Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveAdrit Rao: Indian-American teen using AI to revolutionise healthcare

Adrit Rao: Indian-American teen using AI to revolutionise healthcare

Compiled by: Team GI Youth

(March 31, 2024) “During the Covid-19 pandemic, a single smartphone app averted up to 900,000 covid cases in just Wales and England. This single app reached the smartphones of 21 million people and made an impact by performing automatic contact tracing and helping people feel safe during the pandemic. For every 1 percent increase in the number of this app’s download, there was a reduction in 2.3 percent reduction in Covid cases,” says Adrit Rao during TEDxGunnHighSchool, emphasising the revolution in how innovation can reach people instantly at scale around the world. Palo Alto-based Adrit might be young but he is on a mission to revolutionise healthcare through the use of AI.

Adrit Rao

At the age when most of his friends and classmates were playing with Lego, Adrit was toying with block programming. This was his introduction to computer science and coding when he was only eight. “I found it fun because it was very visual.” Soon he progressed to app development. At 13, the Global Indian began his research internship with Stanford University and soon became one of the youngest students honoured by Apple during its annual Swift Student Challenge for his ability to push the boundaries of technology and provide solutions for people worldwide.

It earned him the chance to meet Apple CEO Tim Cook, a meeting that left him “super excited.” “I was just actually around two to three weeks into my app development journey, Honestly, that experience motivated me to continue my journey,” he said in an interview.

Love for coding and app development

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world, Adrit had a lot of time on hand and was keen to explore coding on a deeper level that can help have an impact on people. He turned to YouTube and online resources for additional knowledge and began working on developing apps. “I was inspired by how technology was solving major problems around the world and that’s when I thought of apps on the App Store and how apps are accessible and reach so many people,” he said. He began with MoTV, which was designed as a platform for discovering movies and TV shows. Following its success, he moved on to his second creation, ShopQuik which could determine the wait time at local grocery stores during the pandemic. “I did that so that you could minimise exposure to infectious diseases.”

Later, he went on to develop Signer, an AI-powered app that translates sign language into speech with the help of an iPhone camera. He began by researching statistics on the number of deaf people around the world and the communication gap between deaf and non-deaf communities. “Around that time, Apple had just introduced hand pose tracking and classification at WWDC using their machine learning models. So, I could train my own AI algorithm on that new technology to enable the sign-to-speech conversion,” he added.

Using AI to create an impact

Ever since he joined Stanford for a research internship, he has been building AI-powered apps for healthcare. “I use AI to make the apps work,” he said, elaborating on the two sides of AI. “I have seen what it can do to help, especially in healthcare. Signer itself is proof of the positive impacts that AI has. Just like any powerful tool, it can be used for good and bad,” says Adrit, who is the founder of Aretech Inc, a nonprofit that teaches app development to young people. His commitment to

Currently, he has five apps on the App Store that aim to solve real-world problems and create an impact in society. For the past three years, he has devoted himself to creating inclusive applications that utilize AI for diagnosing vascular diseases. Adrit’s passion for integrating AI into healthcare shines through in his latest endeavour focusing on abdominal aneurysms. He delves into the deployment of cutting-edge models and algorithms for diagnosis and prognosis, underscoring the transformative potential these technologies hold for conventional diagnostic approaches.

Moreover, his remarkable creation, AutoABI, stands out as an iPhone application capable of identifying peripheral arterial disease through the analysis of arterial sounds. This groundbreaking technology is presently undergoing clinical trials and the patenting process. Currently working on its patent, he calls it a passion project. “It showed me how I was able to apply my app development and AI knowledge to actually build a medical solution, which was able to be put into clinics and tested and now has the ability to reach so many people,” he said in an interview.

The high school student, who loves playing basketball, started his journey after stumbling upon an article that opened up a Pandora’s box on the potential of AI to transform healthcare and now years later, he is glad to be working in the field and creating an impact in the world. He believes it’s important to find a problem that is closer to your heart so that one doesn’t leave any stone unturned in finding the solution. “The main goal in developing an app is solving a problem in an accessible manner so that your innovation reaches the people.”

