Scientist Erfan Nouraee has used his creative mind and passion for innovation to tackle issues ranging from the broadband divide to mental health — and at just 22 years old, he was named WIPO’s World Intellectual Property Day Changemaker.
"I am so humbled and so grateful for this opportunity," Nouraee said Friday on City News Toronto. "It's so honoring and humbling to be among so many fantastic people who have appeared on WIPO nominations, but along with that, just to be among the fantastic 'WIPO’s World IP Day Changemaker' finalists as well."
The Ontario student was selected from a group of over 5,000 nominees ranging from the ages of 18-25.
One of his most recent innovations was an app and Google Chrome extension called "the iMind," which he said in an interview for CBC News is designed to detect mental health challenges using an artificial intelligence program that can connect young people.
"I always wanted to put a smile on someone's face and I started doing that using science and using technology ... I use my expertise in science and technology to solve real-world problems and I use science and technology as a catalyst for social change," he said.
Nouraee made headlines back in 2021 he won an international science competition. At just 12 years, Nouraee had won a $1,000 grant for a device designed to detect the particles of light. He said the digital divide inspired him to help.
"I was just appalled at the statistics, appalled at what was happening in real life, and if no one else was going to solve this, I was going to," he said. "They were essentially couldn’t access high-speed internet every day that caused lifelong damage to themselves, and all of this, just because they couldn’t access, which is supposed to be a basic human right that everyone should have."
Nouraee's young age is not the only thing that sets him apart from other innovators.
"And here I am today as WIPO 'IP Day Changemaker,'" he said.
"There shouldn't be one of me. There shouldn't be one Erfan," he said. "There should be other students just like me who are looking to innovate and create change — and they just don't know where to start."
The student also credited him "huge support system" of family, teachers and mentors for fostering his passion for science and technology.
"Just being there for students when they need it is just so exciting for the student themselves because they know that someone's in it to win it with them," he said.
Asked what he was working on next, Nouraee said he was "going back to fiber optic" and working on a way to detect the particles of light, “optical cables," rather than non-living chemical and compounds.
"I'm quite literally a kid who's doing something he loves, and doing something I love," he said.
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