Ishaan Menon, a junior at Obra D. Tompkins High School, is tired of tires.

Menon’s project, “Hybrid Catalytic Pyrolysis of Waste Tires Using Bimetal-Modified Zeolite and Industrial Waste-Derived Catalysts,” addresses one of the world’s fastest-growing waste problems: discarded tires.

“Every year, billions of tires are thrown away, causing pollution and health hazards,” Menon said in an email interview with the Katy Times. “My research explores a sustainable recycling process called catalytic pyrolysis, which can transform waste tires into cleaner fuels and chemicals. By developing a hybrid catalyst system, I was able to improve efficiency, lower sulfur emissions, and reduce overall costs. The project integrates both laboratory experiments and computer modeling to show how this method could work on a large scale.”

Menon is a student researcher at Young Researchers Institute. “I have long been passionate about renewable energy and sustainability,” he said. “Tire waste stood out to me because it is a highly visible global issue—millions of discarded tires accumulate in dumps and landfills. A video I saw of burning tires in Egypt further emphasized the severe environmental and health consequences of this problem. Learning about pyrolysis inspired me, as it provides a way to transform this waste into a valuable energy source. That balance between solving an environmental problem and creating opportunity is what motivated my research.”

Menon’s goal is to present the research at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), where students from across the globe showcase innovations that address pressing global challenges. The fair is scheduled for May 9-15, 2026, in Phoenix. To qualify for ISEF, he must first become a finalist at an affiliated science fair which typically involves advancing through three stages of competition—local, regional, and state—before becoming eligible to participate at the ISEF level. His goal is to progress through each of these stages in the coming months in order to secure a spot at ISEF 2026 in Phoenix.

Menon’s research spanned approximately eight to ten weeks. “This was an independent research project,” he told the Katy Times. “I carried out all experimental and computational work myself, though I relied on published datasets and open-source modeling tools to guide my analysis and simulations.” Menon worked with Dr. Subham Kumar Jalan, PhD (IIT Kancheepuram), and Ishan Jain (Founder of the YRI Fellowship). “They served as mentors by helping me refine my research question, reviewed my methodology, and recommended relevant literature. While they did not conduct the research themselves, their guidance was invaluable in strengthening the overall framework of my project.” But there are costs—and challenges-- to implement Menon’s solutions. “The primary challenges lie in scaling the process to an industrial level.” he said. “While laboratory experiments show strong promise, larger reactors and extended catalyst testing require significant investment. Another concern is ensuring the catalyst can be effectively regenerated over multiple cycles, keeping the process both efficient and

economical. However, using waste-derived catalysts can substantially reduce costs compared to traditional methods.”

With one more year of high school left, Menon plans to continue competing. “My next steps include expanding the project by testing hybrid catalysts in larger systems, incorporating other waste streams such as plastics, and enhancing predictive modeling through machine learning,” he said. “I am especially excited to continue building on this work during my senior year and beyond, particularly since I was awarded a full-ride scholarship to the YRI Fellowship Fall Cohort Program, which has a six per cent acceptance rate and offers full scholarships to less than 0.01% of applicants.”

After high school, Menon plans to major in Chemical Engineering with a concentration in sustainable energy systems and is looking at universities with strong programs in renewable energy and materials science, such as UT Austin and Texas A&M. “My long-term goal is to develop technologies that address environmental challenges through renewable energy, advanced recycling methods, and sustainable product design—ultimately contributing to a circular economy,” he said.id.