Meet Evan Budz: The 16-year-old Canadian who built an AI-powered robot turtle to detect microplastics with 94% accuracy
How Evan Budz built an AI-powered robot turtle to detect microplastics Who is Evan Budz? Why did he choose a turtle for his robot? How
How Evan Budz built an AI-powered robot turtle to detect microplastics Who is Evan Budz? Why did he choose a turtle for his robot? How does the AI-powered robot turtle work? How does the robot detect microplastics? Why are microplastics a growing global problem? What challenges did Budz overcome? Why could this technology change environmental monitoring? Awards won by the invention The future Evan Budz innovation At just 16 years old, Canadian student Evan Budz has developed an autonomous AI-powered robot turtle that could help scientists tackle one of the world's fastest-growing environmental problems: microplastic pollution. Inspired by the graceful swimming of a snapping turtle he encountered during a family camping trip, Budz spent nearly 4,000 hours designing and refining a robotic turtle equipped with an underwater 3D holographic imaging system and artificial intelligence. His invention can detect microplastics directly in water with a reported 94% accuracy, earning him the prestigious Gordon E. Moore Award and a US$50,000 scholarship at the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).Evan Budz's journey began during a family camping trip in Ontario's backcountry in 2024, where he watched a snapping turtle glide effortlessly through the water. Fascinated by its smooth and energy-efficient movement, the 16-year-old decided to recreate the animal's swimming ability using robotics. He spent around five months building the turtle-shaped robot before dedicating another year to developing an underwater 3D holographic imaging system and training artificial intelligence models capable of recognising microplastics.Altogether, Budz invested nearly 4,000 hours into the project, turning an idea inspired by nature into an award-winning environmental innovation.Evan Budz is a Canadian high school student with a passion for engineering, artificial intelligence and environmental conservation.
Since childhood, he has enjoyed exploring lakes and forests during camping trips with his family, which sparked his interest in freshwater ecosystems. Over time, he became increasingly concerned about plastic pollution and decided to apply his skills in robotics to help scientists monitor one of the world's most persistent environmental threats.His work gained international recognition after he won one of the top prizes at the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, one of the world's largest and most prestigious science competitions for high school students.Rather than designing a conventional underwater drone, Budz modelled his invention on a turtle because of its natural swimming efficiency. Turtles can travel long distances while using relatively little energy, making them ideal for extended underwater missions.Another advantage is that turtles are common in many freshwater and marine environments. A turtle-shaped robot is less likely to disturb wildlife than a noisy mechanical vehicle. Their broad shell also provides enough space to carry scientific instruments such as cameras, sensors and onboard computers.The robot is an autonomous underwater vehicle capable of navigating without manual control. It follows pre-programmed search patterns while onboard algorithms regulate buoyancy, maintain depth and ensure stable movement through the water.Mounted on top of the robot is a custom-built 3D holographic imaging system. Instead of capturing ordinary photographs, it records three-dimensional holograms of tiny particles suspended in water. These images are then analysed by AI models trained by Budz to distinguish microplastics from natural particles and microscopic aquatic organisms.The AI-powered system can identify plastic particles as small as 10 microns, significantly thinner than a human hair.
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