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8 Indian kids in finals of mega science fair
The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair is to young scientists what World Cup is to cricketers, reports Kanupriya Vashisht.
The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) is to young scientists what World Cup is to cricketers.
Held annually in May, Intel ISEF is the largest international pre-college science fair where the world's best young scientists jostle for over $3 million in scholarships and prize money. More than 1400 finalists from 45 countries, ranging in age from 13-20 years, are competing this year in Phoenix, Arizona.
Eight Indian school kids, six of them from rural and small town backgrounds, have emerged finalists from an original worldwide pool of several million participants.
They are winners already, after having competed with over 65,000 students at 550 regional, state-level, national and international Intel ISEF-affiliated science fairs to win the right to compete at Intel ISEF.
Anitha: A village girl
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For 17 years, Mandya, a small village in Karnataka, had been Anitha Ramesh's whole world. So when she packed her bags to fly to the US, the whole village came out with garlands to see off their most promising daughter on her long illustrious journey. Her first stride out of her cloistered universe was literally gigantic.
Anitha's farmer father and little educated mother might not understand the scientific terms of her research project but they understood something big was underway. And they were mighty proud. She found Parthenium Hysterophorous, more popularly called the obnoxious weed, growing in her father's farm and discovered that it made a very effective biopesticide.
"People think it is useless but nothing in the world is 100 per cent bad, depends on how we look at it," she says. "I observed Parthenium was never attacked by insects and in turn insects that hovered around it were destroyed," she reveals. That is what propelled her research.
Riddhiman Yadav: Low cost artificial limbs
Riddhiman Yadav doesn't look a day older than 10. But this student of Modern School, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi, is blessed with talent well beyond his 15 years. For the competition, he has designed an improvised artificial limb for above knee amputees. It is his dream to design affordable, low cost artificial limbs for the poor in India. For his design he has used mild iron and springs that minimise weight and allow cross leg squatting and suitable ankle movement, which is not possible in most available artificial limbs.
His design, he says, costs as little as Rs 595 ($13) and can be made even in a village workshop.
While most students milling around the hotel lobby look nervous about the competition, this bundle of giggles and wisecracks can't wait to dig into a Domino's pizza and then jump into the swimming pool. But don't mistake his passion; his twinkling young eyes are firmly fixed on IIT.
Malvika Tiwari: Inspired by disabled father
Malvika Tiwari, on the other hand, has devised a foot-operated device for people without hands. It is an auto-gear device that can be fitted into a scooter. Her inspiration comes from her disabled father who does not have legs, and mother who teaches mentally challenged kids at an army school in Kanpur. This 16-year-old is the school's basketball captain, a Priety Zinta fan and wants to be an aeronautical engineer.
Shaarika Sarasija: MBSE aspirant
With her doe eyes, flowing hair and sparkly nose pin, Shaarika Sarasija could easily have been a dancer. Instead this Thiruvananthapuram girl is busy researching Chaitavari, a wild asparagus, as potential enhancer of breast milk production. Her tests have mostly been conducted on goats at a government live stock farm. She says the asparagus tubers helped achieve 30 per cent increase in produce.
Shaarika wants to go to New Zealand to pursue a Masters in Business Education (MBSE), but for now she can't wait to get to the Arizona Mall and buy some western outfits and makeup.
