Today we’d like to introduce you to Mahi Shah.
Hi Mahi, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m Mahi, and I’m on a mission to create a more sustainable future!
When I started high school in 2022, I only had a vague understanding of what a capstone project entailed. The purpose of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in fact, was entirely new to me.
My journey toward creating my capstone project began with my grandfather, an agriculturist and microbiologist, who sparked my curiosity in how computer science could solve agricultural challenges.
Over the past four years, I immersed myself in learning various technologies inside and outside of school, gaining the skills needed to explore the intersection of technology and agriculture. I developed a machine learning model to predict crop yields using the bacterial content of the soil and showcased my initial findings at a regional science fair.
As I delved deeper into pressing issues like sustainability and soil degradation, I came across the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals—17 transformative objectives aimed at building a more equitable and sustainable world. Inspired by Goal 2: Zero Hunger, I set out to create a tangible solution: an innovative app named AgroEtopia, built on that same model. I have recently started deploying it to local farmers for initial testing—something my late grandfather would surely have appreciated.
My project was further refined during the Congressional App Challenge and later accepted into the MIT Global AI Hackathon, both of which align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. After two and a half years of dedicated research and development, my findings were published in a peer-reviewed research journal. That’s how I forged my path—by creating a meaningful project.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Until 10th grade, I was unaware of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. I began my project as a tech enthusiast, but it was only after researching the global goals that I found a clear purpose for my skills: sustainability. This knowledge gap initially slowed my commitment. Once I decided to create a guide for high school students, I faced the challenge of collecting and compiling accurate data. While many capstone project ideas exist, aligning each one with a specific UN Goal proved to be difficult, especially as an independent developer. Currently, I’m dedicating significant time to gathering feedback and refining the platform—an ongoing process that, while demanding, is essential to making it truly valuable for students.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Inspired by my own high school journey and the UN’s sustainability mission, I created a website to help high school students access resources to build their own projects. Currently, it hosts exactly 85 project ideas (and counting), each with a brief step-by-step guide—divided into five popular interest categories for high schoolers.
My website also shares useful information on building a unique high school portfolio—including creating projects, publishing papers, initiating nonprofit clubs, participating in competitions, and volunteering under a Sustainable Goal mission.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Building your own capstone project starts with a clear purpose, for me, it was joining hands with the UN Sustainability Goals. It also demands strong time management. You won’t always see the full vision or results right away, so be prepared to face challenges and stay committed.
Innovation is your best friend. When I set out to create something for high schoolers, I brainstormed many ideas—promoting the global goals, organizing awareness campaigns, writing a book, and creating a launch guide. In the end, I realized that launching the guide connected most closely to my own high school journey, so I built my story around it.
Your path might be different, but the key is the same: find a purpose that resonates with you, stay persistent, and let creativity shape your unique journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mahishah.net
- Instagram: sdg.mission.foundry
