Talha Zubair is a high school student at Notre Dame College, Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is a Science Enthusiast and very much passionate about biotechnology, molecular biology, sustainable agriculture, and emerging technologies. He believes in hardworking and is determined to do his work.

His Work,

After the national sophomore board exam, he researched pepper plants (Capsicum frutescens) and Bacillus subtilis bacteria to investigate the relationship between seed germination time, germination rate, and seedling growth in bacterial presence. He got pretty significant results and he showcased his project at the International Science and Invention Fair 2020. He became a Bronze Medalist in the ‘Life Sciences’ category and became a medalist in the competition for the first time ever from Bangladesh. Later on, he founded an Agri-Tech startup named ‘Bacto Crop’ to accelerate sustainable agriculture using beneficial soil microbiomes.

He won multiple competitions including becoming a finalist in the paradigm challenge, a finalist at the Gifted and Talented Silicon Valley Innovators (GATSVI) Venture Challenge, and a bronze awardee in the Duke of Edinburgh Award. He also became a global champion in cities in space competitions and an international 3rd prize winner in the NSS Space settlement contest. He is also heavily engaged in olympiads since his freshman year and he recently became a silver medalist at the International Medicine and Disease Olympiad 2022.

One of his submissions recently secured the Finalist position in the 5th American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Annual Innovation Pitch Competition. His team pitched the innovation on November 01, 2022, at the Seattle Convention Center in Seattle, WA, USA; during the 71st American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Annual Meeting. He is also a Zayed Sustainability Prize finalist in the high school category from the south Asia region. His other notable projects include – In silico drug design through computational screening of peptide inhibitors for targeting SARS-COV-2 main protease and developing a biodegradable, accessible, and cost-effective alternative of sanitary pads to deliver to the women living in remote hill tracts of Bangladesh.

 He also mentored more than thousands of middle school and high school students on STEM topics and scientific research. He is also a founding member and mentor of the Notre Dame Science Club Research and Development Wing where he is leading a project on reusable, cost-effective, accessible, and biodegradable sanitary pads to deliver them to women living in the hill tract region.

His experience with Glocal Teen Hero,

He is happy to be recognized as the first Glocal Teen Hero Bangladesh 2022, among the notable participant Nationally. He is happy to get introduced to the networking and mentoring opportunity among fellow teenagers and the authorities around.

We, the Team of Glocal Teen Hero wish him the best in his future endeavors.