded by all these books constantly pushed me to learn something new and soon enough I was in my kitchen mixing random ingredients and creating mini explosions. I really got into the topic of energy storage when I was around 13 and the winter storm happened in Texas. It got me to research more about our current energy storage options and how susceptible they are to failure. It got me thinking, what can I do to fix this issue?
Is there a particular book or organization that made a significant impact on you growing up? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?
I remember reading Refugee by Alan Gratz when I was in 5th grade and it had a significant impact on the entire outlook I had on my life. The book outlined 3 children around my age battling their own issues in their countries. I grew cognizant of the problems people were facing across society and it helped put into perspective how truly diverse and complex our world is. I remember reading Refugee and being awed by the strength each character had within them.
How do you define “Making A Difference”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
When it comes to defining “making a difference” I view it as when someone changes the lives of those around them in a positive way. An example of this could be starting a community garden to provide fresh, nutritious greens to citizens. For me personally, making a difference means providing a stable, secure, and sustainable source of energy to those in low-income communities, oftentimes in areas that are neglected. An example of how I achieve this is through the creation of my novel catalyst material for the Bionic Leaf. This allows the Bionic Leaf to be of more practical use and applicable to low-income communities.
Ok super. Let’s now jump to the main part of our interview. You are currently leading an organization that aims to make a social impact. Can you tell us a bit about what you and your organization are trying to change in our world today?
So I’m currently trying to develop a new energy source that can produce clear, sustainable, and efficient fuel using bacteria, sunlight, and some water. The way it does this is by harnessing the sun’s solar energy to provide a current to two catalysts submerged underneath water. Once the catalyst receives a current it produces hydrogen and then certain bacteria in the Bionic Leaf consume this hydrogen to produce an alcohol-based fuel. Through this innovation, my biggest goal is to provide a stable, secure, and efficient energy source to millions across society. But also through the creation of the Bionic Leaf in addition to developing a new energy source, I want it to empower young women to innovate in STEM fields. By fostering creativity and ambition in science and technology, I want to inspire the next generation of female leaders. Through initiatives that promote access to STEM education, mentorship, and hands-on opportunities, I hope to enable women to be at the forefront of innovations like sustainable energy, helping to secure a brighter future for everyone in society. Providing stable energy sources will not only drive progress but also create a foundation for long-term success in society.
Can you tell us the backstory about what inspired you to originally feel passionate about this cause?
The inspiration for my research came from the winter storm that happened in Texas a couple of years ago. It was during February and almost the entire state of Texas lost its power for at least a week with several others losing power for more than 2 weeks. Dozens of people lost their lives and several others were scarred for life. It got me invested in our energy storage world and got me into researching our current energy storage systems. After much research, I found that millions across our world don’t have access to energy at all and many more while having access to a power source fear that their power could go out at any moment. This power insecurity is further exacerbated in low-income communities that have little to no infrastructure and funding. This instability of power hinders the education opportunities for so many students and hinders the growth of the entire nation. I grew extremely passionate after learning about these conditions and started my research in this field.
Many of us have ideas, dreams, and passions, but never manifest them. We don’t always get up and just do it. But you did. Was there an “Aha Moment” that made you decide that you were actually going to step up and do it? What was that final trigger?
For me, the final trigger was when I went to India to visit my grandmother. It was during the summer when the temperatures were around 100 degrees and in her rural town they had cut off the power for hours due to excessive demand for energy which had resulted in a failure of the system. I realized that several people in hospitals, homes, and communities who needed this energy either to stay cool or warm simply couldn’t get it. This lack of energy could not only jeopardize their success but also their lives. This made me realize that I would need to be the one that needed to step up and change our current energy sources if I ever wanted to see change occur within our society. I started reaching out to professors,
Many young people don’t know the steps to take to start a new organization. But you did. What are some of the things or steps you took to get your project started?
I think the biggest step I took when trying to get my project started was trying to find people who were equally as passionate about energy storage as I was. There was absolutely no way I could’ve made the Bionic Leaf as successful as it was without the support of my peers and professors who gave me constant advice and feedback. I also think having goals set ahead of time really pushed me to further enhance and fine-tune the bionic leaf so that these goals were being met.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
I think the most interesting part has definitely been the amount of new prototypes created. Several months of iteration, trial, and error were required before a functioning Bionic Leaf could even be created. When I started off I thought I’d be able to get it in one go but clearly, that was not the case! I think this was really a humbling moment for me as I realized the amount of time that would be further needed to improve upon the design but also make it feasible. However, I didn’t let these failures discourage me from continuing to create new prototypes and eventually, I was able to meet my goals.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson or takeaway you learned from that?
