Welcome to the Evolving Folks Project’s Evolved “Young” Men of the Week profile. Today, we will highlight historical and contemporary figures who embodied what it means to be an evolved man, famous and non-famous alike. The world needs to know their stories and deeds. This week’s honor goes to teens from India, Dhruv Chaudhary, Mithran Ladhania, and Mridul Jain.
The parents of Dhruv Chaudhary, Mithran Ladhania, and Mridul Jain are all physicians or work in medicine in Indore. Observing the difficulties of maintaining COVID-19 vaccine viability while transporting them to remote villages in tropical climates, a need arose for a more effective, portable method of keeping medical supplies cool. Inspired by their surroundings, 16- to 17-year-old students created Thermavault. An electricity-free cooling unit for safely transporting medical supplies. The Thermavault is more sustainable than conventional plastic insulation units, which produce considerable waste and decompose slowly.
A reusable salt packet added to water triggers a cooling reaction, keeping supplies at the ideal temperature for as long as 12 hours—a first for any electricity-free method. The design prioritizes sustainability and practicality through reusable salt recovery via boiling and a recyclable plastic casing.
Positive hospital feedback led the team to produce 200 units for testing in 120 nearby hospitals using Earth Prize funding. Their solution offers significant global potential, aiding 1.2 billion lacking power.
Their creativity won them the $12,500 Earth Prize. They’ll use the funding for mass testing. Ambition and reality collide; WHO certification and global alliances are key for the teens. This creates another paradox of their invention, which is when simplicity and complexity unite. The youth’s whisper echoes the possibility’s depths.
Here is 16-year-old Dhruv Chaudhary in his own words about their invention and being 2025 Earth Prive recipients:
“We’re thrilled to receive The Earth Prize 2025 for Asia! Our electricity-free cooling solution was inspired by the challenges of delivering vaccines to rural areas, but we quickly realized it can be used for medical supplies in general. Backed by The Earth Prize, and armed with positive feedback from experts at the Indian Institute of Technology Indore and doctors alike, we’re excited to use the new funding to begin production and expand use in hospitals. Our goal is to save lives where electricity is scarce, no matter the location.”
We at the Evolving Folk’s Project wish continued success and hope for a bright future for the brilliant teens Dhruv Chaudhary, Mithran Ladhania, and Mridul Jain. Their invention will save countless lives and is something created to be sustainable. Today, we honor Dhuruv Chaudhary, Mithran Ladhania, and Mridul Jain as our Evolved “Young” Men of the Week.
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