Modern Life

Generation Impact: For a young scientist, climate action started in her garage

“The Scientist” reveals how Emily Tianshi’s quest to research an iconic California pine tree led her to environmental advocacy.

By Leigh-Ann Jackson — April 19, 2022

At age 13, San Diego native Emily Tianshi stumbled onto a scientific “aha!” moment on the grounds of Torrey Pines State Preserve while enjoying one of her family’s regular nature hikes.

Observing that the seaside park’s scrubby, iconic Torrey Pine trees (a critically endangered and, in fact, rarest pine in North America) had puddles of water collecting under them despite otherwise dry conditions, she gathered a $20 microscope and “some random trinkets,” converting her suburban garage into a makeshift lab.

“I just took some needles home and started prodding around,” says Tianshi, now an 18-year-old freshman at Stanford University. “I really did not think it would become a long-term project.”

RELATED: To reduce marine pollution, innovation is in the (plastic) bag

That project begun as an eighth-grader led her to win local science fairs and earned her scholarship prizes at statewide and national STEM events. Today, the young nature-lover wants to put her findings to work combating global water shortages caused by climate change and inspire fellow Gen Z-ers to conduct their own “garage-lab research” for solutions to the devastating effects of an ever-warming planet.

Emily’s curiosity-borne quest unfolds in Generation Impact: The Scientist, a short film directed by award-winning filmmaker Stephanie Wang-Breal and produced by Culture House. The third in a series of short documentary films by the Garage by HP, Generation Impact spotlights remarkable young people using technology to make the world a better place.

Generation Impact: The Scientist - Episode 3 | Garage By HP

To see the effects of climate change and the resulting water shortage, Tianshi needs look no further than her own home state, where 37.3 million people are currently affected by what’s being called a “megadrought” and the governor recently issued an executive order calling for more aggressive water conservation measures.

“The clock is really ticking. We see it and it’s really scary and that creates a lot of motivation to work differently,” she says.

The Torrey Pine needle’s distinct internal structure — alternating between hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces — enables the trees to harvest and retain moisture even in times of water scarcity. From these findings, Tianshi created an atmospheric moisture-harvesting micropattern (which can be employed in man-made fabrics for, say, tents and outerwear), as well as a standalone device that mimics the conifer’s unique properties and can help produce water in areas of severe drought.

“I was awestruck by the beautiful visuals that represented her extensive garage lab research,” Wang-Breal says of her subject. “When we look at Mother Nature's miraculous work under Emily’s microscope, we see up close the beauty and magic she provides to help us find solutions to our climate crisis.”

“The clock is really ticking. We see it and it’s really scary and that creates a lot of motivation to work differently.”

—Emily Tianshi, cofounder, Clearwater Innovation

In 2018, Tianshi teamed up with her younger brother Kyle, who credits his sister with “demystifying scientific research,” to launch Clearwater Innovation, a student-run environmental advocacy program that offers everything from tips on building self-sufficient backyard farms to a study of the impact fast fashion has on global water consumption. The group speaks to the homegrown nature of the Tianshis’ mission: to encourage students to utilize their creativity and solve problems through innovation.

Tianshi’s determination (“No grit, no pearl,” she says in the film) is all about the power of a few individuals to create big change. And when Emily moved to Palo Alto to attend Stanford, she discovered that mindset echoes back to HP’s own startup origins.

“It’s pretty remarkable that the birthplace of Silicon Valley is truly one tiny shed,” she says. “Right before winter break, I dragged five of my friends to bike there with me. I was excited to see firsthand the seemingly unremarkable building that housed ideas that have impacted all of our lives deeply. And yes, I was interested in how Dave and Bill’s setup compared to mine!”

What started as a lark inspired by a trip to the park, has developed into a passion to affect real environmental change. While Tianshi, at times, feels frustrated by the uphill battle she and her peers face, she’s confident that her generation will succeed. She says she’s considering studying law in addition to STEM, with a goal of one day making policy that will lead to long-term climate action.

“We can really collaborate and establish a network of people working together towards the same goal, so I’m hopeful for our future.”

**WATCH: The Inventor: How Easton LaChappelle’s love of robotics is putting prosthetic arms within reach.**

Tags: Innovation / Technology and Innovation / Environment
Posted In: Modern Life

Modern Life

Generation Impact: For a young scientist, climate action started in her garage

RELATED: To reduce marine pollution, innovation is in the (plastic) bag

Generation Impact: The Scientist - Episode 3 | Garage By HP

**WATCH: The Inventor: How Easton LaChappelle’s love of robotics is putting prosthetic arms within reach.**

Recommended Stories

6 ways to keep your body healthy at work

Where video gaming gets cozy

A parent’s guide to college student cybersecurity

Select Your Country/Region and Language

HP Worldwide

Select Your Country/Region and Language