Global Indianstory Global IndianWomenInnovator, STEM whiz, TEDx speaker, Global Teen Leader: Neha Shukla is inspiring teens to solve real world problems

Innovator, STEM whiz, TEDx speaker, Global Teen Leader: Neha Shukla is inspiring teens to solve real world problems

Written by: Suruchi Kapur Gomes

COVID-19’s aftermath deeply vexes her. It changed a carefree 16-year-old to a thinking and inventing one. Innovator and STEM whiz Neha Shukla spent the pandemic-driven lockdowns leveraging science and technology to create social change. She invented a device — SixFeetApart — a wearable social distancing sonic sensor cap which beeps or vibrates when the six foot distance is breached, thus helping slow the spread of Covid-19. Even more credible is that her expectant childlike smile adorned the Nasdaq screen at New York City’s Times Square in 2020 as a ticker congratulated Neha for developing SixFeetApart. The recent Diana Award recipient is thrilled as she speaks with passion about STEM and spreading knowledge on her travels across the US on science and entrepreneurship.

Meet Neha Shukla, the 16-year-old teen innovator, STEM whiz and recipient of the Diana Award in 2021 for her invention SixFeetApart.

Neha Shukla on the Nasdaq screen at Times Square

The Indian-origin Pennsylvania resident from Cumberland Valley High School taught herself engineering and technology during lockdown, and her invention is an attempt to address world problems. Honored with the Diana Award for social action and humanitarian work, it was her research on SixFeetApart and running global Innovation and STEM workshops to build the next generation of young problem-solvers and innovators tackling the world’s biggest problems that set her apart. “I’ve impacted over 45,000 students through my sessions. I aim to reach over 100,000 students around the world by partnering with corporate companies and local organizations! It means so much to be recognized by Princess Diana as she represents kindness, humanitarian spirit, and service above self. It was also a wonderful surprise to hear Prince Harry’s words of encouragement at the awards ceremony,” Neha Shukla told Global Indian in an exclusive interview.

Evolving with the times

The world of science is ever changing, and her invention too has evolved. It has grown to three devices to be more accessible — an original SixFeetApart hat, a lanyard for school and corporate settings and an armband for on-the-go safety, and is now available on the Google Play Store as a companion app for the device.

“I’m most excited about the potential of creating real-world impact amid the new wave of Delta variant seeing a surge, especially in India. I hope that SixFeetApart is a small part of the solution to saving lives. The research paper detailing the creation and data behind SixFeetApart will be published in the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) in London this September,” adds Neha.

Neha was recently chosen by Masayoshi Son, CEO, SoftBank, to join the Masason Foundation and will receive grants, lab facilities, and mentorship for all future innovations too. The recipient of the National Gold Presidential Service Award from President Joe Biden, her scientific explorations have come a long way from when she would code apps using a block coder, and even started designing a heart rate-oximeter. Neha believes that caring enough about a problem, and being willing to take action, and solving it is the key to growth.

Mentors to nurture her mindset

Neha Shukla and her inventions

That, and having parents who are amazing mentors has nurtured her scientific mindset. Her parents Bharti and Rajiv Shukla are IIT and Harvard alumni — thus asking questions and exploring was encouraged at home.

“I’m currently working on a new innovation to diagnose neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers’ and Parkinsons’ at an early-stage using brain-computer interfaces and artificial intelligence. I’m excited to begin my research and create my innovation starting Fall 2021,” she says.

Even through the pandemic which was “definitely a struggle”, Neha kept focused. “The silver lining of being at home during quarantine has been the ability to explore new research, innovate, and be able to expand the scope of my innovation sessions to students across the world.” By Spring 2022, she plans to launch her book Innovation for Everyone – a guide on Innovation, Problem-Solving, and STEM. The book aims to equip students, adults, and organizations to leverage science and technology to solve problems.

