Local Kids Seek Laurels At Intel ISEF 2014

Students from the “IT Hub of India” - Karnataka are all set to compete with their global peers and make the country proud at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Abhishek Mitra of  National Public School, Prajwal Shivanand of Vagdevi Vilas School, Saad Nasser of Clarence High School,  Ram Mannath Aishwarya & Vinod Nambiar Sishugriha Montessori & High School in Bangalore and Arjun Rao Hurulihal of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Dharwad are part of Team India. The students will represent the country at the fair and compete with 1600 finalists from over 70 countries across the globe in Los Angeles, California from May 11-16, 2014.

This year, the highest numbers of entries are being sent from India in the history of the competition; with 12 projects competing at the event as compared to 6 projects that were shortlisted last year. This was made possible courtesy a partnership with the Indo-US Science & Technology Forum, an autonomous organization jointly established and funded by the Indian and US Government. Under this collaboration, Team India will continue on a Science Learning Tour where they will visit the Maker Faire in the Bay area, various research laboratories, meet with key scientists and explore various science museums in the United States of America.

Team India also met Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, the former President of India and a renowned Indian scientist who wished them luck before departing for Los Angeles for the Intel ISEF fair.

Commenting on the increased number of projects from India in ISEF this year, Ashutosh Chadha, Director - Corporate Affairs Group, Intel South Asia said, “Both IRIS and Intel ISEF are influential in highlighting the unique pool of creativity and innovation that exists in the country. This year, with 12 projects being selected for ISEF we have a greater opportunity to showcase the talent existing within the youngsters of the country, encouraging them to create realistic solutions, through research practices, to scientific challenges that are vital for tomorrow’s progress.”

Intel ISEF is a program run by the Society for Science & the Public (SSP) in partnership with Intel Corporation. The premier global science competition provides an annual forum to pre-college students across the world to display their independent research.

Intel ISEF winners are chosen from 17 categories including behavioral and social sciences, biochemistry, computer science, and engineering: materials & bioengineering, environmental sciences, medicine and health sciences, microbiology and many others. Projects are evaluated by judges from nearly every scientific discipline, each with a Ph.D. or equivalent (six years of related professional experience) in one of the scientific disciplines, and include Nobel laureates and Intel fellows.