All awardees
YES Awards 2026 · environment
ANISH JENA
Number of potential beneficiaries: 10,000+ people across communities located downstream of targeted river systems.
“StormCatch”
StormCatch is a student-led environmental technology project developing an AI-assisted system to intercept river plastic before it reaches larger waterways and oceans. Combining surge prediction, hydrodynamic debris simulation and a Rapid Deployment Module, it aims to deploy an adaptive floating barrier when high-risk debris events are detected. By anticipating dangerous conditions, StormCatch enables earlier intervention before waste accumulates. The project has advanced into a detailed physical prototype, deployment mechanism and engineering design, with development progressing towards field testing. Its initial deployment model has an estimated potential reach of approximately 10,500 people.
environment
