< Back to All Winners
2024 winner
Mirela Viviane Cruz
Brazil
Born and raised in a favela in Brazil, Mirela is passionate about natural sciences and engineering. She is committed to solving socio-environmental problems and promoting accessible, quality education. Inspired by her own experiences growing up in a neighborhood lacking street lighting, Mirela developed a solar-powered lighting pole made primarily from recyclable materials for her Rise project. Through science, she would like to solve socio-environmental and sustainability problems.