Mumbai student Hridank Garodia pioneers a patent-pending algae-powered air purifier and launches an educational movement inspiring young scientists across India
Mumbai, October 2025: While most 17-year-olds focus on exams, Hridank Garodia, a Grade 11 student from Dhirubhai Ambani International School, was asking a different question — why does it feel harder to think clearly during them?
His curiosity led to a startling discovery: carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels in Mumbai classrooms often reach 1,200–1,500 ppm, far exceeding the 945 ppm threshold where cognitive performance begins to decline. The problem wasn’t confined to schools — it was found in offices, gyms, clinics, and homes.
Determined to find a solution, Hridank developed Aerovive, a microalgae-based air purification system that uses living algae to absorb CO₂ and release oxygen — doing the work of nearly 40 houseplants in one compact unit. The device, now patent-pending, was developed after three rounds of prototyping and months of testing under mentorship from IIT Bombay researchers. Real-world trials have demonstrated Aerovive’s measurable ability to reduce indoor CO₂ levels.
The innovation has since earned recognition at multiple platforms, including the IRIS National Science Fair and the ICSEAT International Conference, and secured a ₹10-lakh Letter of Intent (LOI) for large-scale deployment in one of Mumbai’s largest office parks.
> “We obsess over outdoor pollution, but spend 90% of our time indoors breathing air that’s often worse,” says Hridank. “Aerovive is designed to make homes, schools, and offices healthier — so we can breathe better, think better, and live better.”
Beyond Invention: The Invisible Heroes Lab
What began as a device has evolved into a mission. Through The Invisible Heroes Lab, Hridank is taking his innovation back to classrooms. The 15-session, project-based learning program introduces students to the “invisible ecosystems” of algae, fungi, and bacteria that sustain life on Earth.
So far, Hridank has conducted over 30 workshops, reaching 1,000+ students across Mumbai and other regions. The initiative aims to reach 500 more learners in the coming year, inspiring them to see science as a living, breathing story rather than a textbook subject.
Recognition and Research Highlights
Patent-pending innovation in CO₂ sequestration technology
₹10 lakh LOI for large-scale deployment
IRIS National Science Fair finalist and ICSEAT International Conference presenter
Mentorship from IIT Bombay and Harvard experts
National Geographic “Cultivating Empathy for Earth” Award recipient
World Science Scholars Fellow under physicist Brian Greene
The Road Ahead
Looking ahead, Hridank plans to scale Aerovive across clinics, schools, and corporate campuses while expanding The Invisible Heroes Lab nationwide. His vision bridges sustainability, science, and human wellness, redefining what it means to breathe clean air where we live, learn, and work.
About Hridank Garodia
Hridank Garodia is a 17-year-old innovator, researcher, and sustainability advocate from Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Mumbai. Passionate about biotechnology and environmental wellness, he combines science with social impact through Aerovive and The Invisible Heroes Lab, inspiring a new generation of young thinkers to explore the invisible systems that sustain life.