Advocate for innovation

Neha Shukla with the Presidential Award

The entrepreneurship ambassador for girls, TEDx Speaker and global teen leader also runs Innovation and STEM workshops for students. As an advocate for innovation and youth in science and technology, she says, “Seeing children from even the first or second grade getting excited about innovation and coming up with tangible solutions to pollution, etc, within a 45-minute session is amazing. I see this as a testament that young people need to be a part of the dialogue to solve global problems,” says the girl who believes in harnessing her knowledge for positive action. (You can sign up for workshops on her website at: https://bit.ly/NehaShuklaWorkshop)

Selected as a 2021 Global Teen Leader from the 3 times Grammy-winning artist Nile Rodgers’ We Are Family Foundation, she aims to continue her mission to help build the next generation of problem-solvers and innovators. “As a Global Teen Leader, I had the opportunity to spend the summer attending the virtual Just Peace Summit, where we learned from experts around the world, met iconic peacemakers and industry experts, and celebrated the work that all the 40 amazing Global Teen Leaders are doing.”

Neha is also the Youth Ambassador for NYU Stern School of Business’ Endless Frontier Labs where she sits amidst venture capitalists and emerging startups in deep tech, to unscramble the world of VCs and startups. For her, this augurs her foray into business, product development and entrepreneurship, which incidentally, she is already doing as executive director at Boss Ladies. She was recently awarded the Whitaker Centre’s 2021 Women in STEM – Rising Star. One of Neha’s most fervent drivers is the urge to solve climate change, healthcare and cybersecurity.

Of family ties and roots

Neha Shukla working on SixFeetApart

Quite Indian at heart, she loves celebrating Diwali with her grandparents, cousins, and family in Mumbai and Pune. Ever thankful for parents who are proud and supportive, she adds, “It means so much to me that they believe in the work that I’m doing. I definitely couldn’t have created SixFeetApart or any other innovation without their support.”

“They have always encouraged me to be curious about the world, but let me figure out things on my own — no spoon feeding. My dad is an avid reader who inculcated in me the idea that it is possible to have a super deep knowledge of all subjects. His knowledge is so deep and wide, it’s crazy,” she smiles.

A piano player who loves Beethoven, Mozart, and even contemporary tunes like Rag Time, Neha also strums the acoustic guitar. She paints too — oils and acrylic, with a love for landscapes and still art. Her sister Niharika, her playing companion, is incidentally also a budding innovator.

If science excites you, she urges,

“Start now! The world needs your unique talents and ideas, so find a real-world problem and begin innovating. Put your creativity and imagination towards solving a problem and use frameworks like my three-step process to guide you. Anyone can be a problem-solver, anyone can be an innovator.”

Her goal is to follow her parents’ footsteps and join Harvard, or MIT, but before that, Neha Shukla is busy — taking STEM knowledge to the world.

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Published on 02, Dec 2021

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Ayush Gundawar: US Presidential Scholar making online tutoring accessible for free

(October 4, 2024) The first wave of Covid brought the entire world to a standstill, and changed the way everything functioned till then, including education. Moving from the vast spaciousness of classrooms to 17-inch laptop screens, students had a hard time fitting into virtual classrooms. Atlanta-based Ayush Gundawar was no different. Despite being someone who enjoyed learning, he felt deeply unmotivated. "Even my friends in high school dealt with the same emotions. That's when I realised if students like us who had access to academic support were having a hard time, how were students from disadvantaged communities dealing with this sudden change, especially when they had no access to extra resources like math tutoring? It felt unfair. And I was motivated to find a solution," the entrepreneur tells Global Indian. That's when the idea of LearnForsyth sprouted in Ayush's mind, and he soon got his non-profit registered. Initially, Ayush was the only tutor who began taking classes for the underprivileged students in his neighbourhood and simultaneously worked on building the website. "It took me months to code. Meanwhile, I also visited the local libraries pitching them the idea, and in return, they gave me articles for LearnForsyth. I even advertised

braries pitching them the idea, and in return, they gave me articles for LearnForsyth. I even advertised about the platform by putting up posters in local temples and churches," says the teenager, who has impacted over 2000 students across the globe through a network of 200 volunteering tutors - who are a mix of high schoolers as well as professionals.

