In Ridgefield, Connecticut, sixth-grader Sophia Zezula won multiple awards for her sNOw straw, an environmentally-friendly alternative to plastic straws that is made out of ice.
The simple invention had its roots in a recent family dinner at a restaurant. While the Zezulas had already ditched straws to be environmentally friendly, they noticed plastic straws were still being used by most patrons. “I decided I could try to make a replacement for people that want to use a straw that wouldn’t pollute the environment,” Sophie tells NewsTimes.
After a lot of trial and error, she developed a prototype for water in a tube with a stopper and metal rod down the center.
After winning the Earth and Geosciences Industry Award at the National Invention Convention, Sophie will now look at how to sell the invention.