Our Story

Built by students, for the planet

Terra2Vita was founded on the belief that the most pressing environmental challenges of our time deserve bold, research-driven, community-centered solutions.

How It Started

From a science fair to a global platform

Terra2Vita began as a research project exploring how AI and physics-informed neural networks could address global water scarcity — a problem affecting billions of people worldwide. What started as a technical framework grew into something far larger: a nonprofit with real tools, real workshops, and real communities depending on it.

After presenting at ISEF 2026 and receiving the AMS Karl Menger Award, our founder recognized that the research alone wasn't enough. Education had to come alongside the technology. That realization became Terra2Vita: two pillars, one purpose.

What We Stand For

Mission and values

Our work is guided by a simple conviction: scientific innovation and accessible education are inseparable tools for environmental justice.

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Research-Driven

Every tool and curriculum we build is grounded in peer-reviewed science and validated in real-world conditions.

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Globally Minded

WaterWise operates across 50 sites and 10+ languages because water scarcity is a problem without borders.

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Education First

Technology without education creates tools without users. We invest equally in both sides of the equation.

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Community-Centered

From Louisville libraries to global farming communities, our programs meet people where they are.

Meet the Founder

The person behind the mission

Advika Rastogi

Founder & President, Terra2Vita

Advika is a rising senior in the Math, Science, and Technology magnet program at duPont Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky. Her research sits at the intersection of applied mathematics, stochastic modeling, and computational science — with a focus on real-world environmental impact.

She conducts university research at the University of Louisville with Dr. Barati (ML/biomedical) and Dr. Gaweda, and has presented her work at ISEF 2026, where she received the AMS Karl Menger Award (3rd place). She is also a Congressional App Challenge winner representing Kentucky's 2nd district.

Through Terra2Vita, she is building the organization she wished had existed when she first became passionate about water equity and climate education.

Recognition

Honored to be recognized

Our work has been acknowledged by leading scientific, governmental, and academic institutions.

ISEF 2026

AMS Karl Menger Award

3rd place special award from the American Mathematical Society for outstanding mathematical research in water scarcity mitigation.

U.S. Congress

Congressional App Challenge

Winner, Kentucky's 2nd Congressional District. WaterWise recognized by Rep. Brett Guthrie for its impact on water conservation technology.

Academia

University of Louisville Research

Active research partnerships with UofL faculty in machine learning and biomedical science, with arXiv publication in progress.