A local high schooler鈥檚 science fair project turned into a nationally recognized innovation.
Recent Walnut Hills graduate Angelina DiPaola began experimenting with sensors and composting in eighth grade.
鈥淚 didn't have a very successful science fair,鈥� DiPaola said. 鈥淎ll the bins turned out very smelly and made my basement completely uninhabitable. But I did come away with the idea that, 'Oh, I could use sensors to help people start composting.' 鈥�
She鈥檚 since developed a smart home composting system with her dad and sister. They call it . The device tracks the moisture levels and temperature of a compost pile 鈥� of its success.
鈥淲e can see how well our compost is doing based off of the temperature,鈥� DiPaola said. 鈥淚 think outside, it's like 90 degrees on a normal summer day. Our compost gets up to 120. So, it's really cooking through stuff.鈥�
That information is then turned into advice on an app.
鈥淯sers are able to see the suggestions, but they're also able to ask questions in a community forum,鈥� DiPaola said. 鈥淭his will be connected with people鈥檚 ZIP codes. So, you're not going to get somebody in California who has completely different weather conditions, but you're going to get somebody in your local area that is able to explain and help you along through whatever composting problem that you might face.鈥�
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DiPaola hopes her invention will empower more people to begin composting 鈥� something she grew up doing.
鈥淲hen I would go to other people's houses when I was young for play dates or whatever, I would have a banana peel after eating a snack and I'd be like, 鈥榃here's your compost?鈥� 鈥� DiPaola said. 鈥淎nd they would be like, 鈥楯ust put it in the trash.鈥� That really pained me because I knew that compost could have so much benefit.鈥�
The composting 鈥渘ature鈥檚 way of recycling.鈥� Not only does it reduce food waste in landfills, composting also creates a nutrient-rich, fertilizing soil that can be used in gardens and yards.
DiPaola has been recognized by two national organizations for her compost monitoring device. In April she was named one of 25 Prudential Emerging Visionaries and recently, she won the Taco Bell Foundation Ambition Accelerator prize.
Locally, the Civic Garden Center and Gorman Heritage Farm use her technology.
DiPaola's ultimate goal with Compai is to get a million families to start composting. She is starting off by selling 100 of the devices.