Eniola Shokunbi, a 12-year-old STEM student, secures $11.5 million in funding for an air filtration system developed with classmates and University of Connecticut scientists. The affordable system combats viral illnesses and aims to improve safety in schools across Connecticut, with plans to expand nationally.
Eniola Shokunbi, a 12-year-old STEM student from Connecticut, has secured $11.5 million in funding for an innovative air filtration system designed to combat viral illnesses, including COVID-19. Working with her classmates at Commodore MacDonough STEM Academy and scientists from the University of Connecticut, Shokunbi and her team developed a system that is both effective and cost-efficient. The device, made from four furnace filters, cardboard, duct tape, and a box fan, costs just $60 per unit to produce.
Shokunbi explained that the system is highly efficient, showing a 99% reduction in airborne viruses, and ensuring safer environments for students and staff in schools. On November 19, the State Bond Commission allocated the $11.5 million grant to install these air filters in schools across Connecticut under the Supplemental Air Filtration for Education Program.
Passionate about science and its potential to improve public health, Shokunbi emphasized the importance of investing in STEM for future generations. “A lot of people don’t realize sometimes that the only thing standing between them and getting sick is science,” she stated.
Looking ahead, Shokunbi hopes to expand her air filtration system to schools across the country. Her goal is to ensure that all students have access to a healthy and safe learning environment, stating, “I want them to go to school knowing that they’re safe, that they’re healthy, that they can learn.”