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Published on 31, Mar 2024

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Scholar Akshay Swaminathan: Pushing the reach of healthcare through data science

(April 24, 2024) In today's world, technology and personalised care are changing how we approach healthcare. One big change is the way data science is joining forces with healthcare. This means using information and technology to make predictions about health and tailor treatments to individuals. One of the leaders of this new revolution is Akshay Swaminathan, a scholar who is using the power of data science to improve healthcare delivery — getting the right intervention to the right patient at the right time. Currently an MD-PhD (biomedical data science) candidate at Stanford, the scholar is working with Nigam Shah on deploying and evaluating AI systems in healthcare. In fact, several of Akshay's research applying quantitative methods to public health has been featured in the New York Times and published in journals including Lancet Global Health. "I recently received the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans," shared the scholar in an interview, "It is such an honour and privilege to be a part of a group of scholars who have been doing incredible work in various fields." A prodigy Hailing from Wood-Ridge, New Jersey, Akshay was born to Indian immigrants from Tamil Nadu and consistently excelled academically. His paternal

Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans," shared the scholar in an interview, "It is such an honour and privilege to be a part of a group of scholars who have been doing incredible work in various fields."

A prodigy

Hailing from Wood-Ridge, New Jersey, Akshay was born to Indian immigrants from Tamil Nadu and consistently excelled academically. His paternal grandparents relocated to Westchester, New York in 1969, becoming one of the few Indian families in the vicinity. Despite the challenges of assimilation, they preserved their cultural heritage, instilling in Akshay a deep appreciation from an early age, particularly through his initiation into Carnatic music. These formative experiences underscored the significance of transcending generational, linguistic, and social divides to foster meaningful connections with others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfCS7BQZdsc

During his initial year at Bergen County Academies, he stumbled upon an online enclave of polyglots—individuals fluent in 10, 15, or even 20 languages, showcasing their learning journeys through videos. Captivated by their achievements, the Global Indian embarked on self-directed Spanish study, achieving proficiency within six months. His triumph with Spanish ignited a passion for learning numerous other languages, including French, Mandarin, Japanese, Armenian, Italian, Portuguese, and Hindi. Following in the footsteps of those who inspired him, the scholar launched his own YouTube channel, sharing insights on rapid and efficient language acquisition techniques.

"In my first year in high school, I got placed in the lowest level Spanish class, and my teacher could speak four languages. That was quite fascinating to me. That led me to YouTube, where I discovered this community of polyglots. What was interesting for me was that they not only spoke these languages but also made videos explaining how they did it. That planted a seed and I started learning Spanish. Within six months, I was fluent in the language. And then, there was no looking back," shared the scholar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l25Cl1cyHYA

Eventually, Akshay started making videos on YouTube to inspire others to learn more languages. "By the time I was 17, I could already speak nine languages - English, Spanish, French, Mandarin, Chinese, Tamil, Russian, Hindi, and Italian. I learned the other two languages subsequently," he added. While at Harvard, Akshay discovered the joy of connecting with people from different backgrounds using languages. In fact, he is the founder of Start Speaking — a platform to help language learners build spoken fluency — and has created resources for languages ranging from Quechua to Medical Chinese.

ALSO READ | Author Malavika Kannan aims to put the spotlight on brown women

The world of healthcare and data

At Harvard, the scholar became involved in Phillip Brooks House Association’s Chinatown ESL program, where he taught English to recent Chinese immigrants. He also travelled to Bolivia as a volunteer with Refresh Bolivia — a global health nonprofit — where he taught workshops on maternal health, sexual health, and sanitation to indigenous communities in Cochabamba.

"I always wanted to be a doctor, right from when I was in school. So, when I got to college, biology was an obvious choice for me. But during the first year of winter break, I had the chance to travel down to Bolivia to get involved with some public work there with some indigenous communities. One thing that really struck me there was that the communities that we worked with had no running water, no functioning sewage system, and very limited access to healthcare. However, just a 30-minute drive away, I and the other volunteers could enjoy high-speed wifi and hot showers. This got me thinking about how the level of population determines the healthcare system of a place. The more I researched about it, the more I got interested in the field, and that made me switch my major from molecular biology to statistics."

But what exactly does delivering healthcare mean? "It's all about getting the right treatment, to the right patient, at the right time. Throughout my career I have had the chance to dive into many projects where one can combine data science with healthcare delivery and improve access and outcomes of various programmes," the scholar said.

ALSO READ | Scholar Sadhana Lolla aims to make AI accessible to all

Looking ahead

In his role as a data scientist, the scholar constructs data-driven solutions tailored for patients, clinicians, and policymakers, prioritising practical implementation in real-world scenarios. With a prolific portfolio boasting over 40 publications, he adeptly applies quantitative methodologies to address healthcare challenges. Additionally, the scholar co-authored the book Winning with Data Science, published by Columbia University Press, further solidifying his expertise in the field.

Leading the Data Science department at Cerebral, a virtual mental health company, Akshay and his team introduced a suicide detection system benefiting more than half a million patients nationwide. Currently an MD candidate and a Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford University, Akshay is delving into a PhD in biomedical data science. Guided by Nigam Shah, he's exploring ways to harness artificial intelligence for safer and more efficient healthcare delivery.

