The Nereid Project | Laalitya Acharya

Programs to raise awareness for the water crisis through research, advocacy, and policy initiatives.

About the Nereid Project

Our mission:
To raise awareness for the Water Crisis through STEM Research and Advocacy. We aim to provide resources and experiences to all through STEM education workshops, Water Awareness Programs and the Nereid Research. Through these opportunities, we hope to develop a passion for STEM in the world.

We have both virtual and in-person opportunities available to get involved on our journey!

Programs

Laalitya Acharya with her 3 Congressional Medal Awards

Our Programs

Water Awareness

Research

Advocacy

Policy

Why Water

Nereid's Water Summit

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This summit is an opportunity for those passionate about water to gather and discuss about the impacts of the water crisis.
Simple solutions to reduce the "Water Gap" are also presented by leading advocates to allow for easy application into attendee's lives
Participants will learn from researchers from across the country as they present about new and upcoming research
Networking opportunities with scientists and activists (both in water and STEM)
Advice on how to enter research and advocacy as a "new-comer" will also be presented.

Summer and School-year opportunities available for students of all grades/ages
Programs are grouped together based on discipline (such as Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, etc)
Mentoring and Tutoring available for middle school and high/secondary school students
Hands-on experimentation to provide direct education

Nereid's Science Camps

The Nereid Research

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This research is a novel way to detect water contamination through AI (Artificial Intelligence) analyzation of microscopic images of water. As a fully cohesive device, it is both cost-effective and easily applicable across the globe.
The Nereid Project is currently working with the Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) and Engineers Without Borders to get this model implemented for additional application.

Awards & Accolades

Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes Winner
National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) Collegiate Winner
Conrad Challenge Innovator and Top 10 Finalist
Selected as a Global Teen Leader 2020
First place in the State and Nationals Finalist at the Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP)
Gold Medal Congressional Award for STEM Outreach
First place at the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium
Granted the CREST Award by the British Science Association for development of novel AI Processing methods
Presented at the Sigma Xi Annual Conference, Ohio Academy of Science Annual Meeting and the American Junior Academy of Sciences (AJAS) Meeting
Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award

In honor of National Mentorship Month, I was invited as a member of ETRE Girls to attend the Nasdaq Closing Ceremony in January 2023!

Nasdaq Closing Ceremony

I continue to judge at local science fairs in order to help support STEM research in young students! In this photo, I am judging at my "home" science fair at the University of Cincinnati.

Science Fair Judging/Organizing

I was named a Live Mas Scholar and granted a scholarship by Taco Bell for my work in intersecting policy and science. I was also invited to attend the Summer of Creativity Conference 2022 in California to present.

Taco Bell Live Mas Scholar

Following my participation in the Conrad Challenge, I joined the Alumni Leadership Council! I am the Educational Director for the new outreach program in order to diversify the applicants and projects submitted to the Challenge.

Educational Director for the Conrad Challenge

The Coke Scholarship is granted to less than 1% of all applicants every year. From nearly 100,000, applicants I was selected to be a Coca Cola Scholar for my academics, volunteering service, and leadership skills.

Coca Cola Scholar

I was selected as Gloria Barron Young Hero and awarded a $10,000 scholarship for my efforts in the water crisis. As the founder of The Nereid Project, I am working to mitigate water poverty through research implementation, educational efforts and policy work.

Gloria Barron Young Hero Award

I was granted the Congressional Gold Medal Award in 2020 for my science research and STEM education efforts! I served for over 500 hours in my local community (at schools and STEM education centers) in order to alleviate the pressures many schools face.

Congressional Gold Medal Award

I was selected as a Global Teen Leader for my work in the water crisis. After seeing the water gap firsthand on a family trip to India, I wanted to help reduce this inequity. Through my organization, we have worked with thousands all across the globe to reach this goal.

Global Teen Leader

I was chosen to be on the Mars Gen 24 under 24 list for my efforts to implement STEM innovations into the real world. I believe that science offers a solution to many global concerns, but we must bring it out into application in order to create impact.

Mars Generation 24 Under 24

I was selected to be Ms. Cincinnati Teen 2022. My platform centered around my work as a "STEM" policymaker, while also emphasizing my feminity as an asset. As a proud Woman in STEM, I believe we need to see more representation in all disciplines.

Ms. Cincinnati Teen 2022

I was chosen to compete at the state level of the DYW program from hundreds of regional applicants. At the state competition, I received first place in the Interview Category, first finalist in the Scholastic Category and won the Judge's Award as well.

Distinguished Young Women Program

Impact:

Hosted over 200 water summits
Held over 400 hours of STEM camps
Implemented the Nereid Research in 3 different countries (and continuing to expand)
Worked with over 1000 people both in the local community - and globally

But why? Because it is 2022, and currently 2.1 billion people across the globe still lack access to clean water. Our oceans are still polluted with contaminants and somedays the battle to achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) looks immensely daunting.

Nereid's goal is to help reach SGD 6 (providing all with access to constant and clean water) and SGD 14 (conserving our oceans). We aim to achieve both of these goals through the implementation of the Nereid research (which is able to identify microbial contamination within seconds thus preventing it from spreading through a community and into natural water sources) and to raise awareness for the crisis through a myriad of advocacy approaches. Some of these approaches include developing STEM education programs for kids and hosting water summits as well.

Get in Touch!!

laalityaacharya.com