[caption id="attachment_39720" align="aligncenter" width="478"] Ayush Gundawar was named US Presidential Scholar 2022[/caption]

Raised by software engineer parents who moved to the US in the early 2000s, Ayush grew up in a family culture that was cultivated around academics. "It wasn't just for better career opportunities but also to develop personality," adds Ayush, who enjoyed learning computers from a young age. His parents' careers acted as a catalyst in shaping his interest in computer science as young as ten years of age. "That's when I first learnt to program and was instantly hooked." This interest led him to make websites and applications as a teenager but it was in 2020 that he put his skills to the right cause when he started LearnForsyth, a non-profit that provides free peer-to-peer tutoring.

[caption id="attachment_39721" align="aligncenter" width="675"] LearnForsyth's tutoring session[/caption]

Ayush Gundawar, who has helped LearnForsyth grow from strength to strength in the last few years, calls it an enriching experience that has shaped him as an individual. "I have learnt a lot in the process. Seeing kids who were facing difficulties performing in their school are now performing well after enrolling in LearnForsyth has been a validation of sorts. The fact that I have used my skills to help improve human life across the globe has been so fulfilling," says the 20-year-old who is a researcher at Georgia Institute of Technology.

However, tiptoeing into the world of online education with a platform like LearnForsyth was equally challenging. Being just 16 at that time, the entrepreneur had to work a handful of jobs and internships to help get the seed funding for the platform, along with balancing his school with LearnForsyth. But moreover, growing his brigade of volunteers seemed like a mammoth task. "Initially, I was tutoring students for six-seven hours daily, but soon I started reaching out to high schoolers through newsletters and posters asking them to help to make a difference," says the entrepreneur who reveals that LearnForsyth teaches all subjects, and even helps students prepare for SAT and special projects like writing college essays.

Despite the hiccups, LearnForsyth came with its share of learning for him. From plainly working on the backend to mastering the design of the website, Ayush made technical progress in the last two years. Moreover, it gave him a chance to hone the leadership skills that he plans to put to good use during a corporate setup in the future. "Managing around 200 volunteers has helped me understand how to work with people in a way that they feel motivated," says the 2022 US Presidential Scholar. "The recognition has brought a big shift in me as an individual. I understood that there are so many like-minded people who are working to make the world a better place. Moreover, it has given me the opportunity to network with them."

He plans on making LearnForsyth accessible to everyone across the globe in near future. "I want people to access free tutoring and use it to their full potential in realising their educational goals," says the entrepreneur who plans on launching a startup in the tech space after a few years. Wedged between his passion for LearnForsyth and his studies, he likes to unwind by playing basketball with his friends and playing the guitar. Elaborating on the biggest lesson learnt in the last two years is the "accessibility" that online education has given to students across the world. "A student in Africa can access the same knowledge and education as someone in Asia. The accessibility is helping improve people's lives," says the entrepreneur.

Ayush Gundawar’s journey with LearnForsyth has been nothing short of transformative, not just for him but for the thousands of students whose lives he’s impacted. What began as a one-man initiative to tutor underprivileged students in his neighborhood has now grown into a global platform, offering free tutoring across subjects and SAT prep, all driven by a network of 200 volunteers. Ayush's ability to combine his love for technology with a genuine desire to make education accessible has proven to be a game-changer, especially in a time when students from disadvantaged backgrounds needed it the most. His work is a testament to how a single idea, fueled by passion and persistence, can create ripples of change across the world.