A mistake I made when I was first starting was when I was creating my very first prototype. I wasn’t paying attention and ended up switching up the chemicals I was using so when I got the results back after I ran some tests they made absolutely no sense. I spent a solid week trying to map back where I might have gone wrong when it came to the prototype development. Frustrated and angry I decided to just replicate the prototype and it worked. Looking back now I find this funny but at the moment I felt completely lost. This one moment however taught me how important it was to carefully follow step-by-step procedures and to always double-check when doing anything.
None of us can be successful without some help along the way. Did you have mentors or cheerleaders who helped you to succeed? Can you tell us a story about their influence?
I had a ton of cheerleaders and mentors who helped me succeed! First and foremost, my parents and my sister have been my biggest cheerleaders. Every day they remind me of how impactful the Bionic Leaf is and give me the push I need to never give up. My school’s research teachers Mrs. Baker and Mrs. Miller have also given me constant support when it comes to fine-tuning aspects of my presentation to communicate my project clearly but also given me the necessary tools and guidance. Without the dozens of teachers, friends, and mentors I’ve met along the way my Bionic Leaf would have never come to be.
Without saying specific names, can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
A particular individual who has been helped by my cause is one individual in a rural South Sudanese community. Initially, the individual didn’t have access to an energy source and hence had to take several days off of his school to assist his family in energy production but after receiving a prototype he’s been able to attend school more frequently and has been able to learn more every single day! This has motivated other students in the area as well to attend school regularly and learn more.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
Policymakers are critical in determining the success of new innovations and how big of an impact these new devices can truly have on our society. However, to maximize the benefits specifically within the energy storage system politicians need to:
- Increase awareness of how toxic our current energy storage systems are
- Provide proper funding and allocation for clean energy to establish itself
- Invest in creating infrastructure in low-income and neglected communities/cities
Fantastic. Here is the main question of the interview. What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? (Please share a story or example for each).
- It’s Okay to Mess Up. When I first started creating my Bionic Leaf prototype, nothing was working according to plan. The fuel wasn’t being produced and the catalyst material was starting to corrode. After these problems arose I started to research why things were going wrong and it led me to discover a whole array of other issues I had with the prototype I designed. If not for the first failed prototype I would’ve never caught these other issues leading to more damage and failed prototypes.
- Be Prepared For Changes. Starting a new organization or project isn’t an easy task and oftentimes things never go how you want them to. When I started my prototype creation, the materials weren’t going to be here on time, the bacteria weren’t cultivating and I still had no way of how I was going to test for certain parameters. However, I had to think quickly and make changes accordingly so that my current research and iteration wouldn’t go to waste. Had it not been for some of my quick actions the prototype would’ve ceased to exist and would have been half as effective.
- Don’t Hesitate to Ask People For Help. You’re never going to know everything about your project or organization. You’re going to need outside help from mentors and that’s completely okay in fact recommended. I asked dozens of professors for help on the specifics of my projects before I could even come close to determining the final prototype output.
- Be Creative. Have original unique ideas that stand out. A lot of time people are afraid to step out of their comfort zone and worry about whether their project is relevant and significant enough but having uniqueness is what will make it significant and help you to stand out!
- Have Clear and Effective Communication. This one piece of advice often gets overlooked but if you can’t communicate your project or organization to others they’ll never know its true potential. Your ability to communicate your efforts is just as important as it is to do them in the first place. When I first started out creating my prototype people couldn’t seem to understand what it was, but when I made it more digestible people started to grasp its importance and the significance it played.
If you could tell other young people one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our environment or society, like you, what would you tell them?
If there’s one thing young people should consider it’s that their actions are significant and will be recognized sooner or later. Sometimes it may seem like you’re putting all this work in but it isn’t coming to fruition however, I assure anyone who’s reading this that your efforts and perseverance will not go wasted and you’ll impact lives around your community in a tremendous way. Things might not always go the way you want them to, but you should learn to pick yourself up and improve upon your mistakes instead of being stuck in one place. Reach out, innovate, and talk to people but never give up on the vision and goals you’ve created for yourself.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
I’d love to have a private breakfast or lunch with Michelle Obama! She’s been pivotal in influencing policy about education, nutrition, physical activity, and healthy eating while also increasing poverty awareness, I’d love to get to see her point of view on things and understand what steps need to be taken to help bridge the gap when it comes to energy insecurity not just in the United States but all across the world.
How can our readers follow you online?
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/arya-gurumukhi
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
Young Change Makers: Why and How Arya Gurumukhi Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.