Vinisha Umashankar is one of 15 finalists selected for the inaugural Earthshot Prize launched by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. President John F. Kennedy’s challenge to go to the moon inspired the Earthshot prize. But instead of going to the moon, the bold, ambitious goal is to repair our Earth.
Prince William explains, “The next ten years present us with one of our greatest tests – a decade of action to repair the Earth.”
The Earthshot Prize focuses on innovation in 5 categories:
- Protect and Restore Nature
- Clean our Air
- Revive our Oceans
- Build a Waste-Free World
- Fix our Climate
Vinisha is a finalist in the “Clean our Air” moonshot. In India, street vendors iron millions of people’s clothing for a living. Traditionally, the ironing vendors, positioned on the sides of the streets, use an iron filled with hot charcoal to press the clothes. Unfortunately, charcoal emits unhealthy particulates into the air, releases carbon dioxide and methane, contributes to climate change and deforestation. Vinisha’s innovation replaces the dirty charcoal-fueled irons with clean energy.
She had the idea when she noticed an ironing-cart vendor discarding his charcoal ashes and thought about the multiplied effect of vendors all over India using charcoal. So, she designed her Iron-Max cart in 2019, at age 12. Then, she submitted her concept to the Indian government’s National Innovation Foundation, who helped her build the full-scale working prototype and apply for a patent.
The Iron-Max offers several advantages in addition to clean air. Because it combines an ironing station and bicycle, vendors benefit from increased mobility to collect clothing. And, as an additional revenue opportunity, the cart has a coin-operated cellphone and a cellphone charging point to help the vendors expand their service offerings. The iron is heated for six hours with five hours of bright sunshine and has battery storage for cloudy days and pressing into the night.
Vinisha plans to manufacture the solar ironing cart in India and sell it at an affordable price point. Eventually, she hopes to export it to Asia, Africa, and other sunny locations.
Vinisha Umashankar recently spoke at COP26, representing Earthshot Winners and Finalists. In her speech, she encouraged people to stop talking about old debates because we need a vision for a new future. On behalf of the Earthprize winners and finalists, she said, “We will lead, even if you don’t, we will act, even if you delay, we will build the future even if you are still stuck in the past.”
