Photo credits: Society for Science
Dasia Taylor did not expect to become a nationally recognized scientist when she signed up for the Science Fair club. Her main goal was to remove financial barriers to medical treatment.
The seventeen year-old Iowa student has created colour-changing stitches that indicate when a wound is infected. Her method uses beetroot which changes colour from red to deep purple if the pH levels rise, indicating infection.
"I classify my research as where equity meets science," Taylor said. "The people who are really going to need smart sutures will not be able to afford it... so I decided to take that and run with it and make something cost-effective."
Dasia is now seeking a patent for her beet juice-coated sutures. She plans to continue her research to ensure the project is released and gets to those who need it most.