Our Mission

Growing a Sustainable Future for All

NanoRoots is a youth-led nonprofit organization committed to revolutionizing sustainable agriculture through the power of nanotechnology, civic science, and community collaboration. Our mission is to empower the next generation of changemakers to achieve goals such as restoring soil health, combatting hunger, and boosting agricultural efficiency. Through projects such as nanosensor soil testing, nano-based remediation gardens, youth media campaigns, and policy advocacy, NanoRoots will empower students to become scientists, educators, and changemakers. Our action is designed for scalability across schools, towns, and regions.

Core Pillars

Research & Innovation: Youth-led labs and field trials exploring nanotech applications in soil restoration and sustainable farming.
Education & Outreach: Workshops, curriculum development, and school partnerships to spread access to STEM learning and environmental literacy.
Policy & Community: Advocacy campaigns, local pilot programs, and global partnerships to scale impact and shape food systems.

Interdisciplinary Foundations

Scientific Advancement: Our founder’s research at the State Experiment Station explored nanosulfur’s potential to reduce heavy metal uptake in soybeans and remediate contaminated soils—laying the groundwork for scalable, science-driven solutions.
Policy & Advocacy: As a Policy Advocate with NCTFA, our leadership has championed nanoagriculture as a tool to boost crop yield and reduce environmental pollution, bridging the gap between science and policy.
Youth Mobilization: Through roles with the New Haven Climate Movement and Media Power Youth, our team has amplified youth voices in climate and food justice, leveraging digital storytelling and grassroots organization.
Educational Leadership: From founding Hop Against Hunger to serving on the Sustainability Board, our founder has integrated environmental science into school-wide initiatives and fostered peer-led learning.
Global Perspective: Volunteer work with Water1st International and a commitment to the United Nations’s Sustainable Development Go has extended our dedication to global water equity and illuminates our holistic approach to food systems and sanitation.

Notes from the Founder

My Background

As a high school student, I bring a unique blend of scientific research, policy expertise, leadership, and grassroots outreach experience.

Intern at the State Agricultural Experiment Station, researching nanosulfur’s role in reducing heavy metal uptake in soybeans and purifying contaminated soil.
Member of the New Connecticut Farmers Association, educating the organization’s Policy Working Group about nanoagriculture to improve crop yield, deliver treatments like pesticides, and protect crops from disease.
Social Media Manager for the New Haven Climate Movement, amplifying youth-led climate action and promoting our sustainability initiatives such as Transportation Transformation, Climate Education, and Electric Future.
Board Member of the School Sustainability Council, leading the Climate Action subcommittee and integrating science into school-wide sustainability efforts.
National Youth Advisory Board Member for Media Power Youth, promoting the use of storytelling and digital media to elevate youth voices for climate and food justice.
Founder of Hop Against Hunger, a school club that educates about and battles local food insecurity, connecting science with outreach.
Global Outreach Volunteer with Water1st International, collaborating on international water equity initiatives such as supporting sustainable clean water access in underserved communities. Leveraged scientific insights from soil health research to inform global conversations on food security, sanitation, and climate resilience.

My Inspiration

At my internship at the State Agricultural Experiment Station this summer, I worked on a project that involved applying nanosulfur to soil contaminated with cadmium and observing how the nanoparticles interacted with soybean plants and the soil. Multiple scenarios were considered:
- The nanoparticles directly bind with the cadmium in the soil and immobilize so that the plant won’t uptake the heavy metal. THIS MEANS THAT MORE AREA CAN BE MADE SAFE FOR FARMING.
- After the nanosulfur is applied to the soil, it is uptaken by the plants and provides nutrients to help the soybeans grow better. THIS MEANS EFFICIENCY AND CROP YIELD CAN BE BOOSTED.
- After application, the nanosulfur and cadmium bind but are still able to move and accumulate in the plant’s root, leaf, shoot, or fruit. THIS IS THE BEST CASE SCENARIO. LAND IS MADE CLEAN AGAIN DUE TO HEAVY METAL BEING REMOVED FROM THE SOIL, BUT ALSO, BY REMOVING THE PART OF THE PLANT IN WHICH THE BINDED MATERIAL ACCUMULATES, WE CAN REUSE THE MATERIALS AND PRESERVE THE REST OF THE PLANT FOR SAFE USE/CONSUMPTION.
- Nothing happens. Obviously, this is the worst case scenario.

The United Nations’s Sustainable Development Goals:
- #2, Zero Hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
- #12, Responsible Consumption and Production: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
- #15, Life on Land: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.