Three Indore Teenagers Invent Salt-Powered Vaccine Cooling Device, Win $12,500 at Earth Prize 2025

By News National Editorial Team

INDORE, India: Turning a simple classroom science concept into a potentially life-saving healthcare innovation, three teenagers from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, have developed an electricity-free cooling device designed to help transport vaccines and temperature-sensitive medicines to remote communities.

The invention, named Thermavault, was developed by Dhruv Chaudhary, Mithran Ladhania and Mridul Jain. Their innovation uses a salt-based chemical reaction involving water to generate cooling without requiring conventional electricity, batteries or ice packs.

The project earned the team the Asia Regional Winner title at the prestigious Earth Prize 2025, along with $12,500 in funding to support further development and implementation.

How Does Thermavault Work?

Thermavault uses a scientific principle involving an endothermic reaction, in which certain salts absorb heat from their surroundings when dissolved in water.

The cooling process helps reduce the temperature inside the insulated device, creating an environment suitable for transporting temperature-sensitive medical supplies.

According to information shared by The Earth Prize, the system can maintain cooling for up to 12 hours.

One of its interesting features is the potential to reuse the salt. After the cooling process, the water can be evaporated by heating the solution, allowing the salt to be recovered and used again.

This approach could reduce dependence on conventional cooling materials and disposable packaging.

An Idea Inspired by Healthcare Challenges

The inspiration behind Thermavault came from challenges associated with transporting vaccines to rural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The three students, whose families have medical backgrounds, became aware of the difficulties healthcare workers face when transporting temperature-sensitive medical supplies to locations with unreliable electricity.

Vaccines require carefully controlled storage temperatures to maintain their effectiveness. In areas without dependable refrigeration facilities, maintaining the required cold chain can become particularly challenging.

The students explored how a simple chemistry concept could help address this problem and developed their cooling system into a practical prototype.

$12,500 Award to Support Further Development

The Thermavault team received the Asia Regional Winner recognition at The Earth Prize 2025, an international environmental competition for young innovators.

The $12,500 award is intended to help the students advance their invention beyond the initial prototype stage.

According to The Earth Prize announcement, the team planned to manufacture 200 units for testing and expand trials across approximately 120 hospitals in their region.

The students have also received encouragement from experts and medical professionals, including feedback from the Indian Institute of Technology Indore community.

Potential Benefits for Rural Healthcare

If further testing and regulatory evaluation establish its effectiveness, Thermavault could offer an additional option for transporting medical supplies in areas where conventional refrigeration is difficult.

Potential applications include:

• Transporting vaccines to remote villages.

• Supporting rural healthcare centres.

• Carrying temperature-sensitive medicines.

• Supporting medical outreach and immunisation programmes.

• Reducing dependence on electricity during short-distance medical transportation.

However, the device will need appropriate performance testing, temperature monitoring and relevant certification before it can be widely adopted for vaccine programmes.

The team has expressed interest in pursuing World Health Organization Performance, Quality and Safety (WHO PQS) certification.

A Classroom Lesson with Real-World Potential

Thermavault demonstrates how scientific knowledge acquired in school can inspire solutions to practical challenges.

The innovation also highlights the importance of encouraging young people to explore science, sustainability and healthcare technology.

For millions of people living in communities with limited electricity infrastructure, reliable transportation of medical supplies remains an important challenge.

Although further development and testing are necessary, the three young innovators from Indore have brought attention to a problem that deserves greater technological and public health attention.

Their achievement at the Earth Prize 2025 offers an encouraging example of how student-led research can contribute to discussions about accessible healthcare and sustainable innovation.

Sources and verification

1. The Earth Prize – Official announcement, April 22, 2025

2. The Earth Prize – 2025 Scholars and regional winners

3. India Today – Thermavault innovation and development

4. The Times of India – Device testing and future plans