State: Minnesota
Years on RSYC: 2026
William is a young scientist who fights marine habitat loss by combining his love for nature with engineering.
William works to protect Earth’s aquatic ecosystems through his project Build a Reef, which teaches youth how to design and create artificial coral reefs.
Through Build a Reef, William works with peers to lead sustainability workshops focused on marine restoration, inspiring youth to maintain and conserve our waterways. William emphasizes that his work is not only about immediate impact to habitats, but in providing others with tools to support their own conservation efforts. In 2024, he won third place in a national scientific competition for inventing an AI Smart Artificial Reef (AISAR).
Beyond Roots & Shoots, William is a high-school student who enjoys spending time outdoors and tinkering with remote control planes. He is also the co-founder of Fish Hut, a nonprofit that promotes environmental awareness and positive mental health through recreational fishing.
William speaks to what inspired his work, saying: “these experiences shaped my deep respect for nature and inspired me to take action to protect it.”
