A teenager from Burlington, Ontario, has developed a groundbreaking bionic turtle robot aimed at enhancing the safety and cleanliness of underwater ecosystems. Evan Budz, a 10th-grade student, utilized artificial intelligence to create the autonomous robot for ecological monitoring, which secured him the top prize at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS).
The innovative bionic sea turtle robot is designed to detect various threats in underwater environments, such as coral bleaching and invasive species. Evan, aged 15, received the Best Project (Innovation) award at the 2025 Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) in Fredericton and was also granted the Ellison Scholars Award, earning him a fully funded trip to Oxford University in the United Kingdom.
The EUCYS competition, organized by the European Commission, featured young scientists from 40 countries aged 14 to 20. Sara Waqas, a 16-year-old from Calgary, won the CWSF 2025 Best Project (Discovery) and secured second place at EUCYS with her research on treatment-resistant schizophrenia and a prototype drug to restore normal brain function.
Evan explained that the data collected by the bionic turtle robot will assist organizations in identifying threats to underwater ecosystems, increasing awareness and supporting conservation efforts. He emphasized the importance of mimicking a turtle’s movements to ensure minimal disruption to the environment during ecological monitoring.
Inspired by observing a snapping turtle while camping, Evan highlighted the natural and fluid movements of the turtle that motivated him to develop the robot. He tested the device in his grandparents’ pool and achieved a 96% accuracy rate in detecting replicated coral bleaching, showcasing its reliability and potential impact on ecosystem preservation.
Youth Science Canada’s executive director, Reni Barlow, commended Evan and Sara’s projects for addressing critical global challenges, emphasizing the remarkable innovation displayed by Canadian youth. Chandra Sharma, president and CEO of Conservation Halton, praised Evan’s design approach for ecosystem monitoring, aligning with the organization’s conservation philosophy.
Overall, Evan’s commitment to marine conservation and innovative contributions have garnered recognition and praise from experts in the field, highlighting his promising future in conservation efforts.
