TLDR: Burlington’s Evan Budz, a 15-year-old Grade 10 student, has won the first-place prize at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) for his autonomous bionic sea turtle robot. The invention utilizes artificial intelligence to monitor aquatic ecosystems, detecting threats such as coral bleaching and invasive species with 96% accuracy. Budz’s innovation also earned him the Best Project (Innovation) award at the 2025 Canada-Wide Science Fair and an Ellison Scholars Award.
Burlington, Ontario – A remarkable achievement in environmental innovation has put Burlington on the global stage, as 15-year-old Evan Budz, a Grade 10 student, secured the prestigious first-place prize at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS). Budz was recognized for his groundbreaking invention: an autonomous bionic sea turtle robot designed for comprehensive ecological monitoring of aquatic environments.
Evan’s award-winning robot is a testament to the power of integrating advanced technology with environmental conservation. The device employs artificial intelligence (AI) for sophisticated pattern recognition, enabling it to identify and track critical threats to marine life, including the devastating effects of coral bleaching and the presence of invasive species. During testing, the robot demonstrated an impressive 96% accuracy in detecting replicated 3D printed coral specimens, showcasing its reliability and potential for real-world application.
Inspired by a snapping turtle he observed and driven by a profound interest in environmental preservation, particularly the escalating impact of global warming and human activities on ecosystems, Budz embarked on this ambitious project. He spent approximately a year and a half meticulously prototyping and refining his invention, drawing inspiration from the kinematics and swimming gait of green sea turtles to ensure the robot’s design was as fluidic and minimally disruptive to underwater environments as possible. “With my project, I’ve created a robot that swims underwater similarly to a sea turtle, and designed it to conduct the autonomous ecological monitoring so it’s able to detect different types of threats that may occur in an underwater environment, from coral bleaching to invasive species,” Budz explained.
This European triumph follows another significant accolade for Evan earlier this year. In June, he was awarded the Best Project (Innovation) at the 2025 Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) held in Fredericton. His exceptional work also earned him the Ellison Scholars Award, which includes an all-expenses-paid trip to visit Oxford University in the United Kingdom, further recognizing his potential as a future leader in science and technology.
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Budz’s vision for his bionic turtle extends beyond competition. He expressed a clear goal for his research and prototype: “My real goal for this research and the prototype I have here is to eventually have it put out into a variety of marine ecosystems, really worldwide.” This initiative aims to provide crucial data to relevant individuals and organizations, enabling them to take informed actions to improve the health and resilience of marine environments globally. The integration of AI in his design highlights a promising avenue for addressing complex environmental challenges with innovative technological solutions.
