NPR

Science-Loving Teens From Ghana And D.C. Geek Out Together

They competed in the first World Smarts STEM Challenge. We got to know the team that worked on a water purifier using neem leaves and ... cilantro.

It was a meeting of nerds and sharks.

The self-described "biotech nerds" and "robotic nerds" were seven high school students from Washington, D.C. The eight teens who call themselves "sharks" and flew in from Ghana. "The shark is a big fish so it means you're big. Knowledgeable," explains Stephanie Obbo of Ghana, an aspiring medical doctor.

Together, the 15 high schoolers formed a team for the first World Smarts STEM Challenge. That's a science competition run by , a global development nonprofit that strives to promote student enthusiasm for science, tech, engineering and math (aka STEM). Each of the

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR4 min read
Tyla Is The New Face Of African Pop. She's Aiming To Take Over The Whole World
The South African singer brought a homegrown genre, amapiano, to new ears with a viral hit and a Grammy. With her debut album, she wants to prove the world is ready for a full-blown African pop star.
NPR3 min readCrime & Violence
Sam Bankman-Fried Is About To Get Sentenced For His FTX Crimes. Here's What To Know
Prosecutors are asking for 40 to 50 years, citing the severity of Bankman-Fried's crimes. Lawyers of the disgraced former head of FTX are asking for far less.
NPR4 min readPopular Culture & Media Studies
Social Media Companies Made Changes To Comply With U.K. Rules To Safeguard Kids
A new report by Children and Screens rounds up the changes spurred by the United Kingdom's Age Appropriate Design Code, which went into effect in 2020.

Related