Eniola Shokunbi, a 12-year-old Nigerian-American student, has received a groundbreaking $11.5 million grant for her innovative air filtering system, designed to combat airborne diseases like COVID-19 in schools across Connecticut.
Eniola, a student at Commodore MacDonough STEM Academy in Middletown, collaborated with her classmates and scientists from the University of Connecticut to develop a cost-effective air filter. Using just four furnace filters, a box fan, duct tape, and cardboard, they created a unit costing $60—significantly cheaper than standard air purifiers in the U.S.
The team’s innovative project caught the attention of the Connecticut State Bond Commission, which approved the multimillion-dollar grant in October. Tests conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed the filter’s 99% effectiveness in purifying air and reducing the spread of airborne diseases.
“The air goes through all the sides and comes out of the top, so it filters in and out,” Eniola explained in an interview with NBC Connecticut.
The funding will enable the project to be scaled up, ensuring that every school in Connecticut has access to this affordable and effective solution.
“A lot of people don’t realise that the only thing standing between them and getting sick is science,” Eniola said. “If we’re not investing in that, then we’re not investing in the kids.”
Eniola expressed her passion for creating safer learning environments for students. “I want them to go to school knowing that they’re safe, that they’re healthy, and that they can learn,” she added. “Seeing how this could change so many lives is truly inspiring.”
The young innovator’s groundbreaking achievement highlights the power of STEM education and collaboration in addressing global challenges.
