student innovation

A team of students from Virginia Tech collaborated on a novel drone-based water sampling system aimed at improving the monitoring of schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease prevalent in Malawi. Traditional sampling methods expose workers to contaminated water, but the drone allows for safer, remote collection of samples, especially in hard-to-reach or reed-filled areas where parasite-carrying snails live.

Their innovation was selected as a finalist in the 2024 Transformative Research Challenge, an international competition with over 1,000 submissions. This recognition enabled the team to present their work at the World Food Forum in Rome, highlighting its potential global impact.

Faculty mentors emphasize the value of hands-on, student-driven problem solving and the opportunity this project provides for students to engage with global health challenges. The effort underscores Virginia Tech’s commitment to multidisciplinary education and community-engaged research with sustainable outcomes.