When Nicole Kuepper opened up her birthday present, she probably expected what most little girls expect: a doll, a toy or a dress. Instead at the ripe young age of 10 years old, Nicole was given a solar energy kit. And her world (as well as ours) was changed.

Now at the age of 23, Nicole celebrates the winning of two Australian Museum Eureka Prizes for her passionate scientific research. Nicole has developed a way to generate solar polar with the use of a conduit as small and accessible and a pizza over or even a laser printer, potentially supplying poverty-stricken regions around the world a new and affordable way to light and electricity.

As it stands today, photovoltaic cells (which convert sunlight to electricity) are sophisticated and costly and need a “clean” manufacturing plant in order to run optimally. Nicole’s new technique (called the iJET cell concept) uses low-cost procedures to manufacture solar cells. And to add to the beauty of this ground-breaking concept, this process is greenhouse friendly!

While it may take as long as five years for the patent on this idea, it’s an idea that may literally light up the world. Something to think about the next time you buy a child a present!