KZN pupils' robot to combat plastic pollution selected for Stockholm Junior Water Prize

TWO KwaZulu-Natal pupils from Adams College have put their school and province on the map with their autonomous, Al-powered aquatic robot innovation, the AquaCrusader, which collects microplastics and nanoplastics from rivers, streams, dams and estuaries.

- THOBEKA NGEMA [e-mail]

Their innovation has put them in the running for the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, the highlight of World Water Week.

The Grade 11 pupils, Snazo Nzama and Elihle Msomi, were selected along with others from national competitions held worldwide.

The AquaCrusader aims to minimise microplastics in aquatic environments.

The duos purpose was clear: to create an innovation that can collect microplastics in freshwater sources, minimising the effects they cause in aquatic environments, biosphere and humans.

The pupils said the AquaCrusader aligns strongly with the 2025 Stockholm Junior Water Prize theme, “Water for Climate Action,’ by offering a practical, technology-driven solution that addresses the climate impacts of plastic pollution in aquatic environments.

“We used STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) principles throughout the design process,’ they said.