Every year, the world discards more than one billion tires, a figure that continues to rise as global car ownership expands. Unlike other types of waste, tires are notoriously difficult to manage. Made of durable synthetic rubber compounds designed to withstand wear and tear, they do not biodegrade easily. Traditional disposal methods such as landfilling or incineration create even more problems. Landfilled tires leach harmful chemicals into the soil and groundwater, while burning them releases toxic pollutants into the air and poses dangerous fire hazards. The result is an ever-growing mountain of waste that threatens both public health and the environment.
But through the YRI Fellowship, student researcher Ishaan Menon is redefining how the world thinks about waste. His work demonstrates that the tires piling up in dumps and scrapyards could instead become a valuable resource, transforming one of the world’s dirtiest waste problems into an engine for sustainable energy.
An 11th-grade student at Obra D. Tompkins High School, Ishaan joined the Fellowship to pursue research that could create real-world impact. With access to expert mentorship, technical resources, and the structured accountability of the YRI program, he developed a hybrid catalytic system that transforms waste tires into usable fuels and chemicals.
The process at the heart of his project is called catalytic pyrolysis. In simple terms, it involves heating tires in the absence of oxygen, causing them to break down into valuable products such as liquid fuels, syngas, and solid carbon. While pyrolysis is not new, Ishaan’s contribution lies in making the process cleaner, more efficient, and more affordable. By combining bimetal-modified zeolite catalysts with industrial waste-derived materials, his system not only boosts energy efficiency but also lowers sulfur emissions, which are a major environmental concern. Importantly, it also reduces costs, making large-scale adoption more feasible.
“My goal was to make tire recycling not only possible, but practical for large-scale use,” Ishaan explained. “Through the YRI Fellowship, I learned how to merge experimental analysis with computational modeling to achieve results I never thought possible.”
Ishaan’s project did not stop at the lab bench. He integrated advanced thermal analysis tools with machine learning models to better understand the decomposition pathways inside the pyrolysis process. By predicting yields and optimizing catalyst performance, his system generates higher-quality fuels while leaving behind a smaller environmental footprint than conventional methods. This combination of hands-on experimentation with computational modeling reflects the Fellowship’s ethos: pushing students to merge disciplines and innovate beyond traditional boundaries.
The implications of Ishaan’s research extend far beyond waste management. Experts note that this kind of innovation directly accelerates the development of a circular economy a system where waste is continuously transformed into valuable resources, reducing the need for virgin raw materials and lowering environmental impact. “Instead of waste piling up, we can turn it into something valuable,” Ishaan said. His words capture the vision of a world where discarded materials are not a burden but a resource for sustainable growth.
Environmental scientists have long pointed out that recycling alone cannot keep pace with the sheer scale of global waste. But projects like Ishaan’s suggest a different path: one where recycling is combined with energy recovery, turning liabilities into opportunities. With further development, his hybrid catalytic system could be deployed in industrial recycling facilities, transforming tire dumps into hubs for clean energy production.
Recognition of Ishaan’s work has already begun. He will present his findings at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world’s most prestigious competition for high school researchers. Standing on that stage, Ishaan will represent not only his own achievement but also the caliber of innovation being nurtured inside the YRI Fellowship.
This breakthrough is also a testament to the Fellowship’s unique model. By surrounding students with world-class mentors, rigorous milestones, and a culture of fearless execution, YRI enables high schoolers to produce science that rivals university-level research. Fellows are expected not just to learn science, but to ship science delivering real, publishable work with the potential for global impact. Ishaan’s project exemplifies this philosophy, bridging environmental sustainability, chemical engineering, and artificial intelligence in a way few would expect from a teenager.
With innovators like Ishaan Menon, the YRI Fellowship continues to prove why it is the fastest-growing research fellowship in the world. It is turning today’s waste into tomorrow’s clean energy, and today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders.
In a time when climate change and pollution demand urgent solutions, Ishaan’s story offers hope: that the next generation of researchers is not waiting for the future they are building it right now.
Learn more about how the YRI Fellowship empowers students like Ishaan to transform global challenges into breakthroughs at yriscience.com.
