Team MycoFlo is made up of five students, Rajas, Michael, Jonathan, Simba and Christopher, who are based in the UK. Together they are focusing on the issue of polluted water sources around the Niger River Basin in Kenya, where they aim to improve the living conditions for one million citizens.

Their name, Mycoflo, reflects both the fungi-based material ‘mycelium’ and the ‘flow’ of rivers. The first element of their unique prototype is a smart sensor, called a MycoBot, which is placed in river water to detect concentrations of certain substances, measuring them against a data set online. If unhealthy levels are detected, the second step is to bring in a mycelium-based sack to filter the water.

Being based at the same school, in the same year, and the same boarding house, this team of five have been able to work closely together since hearing about The Earth Prize through their school. After deciding on their concept, the design department of their school also supported them to create a working prototype of both the sensors and the filters, which they have since been testing on the ground.

When considering the future of their project, the Mycoflo team is already in contact with a government official in Kenya with the aim of implementing their solution in the country. All five of their team members will likely go on to study at university, and hope to continue developing their project alongside their studies.

When speaking about climate anxiety, the team commented that this is “very real” for young people and hard to avoid, particularly because of how prominent the topic is in the news. That said, Mycoflow feels that The Earth Prize brings hope to young people, giving them an opportunity to put their skills to use that people their age would not normally have.

Mycoflo have most enjoyed the chance to explore new skills, from social media to lab testing, as well as building on their friendships, while collaborating on The Earth Prize. It’s also been a new experience for them appearing in local newspapers thanks to their innovation. When offering advice for future applicants, MycoFlo’s team says to “Start early, assign roles, and above all, don’t feel intimidated - believe in your idea and be driven by your purpose!”