Follow Ayush Gundawar on Linkedin

Maria Thattil: The Indian-origin beauty queen who is one of Australia’s boldest voices

(June 23, 2023) In 2020, Indian-origin Maria Thattil captivated the world by becoming Miss Universe Australia, one of very few ladies of colour to achieve this feat. Since then, she has fervently utilized her platform to advocate for empowerment, inclusion, and equality. A prominent South-Asian Australian media personality, writer, speaker, and founder of the Mind with Me podcast series, she is considered one of Australia’s boldest voices. Identifying as queer, the former beauty queen from an immigrant background, intimately understands the challenges of grappling with a sense of belonging. Recently, Maria launched her book Unbounded which is a memoir and self-help guide combined. She courageously shares her personal journey, narrating poignant stories of resilience in the face of racism, sexism, financial hardships, intergenerational trauma, homophobia, and mental health struggles. Throughout the narrative of her experiences, Maria has steadfastly clung to hope, nurturing the belief that trials can be transformed into sources of strength and positive influence. [caption id="attachment_31356" align="aligncenter" width="375"] Maria Thattil[/caption] Full of excitement amidst an enthusiastic audience at her book launch she said, “Life is more than what we know. It is what our imagination can conceive. I cannot wait for ‘Unbounded’ to be out in the world

mental health struggles. Throughout the narrative of her experiences, Maria has steadfastly clung to hope, nurturing the belief that trials can be transformed into sources of strength and positive influence.

[caption id="attachment_31356" align="aligncenter" width="375"] Maria Thattil[/caption]

Full of excitement amidst an enthusiastic audience at her book launch she said, “Life is more than what we know. It is what our imagination can conceive. I cannot wait for ‘Unbounded’ to be out in the world because it’s going to inspire everyone to live up to all that they are.”

Amplifying underrepresented voices

Maria, who has devoted her career to advocating for societal change and amplifying underrepresented voices, draws upon her educational background in psychology and management, as well as her training in neuro-coaching to come up with her debut book.

She has presented a transformative path highlighting active personal growth, unwavering self-love, and liberation. Through her words of wisdom as an author she has attempted to empower readers to embrace fearlessness and embark on a journey of self-discovery to create positive change in their lives and communities. “It’s so much of my personal story but it’s more than that. It’s an active guide for people to learn how to manifest a life beyond limits. It’s a call to action,” the Global Indian said in an interview with an Australian TV channel after the launch of her book. The chapter titles are all verbs, meant to encourage people to take action to change their lives for the better.

The third-culture kid

The youngster calls herself ‘the third culture kid’ - influenced by Indian roots in a western society. “I belong here and at the same time, I strongly resonate with my Indian roots. I have found a balance between the two. It is not either-or for me. This is who I am and it is unique,” she had said in an interview after being crowned Miss Universe Australia 2020.

[caption id="attachment_31357" align="aligncenter" width="417"] Maria with her family when she was small[/caption]

The Indian lineage

Maria’s parents had migrated from India to Australia in the early 90s. She was born there, in Melbourne. While her father is from Kochi, Kerala, her mom is from Kolkata, West Bengal. When she migrated, her entire family migrated with her. This gave an opportunity to Maria and her brother to grow up with a large family of uncles, aunts and cousins, spending all their weekends together, getting a good taste of a typical Indian set-up.

Maria remains connected to India as her father’s family still stays in Kerala. They have travelled to India to meet the family.

The mental health crisis

Growing up, she felt a strong need to fit in with her peers at school. It took Maria some time to accept her identity. “I went through a phase during my teenage and early 20s, where I tried hard to mask elements from my culture to fit in," she said. It was the time when she went through a mental health crisis. As a shy, introverted kid, she experienced frustrations about feeling that she didn’t belong. Racism and bullying at school were difficult to handle.

She struggled with a sense of pain and anger, and projected it onto her parents which now makes her feel sad. Giving an account of this heart-breaking phase of her life in the book was the most painful part of writing. “As a child, I felt it was easier to blame my parents than face up to the bigger picture,” she said.

However, as she grew up Maria realised that to feel happy it’s better to focus on who she really was. “I started to just be who I am — an Indian-Australian girl whose culture is a blend of both eastern and western ideals,” she shared.

