Air pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental and public-health challenges of our time. With smog-filled skylines, rising respiratory illnesses, and frequent air quality alerts, the issue only continues to escalate. Just recently, several Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, and Gurugram made headlines as air quality levels dipped into the “severe” category. But while outdoor pollution captures most of the attention, indoor air where we spend nearly 90% of our time remains dangerously overlooked.
Amid this growing concern, a young innovator from Mumbai is drawing national attention. Hridank Garodia, a 17-year-old environmentalist and student from Dhirubhai Ambani International School, is on a mission to redefine how we think about clean air. Passionate about biotechnology and environmental wellness, he created Aerovive, an innovative indoor air-purification solution designed to tackle the pollutants we tend to ignore. Hridank is also the founder of The Invisible Heroes Lab, a youth-led initiative that encourages students to explore the hidden biological systems that support life on Earth.
His work is a powerful reminder that the next generation is using curiosity and science to tackle challenges many adults overlook. We at Youth Incorporated had the pleasure to interview Hridank for his work and innovation.
How Teen Hridank Is Tackling Indoor Air Pollution
1) How did your interest in biotechnology and sustainability begin, and what inspired you to turn that curiosity into Aerovive?
My interest in biotechnology and sustainability started from a very simple observation: in closed classrooms, rooms at home or at the gym, I kept feeling unusually tired and foggy, and the headaches became frequent enough that I began tracking when they happened. Every time I stepped outside, the symptoms disappeared. That contrast led me to investigate indoor air quality, where I discovered research showing CO2 levels in Indian indoor spaces often reach 1500–2500 ppm, high enough to affect concentration and wellbeing.
Once I understood this problem, I realised that biotechnology was the most natural and inventive way to solve it. I had already worked with microalgae in small science projects, so I knew they had exceptional CO2 absorption capacity and were environmentally regenerative. Instead of using another electricity-intensive mechanical filter, I wanted to see if a living system could improve air quality in a cleaner and more sustainable way.
Q2) Indoor air quality is rarely discussed in India, even though it can be more harmful than outdoor pollution. Why do you think this gap in awareness exists?
We, as humans, fight the evils of the world that we can see. People only react to pollution when they see smog or dust, but CO₂ has no colour, smell, or immediate sensory warning. Most households and offices don’t use CO₂ monitors, so there’s no data to trigger concern. There’s also a structural issue: Indian air-quality reporting focuses almost entirely on PM2.5 and PM10, not CO₂ or ventilation standards. Even many “air purifier” ads reinforce this by talking only about particulate pollution. As a result, the general population knows when AQI outside is 300, but they don’t realise a classroom indoors may be at 2000 ppm CO2, which can impair attention and decision-making.
Q3) Despite the National Clean Air Program, many cities still exceed permissible PM2.5 levels. What structural changes do you think are urgently needed?
- Stronger regulations on waste burning: A huge fraction of urban PM2.5 spikes comes from waste burning near residential areas. Cities need better segregation systems and dedicated high-temperature waste-processing zones to remove the incentive for burning.
- Better public transport to reduce vehicle load: Private vehicles are a massive contributor to NOx, CO2 and particulate matter, sometimes even considered the largest. Although Mumbai has begun ramping up public transport through the new Metro lines and dedicated bus lanes, I still think the rate of growth of public transport doesn’t correspond with population growth.
- Clear division of responsibilities between pollution and environmental boards: Right now, municipal corporations, state pollution boards, and environment ministries overlap. This reduces accountability; as citizens, we do not know who to hold accountable. This also causes bureaucratic delays.
4) How did mentorship from IIT Bombay and Harvard experts influence the development of the system?
Having such experienced mentors by my side helped me avoid common biological and engineering mistakes that first-time innovators make. My mentors taught me how to approach problems systematically, validate ideas with data, and design solutions that are simple, reliable, and scalable. Their guidance helped me move from rough prototypes to a system that’s ready for real-world use.
5) How does Aerovive compare with traditional air purifiers in terms of performance, energy use, maintenance, and sustainability?
- Performance: Traditional purifiers mainly remove PM2.5 and dust using filters. Aerovive focuses on CO₂ by biologically absorbing it through photosynthesis. This is then converted into oxygen, so the air quality improvement is broader in scope.
- Energy Use: HEPA purifiers rely on high-speed fans and often run at 30–60W (sometimes more). Aerovive uses low-power LEDs and a small pump, so its energy consumption is significantly lower.
- Sustainability: Traditional purifiers generate filter waste and can release microplastics from degraded filters. Aerovive produces no solid waste, uses reusable cultures, and operates in a carbon-negative cycle because the algae capture CO₂. Dead microalgal biomass can be used as biofuel.
Q6) You use algae, fungi, and bacteria to teach students about invisible ecosystems. How do young learners respond when they realise these tiny organisms sustain our planet?
Most students are shocked because they’ve only heard of microbes in the context of disease. When they see microalgae bubbling oxygen or fungi turning food waste into compost, it reframes microbes as “helpers” rather than threats. In workshops, I show real lab setups:
- CO₂ dropping in real time when algae photosynthesise
- Yeast inflating balloons through respiration
- DIY microbial fuel cells powering small LEDs
These experiments make invisible processes suddenly tangible. Students often ask if such systems can be built at home or used in their schools, which means that they understand both the science and its real-world potential.
7) What is your long-term vision for Aerovive?
To make biological air purification a standard part of buildings. I want Aerovive systems in clinics, offices, gyms, and eventually homes, and I want to keep improving the strains and design so the system becomes even more efficient and affordable.
8) What message would you give young Indians who want to build climate solutions but feel they lack resources?
Start with whatever you have and build small prototypes. My first setups were extremely basic. Once you show consistent progress, people become willing to help. Reach out to mentors early. I was helped by India’s strong research community that supports young innovators.
RAPID FIRE:
1. One habit that keeps you grounded?
Going for a walk early in the morning
2. Your favourite childhood science memory?
Building a homemade volcano
3. What is a quote you live by?
Start before you’re ready
4. If you had one superpower what would it be?
Instant problem-solving
