A team of three high school students from Mallya Aditi International School has emerged as the winner of the 2026 Change It Challenge India Finals, hosted by Nahar International School over the weekend. Organised by Monash University, the global competition encourages students to develop innovative solutions to pressing world challenges.
Vidushee, Shravya and Shloka from Bengaluru impressed the judges with their project focused on converting plastic waste into affordable and durable prosthetics. Their idea combines recycled plastics with bagasse — the fibrous residue left after sugarcane extraction — and basalt obtained from stone crushing to create a high-performance composite material. According to the team, the material is stronger than many fibreglass alternatives, significantly cheaper, and recyclable, making it both sustainable and accessible.
The winning team will now travel to Melbourne, Australia, to represent India at the global finale of the Change It Challenge in August 2026, where they will compete against winners from several other countries.
Reflecting on their achievement, the students said the experience strengthened their belief that young innovators can contribute meaningfully to global issues such as sustainability and accessibility. They added that presenting their work on an international platform was an opportunity they had never imagined at the start of the journey.
The Change It Challenge invites high school students to create practical and research-driven solutions addressing climate change, geopolitical security, and thriving communities. Participants are encouraged to integrate innovation, education, and cultural transformation into their projects.
The finalists presented their ideas before a panel of judges that included Jenny McHendrie, Alphonsa Pakiam, and Abizer Merchant.
The runners-up included Vani, Niharika and Sunehra from Podar International School as first runners-up; Thanav, Harish and Avaith from The Indian Public School as second runners-up; and Ansh, Bhavya and Aanya from Indus International School as third runners-up.
Author