At Flatiron Health, he has devised techniques for scrutinising observational clinical data to aid FDA deliberations. With aspirations to merge data science and medicine, he aims to become a physician dedicated to fortifying healthcare infrastructures in underprivileged regions.

Follow Akshay Swaminathan on LinkedIn, YouTube, or his website

Reading Time: 6 mins

Priyal Agrawal’s SexEd tech platform grabs attention of Government of South Korea

(August 30, 2022) Toxic relationships are not very uncommon these days. As a 25-year-old, Priyal has seen many of her peers in such relationships for years, ultimately seeking professional help and support to come out of it. What finally triggered her to launch StandWeSpeak, her SexEd tech platform, was the incidence of abortion of a young acquaintance who was also mentally and physically abused in her relationship. It has been just nine months into the venture and Priyal’s startup has taken her places. From being invited to promote social and gender equality at the World Bank Group Youth Summit 2022 to being approached by UNDP to share her journey, her initiative has garnered attention at the right places. The Diana awardee is now stationed in South Korea for a three-and-a-half months’ accelerator program. StandWeSpeak has been selected as top 60 in the K-Startup Grand Challenge, a global accelerator startup programme by the Government of South Korea as part of solution for the country’s problems. [caption id="attachment_21410" align="aligncenter" width="679"] Priyal Agrawal, founder, StandWeSpeak[/caption] Priyal appears excited about the opportunity as she connects from Seoul. “It’s not just a great opportunity but huge validation of my efforts that the government of South

[caption id="attachment_21410" align="aligncenter" width="679"] Priyal Agrawal, founder, StandWeSpeak[/caption]

Priyal appears excited about the opportunity as she connects from Seoul. “It’s not just a great opportunity but huge validation of my efforts that the government of South Korea is supporting and helping to establish my company here,” Priyal tells Global Indian. “This motivates me to do better as we got chosen amongst thousands of applications received globally,” she says.

The purpose

“As a society, we are not allowed to discuss relationships openly and that is why it takes longer for people to end abusive relationships,” says Priyal. Her initiative equips people with life-skills required to take care of their well-being, relationships, mental and sexual health. It empowers youngsters to make informed decisions. “It’s a 21^st century sexual health ecosystem for millennials and Gen Z,” she tells.

Through an anonymous chatbot, Talk to Mae, an AI-driven sexual and reproductive health expert, youngsters seeking help can get accurate medical and legal answers. The platform offers knowledge on vital issues through informative videos, bio-degradable menstrual hygiene and sexual health products, and judgement-free, consultancy service from gynaecologists, counsellors, sexologists, intimacy experts and lawyers.

Journey so far

“I did not register my organisation as an NGO because when something is provided for free, people do not value it enough. I did not want that to happen to my initiative,” says the entrepreneur, who works from Goa. In the course of nine months, StandWeSpeak has handled 15,000 chatbot interactions and has conducted workshops of 10,000 youngsters in schools and colleges.

[caption id="attachment_21411" align="aligncenter" width="857"] Priyal Agrawal in a school workshop[/caption]

“Youngsters are able to find anything and everything about love, gender, intimacy, relationships, sexuality, consent, and much more,” says Priyal, who enjoyed short stints as psychological first aid provider in Tihar jail, Delhi and as a counsellor at Samaritans, a suicide prevention helpline in Goa before starting her venture.

Hiccups along the way…

The psychology graduate from Mumbai’s Sapphire College is the first entrepreneur in her family and it took quite a bit of convincing. By then, she had tried a number of things, from preparing for IIT and trying her hand at architecture for a year before ultimately studying Psychology.

“As a young woman in India, starting a venture is not easy. People do not accept the idea readily. It is considered a passion or side project until the time the girl gets married,” says Priyal. “People advised me to go for a masters first or think of something else as I didn’t have experience or expertise of running a company.”

Also, the domain that she chose to work does not get recognised as important or considered in a need of a solution. “India is conservative of talking about sexual health, wellness and providing sexual education to youngsters,” she rues. However, to be recognised at global platforms has added immense strength to her confidence in her choice of venture.

More inclusivity in future

“The need exists and young people are looking for solutions,” says Priyal. She was confident about it looking at the youngsters around. Starting with a bootstrap budget, she learned to design the initial version of the platform. Later, when her team expanded, it interspersed AI with counselling of the gender inclusive platform that is being used even by members of the LGBTQ community.

