| Kiara Nirghin | |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Alma Mater: | Stanford University |
| Known For: | Artificial Intelligence and Patented Science breakthroughs.[1] |
| Awards: | Grand Prize at the Google Science Fair[2] Global Google Community Impact Award Winner [3] Time Magazine's Most Influential [4] |
Kiara Nirghin is a South African technologist,author, and sustainability advocate. She gained recognition at a young age when she won the Grand Prize at the Google Science Fair with her patented technological innovation against climate change.[5] Nirghin has been featured by TIME Magazine and The Guardian on their Most Influential lists and named one of Glamour Magazine’s Women of the Year. She is recognized as a United Nations' Young Champions of the Earth[6] and is a Global Ambassador for Room To Read.[7]
At sixteen years old, Nirghin gained international recognition by winning the Google Science Fair with her project "No More Thirsty Crops," which produced a biodegradable, super-absorbent polymer from waste products.[8] The product leveraged advanced artificial intelligence algorithms and data analysis, in an innovative way. She was one of the youngest female winners of the Google Science Fair.[9] Nirghin's word was in response to one of South Africa's worst droughts in 45 years. She developed a unique super-absorbent polymer that holds hundreds of times its weight in water when stored in soil. It is biodegradable, inexpensive and free of harmful chemicals, unlike the manmade materials currently used. The polymer, made entirely from waste products, improves the environment, increases the chance for plants to sustain growth by 84% during a drought and can increase food security by 73% in disaster-struck areas.[10]
Nirghin is a Peter Thiel Fellow[11] and a Fellow of Alexis Ohanian's fund. She is one of the youngest AI executives in Silicon Valley. Specializing in researching and building generative AI models, she co-funded Chima, a company using large-scale, venture-backed technology with a focus on sustainability and ethical practices.
Nirghin advocates through public and private organizations UN Women, L'Oréal UNESCO for Women in Science, and The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She is also a Global Ambassador for Room To Read and served as the youngest member of Google's Impact Fund.[12]
Nirghin has collaborated with several renowned high fashion brands, leveraging her platform to promote sustainable and innovative fashion practices.[13] merging her technological expertise with the world of high fashion. She has been featured in fashion magazines and attended major fashion events.[14]
Nirghin has partnered with Coca-Cola[15] on their Dreamworld project, which explores the intersection of creativity and technology. She has collaborated with Prada in presenting the Oceans Award at the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards 2022.[16]
Nirghin published her first book with Penguin Random House and has been invited to contribute articles to TIME Magazine in a piece titled "How Gen Z's AI Fluency Can Help Companies Succeed[17] ", Fast Company[18] and The Economist.[19]