3 Indian students make it to finals of the Google Science Fair
Three Indians have entered the coveted finals of the Google Science Fair. The finalists from India are Rohit Fenn (17), a student of Bethany High School, Bangalore, Raghavendra Ramachenderan (17), student of St John’s International Residential School, Chennai, and Sumit Singh (14), student of Lucknow Public School, Lucknow. Another finalist is Yamini Naidu (17 years) an American of Indian origin.
While the global science competition challenges young minds to conduct experiments that they think can change the world, these finalists from India took up core issues and designed simple working models around the issues.
Science enthusiasts who have spent a large part of their lives coming up with innovative ideas and projects finally got a chance to showcase their works at the global level last year. This year, thousands of science enthusiasts from over 100 countries submitted their projects at the Google Science Fair.
Fifteen finalists along with the Indians, will fly to Google headquarters in California to compete for a grand prize of $100,000 scholarship, National Geographic expedition to the Galapagos islands, hands-on experience at a partner organisation (Google, CERN and LEGO).
What Are Their Projects?
Rohit Fenn’s qualifying science project is a partial-vacuum assisted flush that conserves over 50 percent of the overall water used in a toilet to flush.
“My friends have been pulling my leg about designing a toilet for days now, but being a finalist at such a big competition means a lot. In every toilet with flush, almost 10-14 litres of water gets wasted. Water is a resource that India, especially is running short of. So my project has come at the right time,” he said.
Raghavendra Ramachenderan from Chennai, said, “My project involves reconverting the partially oxidised fuel (alcohols) into usable fuel. It has been inspired by an attempt to find a green energy source for driving chemical reactions that can change every aspect of our lives-from the energy crisis to medicine.”
Sumit Singh, the finalist from Lucknow, designed a low-cost Vertical Multi-level farm, which could be used by small farmers to increase crop yield in agriculture and horticulture. The 14-year-old went out onto the fields to discuss his project and the practicality with farmers to get hands on experience. “It surely came as a surprise to me when I got selected for the finals. I’ve worked hard to reach this level and I am confident that I will win,” he said.
Presenting mementoes to the finalists, Country Head-India, Products for Google, Lalitesh Katragadda said, “It is amazing to see the concepts and talent displayed by these young students, where they are not just trying to solve the real world problems but also producing groundbreaking science that is challenging the current conventions. It is heartening to see talent from India going global. We are proud to have them as finalists and wish them luck.” The finals that will be held on July 23, will have the finalists presenting their projects before a panel of acclaimed scientists based on creativity, scientific merit and global relevance of the project.
