Eniola Shokunbi, a 12-year-old Nigerian-American student, has been awarded an $11.5 million grant by the Connecticut State Bond Commission for her design of a cost-effective air filtering system aimed at preventing airborne diseases like COVID-19 in schools.
Shokunbi, a student at Commodore MacDonough STEM Academy in Middletown, collaborated with University of Connecticut scientists to develop the filter using simple materials: furnace filters, a box fan, duct tape, and cardboard. Each unit costs just $60 to produce, making it a budget-friendly alternative to traditional air purifiers.
Tests conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed the filter’s 99% efficacy in purifying air, leading to the state commission’s decision to fund its large-scale production.
“The air goes through all the sides and comes out of the top, so it filters in and out,” Shokunbi explained to NBC Connecticut. She emphasized the importance of investing in science to protect children’s health, saying, “The only thing standing between them and getting sick is science.”
The grant will enable Shokunbi’s system to be deployed across schools in Connecticut, ensuring clean air for students. “I want them to go to school knowing that they’re safe, that they’re healthy, that they can learn,” she said, expressing pride in the project’s potential to positively impact lives.
