Montana eighth grader at Baker Junior High Rye Rost Wins National Award for Plantain-Based Bioplastic

A 13-year-old Montana student won second place nationally for inventing a new bioplastic.

Rye Rost, an eighth grader at Baker Junior High, developed a vinyl bioplastic made from plantains that earned her the runner-up spot in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge. This competition is considered a premiere STEM research contest for middle schoolers across the United States, making her achievement notable in the evolving field of sustainable materials.

Rost has been working on her bioplastic project for four years, initially experimenting with bananas but finding success only after switching to plantains and employing a different method to create the vinyl plastic. Her product aims to address plastic pollution by potentially offering a sustainable alternative to single-use plastics. Out of 30 finalists nationwide, her invention was recognized for its innovation within the technology division. She plans to continue refining her bioplastic with hopes of mass production.

Looking ahead, Rost intends to further develop her product as a viable solution to the plastic waste problem.

Montana middle schooler wins national award for bioplastic invention
By Sheridan Wood, MTPR Montana Public Radio