[caption id="attachment_31358" align="aligncenter" width="378"] Maria Thatill with her debut book - Unbounded[/caption]

Another painful experience while writing her debut book was reliving the financial insecurity that the family faced while Maria was growing up. Before coming up with the final version of the book, she showed it to her parents asking them whether they would like to omit anything.

They were encouraging enough to allow her present the facts as they were. “There are going to be families who have experienced what we have and kids who lived and walked in your shoes. If they can pick up the book and realise that such a situation is not permanent and doesn’t define the rest of their lives, then put it out there,” her parents said.

The queer identity

In a chapter titled ‘Shed’, Maria talks about shedding the beliefs that didn’t serve her. Coming out as bisexual to traditional Indian parents was not easy for her. It was challenging to explain them who she was.

“I didn’t expect them to understand everything initially as they are from a totally different generation and cultural context. However, they have come a long way and are proud of me and my brother who identifies as gay,” said Maria. She is also the Olay ambassador for their ‘Glow Your Own way’ campaign which touches on LGBTQIA+ themes.

[caption id="attachment_31360" align="aligncenter" width="435"] Maria honours key dates in history that have progressed LGBTQIA+ rights[/caption]

Advocate of diversity and inclusion

At the time of winning the crown Maria worked as a talent acquisition professional armed with degrees in psychology and management. As part of the hiring team, she strongly advocated representation.

“I have always championed inclusion and not just limited it to ethnicity but also sexuality, gender, and ability. I strongly believe representation matters. A society where every voice can thrive. We need to make space for people to express themselves irrespective of their background,” she said an interview. After becoming Miss Universe Australia 2020, working on these causes became easier. She got the right platform to strongly voice her opinion and play a role in ushering change.

Today, Maria Thattil stands tall as a beacon of hope for the Indian diaspora, reminding that one’s roots need not hinder the ability to soar to new heights. Through her relentless pursuit of excellence and her unwavering commitment to her community, she has become a source of inspiration, empowering a new generation to embrace their cultural heritage and conquer the world irrespective of their identity and unhappy experiences.

Life ahead

Acting has been a passion of the Indian-origin youngster since childhood. Recently, she also tried her hand at acting, playing the role of Naomi in a web series titled, ‘Let’s Get Ducking Famous’. It’s the story of her character Naomi, her friend and their pet duck whom they are trying to make famous in social media. Having thoroughly enjoyed the experience, she is looking forward to do a film or a television show in the future.

Follow Maria Thattil on Instagram and Twitter

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Anushka Sen: Strengthening cultural bonds as the brand ambassador of Korean Tourism

(October 2, 2024) Indian actress and influencer Anushka Sen made headlines as the only Indian to feature on billboards in Korea, following her appointment as the brand ambassador of Korean Tourism last year. At just 22, Sen has garnered several accolades in both the Indian and Korean entertainment industry. Recently she got honoured for her contributions in strengthening Korea-India relations, an impressive achievement given her young age. As the brand ambassador of Korean Tourism, Anushka has played a significant role in bridging the cultural gap between the two nations. Expressing her gratitude, she shared with her fans, “Another moment to share with you all, honoured to receive an award from CEO Mr. Hyun Woo Kim of SBA (Seoul Business Agency) for my contribution to strengthening the relationship between Korea and India.” She also thanked director Lee Jung Sub for her accomplishments. “(Realising) my dream of working in K drama, being appointed as the brand ambassador of Korean Tourism, and now getting recognized for my contribution in strengthening Korea India relationship will definitely motivate me to do more,” she added. [caption id="attachment_39685" align="aligncenter" width="497"] Anushka Sen being honoured by Seoul Business Agency CEO Hyun Woo Kim[/caption] Recently, the actress has also

s="wp-image-39685 " src="https://www.globalindian.com/youth/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/AS2.webp" alt="Indian actor | Anushka Sen | Global Indian" width="497" height="669" /> Anushka Sen being honoured by Seoul Business Agency CEO Hyun Woo Kim[/caption]

Recently, the actress has also been in news for teaming up with the South Korean pistol shooter Kim Ye-ji, who won the silver medal in the Paris Olympics 2024. The duo is working on a global project, titled 'Crush' where the Olympian plays the role of a shooter alongside Anushka.

