When Destrehan High School student Momin Mahmood first heard the phrase “Cancer Alley,” it stuck with him.
“It made me think more deeply about the quality of the air we breathe every day and how pollution affects communities like mine,” Mahmood said.
He started looking into existing solutions and quickly realized that current air purifiers are expensive, and not many people can prioritize that luxury.
“I wanted to take that concern and channel it into something productive by creating a project that was not only scientific, but also personally meaningful and relevant to my community,” Mahmood said.
Mahmood also wanted to show that expensive technology is not always needed to create something meaningful. By using affordable and mostly recycled material, he created an effective DIY air purifier designed to improve indoor air quality.
“I built it out of things like a computer fan, an old toy car battery, filters, cardboard, and other repurposed components, which made the project both practical and environmentally conscious,” he said.
Mahmood entered his project – Geaux Green, Breathe Clean – into his first ever science fair, and, in February, he won first place at the Regional Science Fair. He will now compete at the 2026 Louisiana State Science and Engineering Fair April 7-9 for a chance to win at the state level.
“When I won first place at the regional fair, I felt incredibly honored and grateful,” Mahmood said. “Being the only student in the senior division from all of St. Charles Parish made the moment even more meaningful because I knew I was representing not just myself, but my school and my community.”
After Mahmood presented his two-minute presentation at the fair, the judges had no follow-up questions.
“It meant a lot to me because it showed that my preparation, depth of knowledge, and passion truly came through,” Mahmood said. “In that moment, I felt proud seeing all of the hard work pay off.”
Mahmood said that, at its core, his project is about taking everyday materials and transforming them into a functional solution that can help people breathe cleaner air.
“One of the biggest challenges was definitely the building process,” he said. “There was a lot of trial and error involved, especially when it came to making sure the different parts worked together properly. I had to figure out how to take the materials I had around me and combine them in a way that would create a purifier that was functional and effective.”
The challenge pushed him to think creatively, solve problems as they came up and refine the design until it was something he was proud of.
Mahmood said he is preparing for the state fair by going over his presentation carefully and making sure it is polished as possible.
“I am also thinking through every possible question that could be asked so that I can respond with confidence and clarity,” he said. “More than anything, I want to make sure I know my project from every angle and am mentally prepared for whatever comes my way.”
At the state fair, he hopes to do his best and represent Destrehan High School proudly.
“I am really looking forward to seeing what other students in environmental engineering have created,” he said. “For me, it is not just about the outcome, but about the experience, the people I will meet, and the ideas I will be exposed to. Of course, placing would be the cherry on top.”
Mahmood, who plans to become either a biomedical engineer or an environmental engineer one day, said his science teachers at Destrehan High School have motivated and supported him. He recognized teachers Jeanette Belton, Cristina Hargis, Daniel Martin and Sarah Vines for sparking his curiosity and believing in him.
“Their support has made a huge difference for me,” he said.
