Sirish Subash: Teen Builds AI to Keep Your Food Safe

Sirish may only be 14, but he’s already inventing technology with the potential to change how we eat. He built PestiSCAND, a handheld device that detects pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables- giving families an easy, practical way to know what’s really safe to eat. It’s practical, brilliant, and deeply rooted in care for people’s health. Recognised as America’s Top Young Scientist, Sirish is proof that curiosity and compassion can create world-class innovation.But what you don’t see at first glance is just how much persistence went into building it. Designing PestiSCAND wasn’t a straight line; he had to test every possible shape and size, refining again and again until he found the form that scanned produce effectively and was easy for anyone to use. Each prototype taught him something new: what didn’t work, what almost worked, and what could work better. Instead of being discouraged, he treated every iteration as a stepping stone toward the final device.That combination of scientific rigour and unshakable patience is what sets him apart. Sirish’s story is as much about perseverance as it is about invention- the kind of relentless testing, tweaking, and learning that turns a bright idea into a breakthrough tool the world can hold in its hands.