The MicroTrace Story - Where Curiosity Became a Mission
​We are three high school students: Ritvik, Rishi, and Mithra, and what began as curiosity quickly turned into concern. As we dug into research, tested assumptions, and studied real fountains, we discovered something unsettling: harmful microorganisms can accumulate, and when filtration systems fail, no one notices, until someone gets sick.
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That didn’t sit right with us!
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So instead of accepting “good enough,” we built MicroTrace. By combining UV-C disinfection, real-time sensing, and intelligent monitoring, we created a system that doesn’t guess about water safety, it proves it.
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MicroTrace is our way of turning curiosity into action and science into protection. We believe public water should earn trust, not assume it and we’re building the future where it does.
Ritvik Shah
​Ritvik Shah is a researcher and engineer with experience in mathematics, fluid mechanics and hardware prototyping. He leads the development of the filtration system and UV sterilization unit.
Rishi Yedavalli
Rishi Yedavalli is a researcher and developer with experience in AI, biomedical engineering, and endocrinology. He leads AI modeling, filter design, and system integration.
Mithra Vikram
Mithra Vikram is a biology-focused researcher with experience in microbiology and genetic analysis. She leads microbial testing, contaminant identification, and biological validation.