International collaborations

Anushka's upcoming project, Asia, is a multilingual action thriller with actors from India, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, and Vietnam. The actress is playing the role of an assassin in the international project. "It's truly a global endeavour, a K-film, and I'm thrilled to be part of it.” she shared.

Highlighting her admiration for Korean cinema and her excitement for the Indo-Korean collaboration, she recalled, "During the pandemic, watching K-dramas made me feel wholesome. I kept thinking about the possibility of collaborating with the Korean entertainment industry. The quality of their content is truly inspiring.”

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A post shared by Anushka Sen (@anushkasen0408)

Anushka finds many similarities between Indian and Korean cinema, particularly in how romance and family dynamics are depicted. Glad to have fulfilled her dreams of collaborating with the Korean entertainment industry she mentioned, “India and Korea share the love for culture, music, and the passion for craft."

Anoushka’s Korean ventures include a television drama, a film, and a travel show – the achievements that led to her appointment as Honorary Ambassador of the Korean Tourism.

Starting out as a child actor

Anushka Sen began her acting career as a child actor in 2009 with Zee TV's Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli. That same year, her first music video, Humko Hai Aasha, was released. She rose to popularity in 2012 for her role as Meher in Sab TV's Baalveer. Since then, she has appeared in television serials like Jhansi Ki Rani, as well as in Bollywood films like Crazy Cukkad Family and Lihaaf: The Quilt. She has also acted in a short film, Sammaditthi, and appeared in several music videos.

Early Life and Education

Born in Ranchi to a Bengali family, Anushka moved to Mumbai with her family when she was not even 10. She attended Ryan International School in Kandivali, completing her higher secondary education in the commerce stream under the CBSE board.

[caption id="attachment_39689" align="aligncenter" width="432"] Anushka Sen during her days as a child artist[/caption]

The actor is grateful to her parents for encouraging her to explore a variety of activities such as Abacus, skating, drawing, painting, singing, and playing instruments at a young age which helped her explore her interests. "After school, I was always busy with many co-curricular activities," recalled the youngster who has pursued a degree in filmography at Thakur College of Science and Commerce, Mumbai.

Combination of luck and hard work

For Anushka who has been in the industry for over 14 years despite being just 22, fame came early in life. A huge fan of Shah Rukh Khan, she never misses his interviews and believes his words when he says, "being surrounded by the right people at the right place at the right time helped him reach where he is." She thinks it applies well to her own journey. "It's a combination of luck and hard work. Without one, the other won't work."

Another person who inspires Anushka is Priyanka Chopra, whom she considers the brand ambassador of India to the world, and aspires to become as popular as her.

With close to 40 million followers on Instagram, Anushka wants her fans to understand that like anyone else she is human too. "I can make mistakes and experience uncertainty, confusion, and fear of the unknown just like any other youngster, as I am still growing up," she remarked.

The influencer who calls herself an extrovert looks at social media as a journal where she can go back and see how she grew up personally and professionally, and how she evolved as a person. “I don’t look at it as business,” she mentioned.

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A post shared by Anushka Sen (@anushkasen0408)

Love for South Korea

For Anushka, having a large fan following in South Korea, just like in India, feels ‘surreal.’ As the brand ambassador of Korean Tourism, she loves the people of Korea for their warm-heartedness.

The Mumbai-based actor loves shooting in South Korea. “The people there are just as accepting as Indians. In India, we treat guests like gods, and similarly, in Korea, they make you feel like one of their own. I have never felt alienated in South Korea,' she remarked.

