After seeing ‘do not drink’ signs near a stream on a family trip, 11-year-old Rachel Brouwer was inspired to create a life-saving water purification system.
While reading Malala Yousafzai’s biography, she learned about the devastation caused by diseases like cholera from unclean water in other parts of the world.
This led the young Canadian from Nova Scotia to develop a simple yet brilliant device using common household materials.
Her invention consisted of ABS pipe, plastic water bottles, cotton, and charcoal. It was designed to use the power of the sun to pasteurize water. 
The system uses solar energy to heat the water and ultraviolet radiation to disinfect it, making it safe to drink.
To make it foolproof, she included a clever temperature indicator made from soybean wax. The wax changes color to signal when the water has reached a safe temperature for consumption.
Her work didn’t go unnoticed. She earned a gold medal at the Canada-Wide Science Fair and a second-place award at the 2016 International Science and Engineering Fair.
In recognition of her incredible contribution to science and humanity, the International Astronomical Union named an asteroid after her.
