A 16-year-old turned cow dung and apple waste into prize-winning plastic

Nayeli Chinzou, a 16-year-old student from Zimbabwe, has won the Best Overall Award in the Chemistry category at the 2026 International Mathematics, Science and Engineering Fair in Izmir, Türkiye — for a biodegradable plastic made from cow dung fiber and apple waste. Both materials are cheap, locally abundant and would otherwise be thrown away; her plastic offers a homegrown alternative to petroleum-based plastics. She stood out among young scientists from around the world.