Follow Anushka Sen on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube
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Satvika Iyer: Indian-American Young Eco-Hero promoting plant-based diet in school cafeterias

(October 20, 2023) "Our school's lunch menu lacked diversity in all aspects, and I couldn't believe that the same five ingredients seemingly rotated into different meals somehow met the guidelines for a balanced meal," says Indian-American teen Satvika Iyer, who was keen to create a healthy and sustainable food system in schools by advocating for more plant-based nutrition and better waste management. The campaign earned the Milpitas High School student 2023 International Young Eco-Hero Award. "The US government continues to subsidise systems that are inefficient and exploitative. Factory farming is one of those systems. As a high school student, I decided to break free from the 'business as usual' model of school food by taking a few small steps with the help of my school’s cafeteria and nutrition staff, and it led to a rewarding and lasting impact," she said in an interview. [caption id="attachment_33678" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Satvika Iyer[/caption] Born to immigrant parents, Satvika had a hard time growing up as a vegetarian in California, and during lunchtime in school, she was asked to take pepperoni off the pizza. Despite her school catering to a 70 percent Asian population, they had only one Asian salad on the menu before featuring

a, and during lunchtime in school, she was asked to take pepperoni off the pizza. Despite her school catering to a 70 percent Asian population, they had only one Asian salad on the menu before featuring more plant-based options. This led to reaching the administration in her district with more plant-based options in school lunches, which set the ball rolling. "We began a district-wide Earth Day campaign to educate elementary, middle, and high school students about how and why choosing the plant-based option at school is important for combating climate change. We got incredible support from our cafeteria manager for the project," she added as the campaign has helped serve over 2000 vegan lunches in the last year in the school.

They initially came up with a plant-based pitstop decked out with colourful posters in one corner of the cafeteria, but it gave an impression "that a plant-based meal was different from one with meat." However, after feedback to the nutrition services staff about the placement of the plant-based options in the cafe, they were able to integrate it with a full-time cafeteria. "This experience shows that a high school cafeteria might need to be organized differently to support student participation in climate-friendly food options, and it's our job to be flexible and try new things," she added.

However, changing the perception of high schoolers on what they eat wasn't a "walk in the park" as many opt for beef tacos daily. "Resistance to eating more plant-based food is usually coupled with being uninformed on the nutritional and ethical values that different foods offer," the Global Indian said.

When asked why would school students opt for climate-friendly food, the eco-warrior said, "From an environmental standpoint, the amount of water and greenhouse gas emissions saved by choosing one plant-based meal over a meat and dairy-based entree in your cafeteria is significant." That's not it! Even from an ethical point of view, "each conventional beef patty represents the cruel, inhumane practices of industrial animal agriculture. The price we pay for seemingly 'cheap' industrial meats is animal cruelty."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnnEJjZrm8k

The campaign helped Satvika's school district to introduce a permanent plant-based menu with meat-free alternatives and salad bars, in turn making a significant impact on school nutrition at her high school. The teenager, who believes that science and education can help solve global issues, shares friendly advice with other students who plan to tread a similar path. "Confront any fear with action. Instead of being overwhelmed by the daunting task ahead of you, celebrate the little wins. From reaching fellow students, finding plant-powered regulars, educating others, volunteering to help distribute meals, or even getting someone to try something from the plant-based menu just once — these are all wins and signs of progress!"

Follow Satvika Iyer on LinkedIn

Reading Time: 4 min

How tiny tech whiz Arijit Das’ AI & IoT projects have won awards

(February 20, 2022) It was a fine summer evening when a 10-year-old Arijit Das and his friends came across a young man building a drone in their neighbourhood playground. The boys were fascinated. As they watched the drone soar into the sky, they were captivated. A kindly neighbour walked them through the basics, explained how he’d built the device and its components. As the young Durgapur resident headed home that evening, his thoughts were filled with the exciting possibilities technology provided. Soon, the self-taught tech whiz was building his own tech projects like a prosthetic limb using arduino and micro controllers. The fields of artificial intelligence and Internet of Things interested him and this student at Hem Sheela Model School began racking up awards and achievements for his projects. From receiving the CSIR Innovation Award in 2021 to becoming the ambassador for Edge Impulse, a San Jose-based machine learning startup, 15-year-old Arijit has come a long way from being that fascinated little one on a Durgapur playground. [caption id="attachment_11095" align="aligncenter" width="647"] Arijit Das[/caption] The boy from Durgapur Born in Durgapur to a physiotherapist father and a homemaker mother, technology was not always on Arijit’s mind. An only child, he was quite

e Impulse | CSIR Winner" width="647" height="818" /> Arijit Das[/caption]

The boy from Durgapur

Born in Durgapur to a physiotherapist father and a homemaker mother, technology was not always on Arijit’s mind. An only child, he was quite happy-go-lucky, till one day, he chanced upon the drone. “When we approached my neighbour, he was kind enough to explain the workings and makings of a drone. It was enough to have me hooked,” says Arijit, recalling the incident from five years ago which sparked his interest in tech. “I went home and ran a google search, and began learning about tech myself,” the tech whiz tells Global Indian.

Soon, Arijit was building his first project for a state level science fair; a modified version of the LiFi concept prototype which used infrared light emitters instead of traditional light bulbs in 2018. Ever since, he has been working on various AI and IoT based projects, and speaking at conferences. In 2019, Arijit built the prosthetic limb, using arduino and micro controllers for a science fair at school. It so happened, that a few NIT-Durgapur employees happened to visit the science fair, and walked away impressed by Arijit’s project. A few weeks later, the lad’s teacher received an email from NIT, inviting Arijit and his team to the college to showcase the project. “Those were our first steps forward,” says the lad, who also showcased the project at the Institute of Engineers India, Durgapur chapter, on National Energy Conservation Day.

Project Innovation for Arijit

“We got one more special chance to present our project at an international conference WEES 2020 organised by the National Institute of Technology Durgapur and RMIT Australia. We were even invited by CSIRO Australia to write a research paper on our project which would get published in one of their energy conservation journals,” says the tech whiz. But then COVID-19 struck and the ensuing disruptions put a spanner in the works.

Not one to be discouraged, Arijit decided to participate in a competition organised by UNDP in April 2020 for designing projects for COVID-19. “I presented them with an idea for a health band that helps both patients and doctors,” says the Stem student, who won the hardware winner category prize for which he was awarded hardware worth $1,000.

Surging ahead with ideas

Some of the other projects Arijit has worked on are an anti-theft system for vehicles for the China-US Young Maker Fair, which he won. In August 2021, he developed an AI-based smart pesticide detector and farming system which went on to win the Deep Learning Superheroes Challenge by Intel. Arijit was featured across many tweets by Intel India too. Awarded the prestigious CSIR Innovation Award for School Children by the Department of Science & Technology, is another feather in this youngster’s cap .

“One of the best outcomes of these is the fact that I’ve made some great friends along the way, and have even won a lot of hackathons with them,” says the tech whiz, who received an invitation from Edge Impulse, a San Jose-based ML startup to become a part of their team in November 2021. "Later that month I officially became a part of the Edge Impulse team to develop and manage communities for EmbeddedML. Seeing my work in 2021, I was also invited by Ira Feldman, managing director of tinyML Foundation to join their team and help spread the idea and knowledge of tinyML across Asia, which led to the formation of the tinyML India chapter that presently has 700 plus members.”

Quiz the youngster on why technology fascinates him, and he says, “I believe technology can solve a lot of global issues. It can truly help society and the community with its inventions.”

With board exams looming, Arijit’s tech projects are restricted to the weekends, after his studies. This young tech enthusiast who loves subjects like physics, math, and computer science, aims to pursue a degree in engineering and hopes to one day become a computer scientist. “My parents are very supportive and whenever I am in doubt, they’re my biggest cheerleaders,” says the youngster, who loves to spend time with friends in between all his passion projects, academics and guitar lessons.

Follow Arijit Das on LinkedIn.

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