Apart from the expansion plans in South Korea, Priyal is planning to make StandWeSpeak more inclusive so that even people with physical disabilities can access the services through features like voice search option. She is looking at producing informative videos which would also have the sign language component so that it can reach a wider audience. Having multilingual services in India is also one of her plans. Priyal wants to promote her services worldwide someday but for now, is taking things one step at a time.

Follow Priyal Agrawal on LinkedIn and Twitter
Follow StandWeSpeak on Instagram, Twitter and its website

Reading Time: 5 mins

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

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. [caption id="attachment_8062" align="aligncenter" width="536"] Neha Shukla on the Nasdaq screen at Times Square[/caption] 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

e 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.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cAkARPZl_U[/embed]

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

[caption id="attachment_8063" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Neha Shukla and her inventions[/caption]

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

[caption id="attachment_8064" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Neha Shukla with the Presidential Award[/caption]

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

[caption id="attachment_8065" align="aligncenter" width="633"] Neha Shukla working on SixFeetApart[/caption]

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.

Reading Time: 8 mins

Meet the five Indians selected for Rhodes Scholarship 2024

(January 5, 2024) Five Indian students have been selected as Rhodes Scholars for 2024, and will head to Oxford University for their postgraduate studies. The rigorous selection process, which involved over 1,000 applicants, was conducted by a panel headed by former foreign secretary and Ambassador, Nirupama Rao. Global Indian takes a look at the youngsters who have bagged what is arguably one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world. They will join a cohort of 105 scholars from around the world for their fully-funded postgraduate study. Since 1903, the Rhodes scholarship, offered by the Rhodes Trust, has brought the world’s best and brightest young students, handpicked from the top universities around the world, to the University of Oxford. It was established by Cecil John Rhodes, a British mining tycoon and the founder of De Beers—a diamond company that had, until recently, wielded control over global trade. The Rhodes Trust’s website states: We find, bring together and develop exceptional people who are impatient with the way things are and have the courage to act. Originally intended to foster unity among English-speaking nations, this esteemed and long-standing international scholarship programme underwent revisions over time. By the 21st century, eligibility expanded to

ceptional people who are impatient with the way things are and have the courage to act.

Originally intended to foster unity among English-speaking nations, this esteemed and long-standing international scholarship programme underwent revisions over time. By the 21st century, eligibility expanded to encompass citizens from all countries. Indians gained access to this scholarship opportunity in 1947.

Joann Rachel Cherian

Joann is interested in delving into the possibility of faith becoming a subject of public discourse. She is keen on merging her love for writing to examine the interplay between faith and everyday experiences. Having completed a BA in English from Christ University and subsequently earning an MA in English from Jawaharlal Nehru University, she now aims to pursue theology at Oxford University.

[caption id="attachment_35033" align="aligncenter" width="350"] Joann Rachel Cherian[/caption]

Her ambition is to blend her literary expertise with theological studies, thereby innovating new methods of interpreting sacred texts. Joann is particularly interested in investigating how the Bible addresses matters of gender. She envisions a future with increased female theologians in India. Alongside her academic pursuits, she holds a passion for music, fiction, films, and engaging in profound conversations about life over cups of tea.

Ayan Gupta

Ayan, a senior student at National Law University (NLU), Delhi, holds a keen interest in matters related to sentencing and punishment, particularly focusing on the complexities surrounding the death penalty and prolonged incarceration. At Oxford, Ayan aims to explore the fields of criminology and criminal justice for his further studies.

[caption id="attachment_35034" align="aligncenter" width="341"] Ayan Gupta[/caption]

With a love for teaching Ayan hopes to shape the future of criminal justice education. He has served as research and teaching assistant to his professors in NLU Delhi and currently serves as the editor-in-chief of NLUD’s Journal of Legal Studies. In his free time he loves either playing or watching tennis.

Asma Shakeel

Hailing from Kashmir, Asma aspires to make a career in the sphere of global and imperial history. She is currently pursuing international history at Georgetown University in Qatar, and plans to pursue a master's degree in global and imperial history followed by a Ph.D. in history at the University of Oxford.

[caption id="attachment_35035" align="aligncenter" width="373"] Asma Shakeel[/caption]

During her time at Oxford, Asma aims to explore the archives of British missionaries in South Asia to gain deeper insights into the history of Kashmir, the Himalayan region where she spent her formative years. Her ultimate vision is to develop a digital archive chronicling Kashmir's history, facilitating access and contributions from generations of Kashmiris. With the archive her plan is to offer an alternative perspective, inviting Kashmiris to share their family's oral histories, photographs, obituaries, and personal experiences, to illuminate and comprehend their past, and influence their present in the process.

Mohammad Zayaan Asimi

Mohammad, a final-year BA LLB (Hons) student at Gujarat National Law University, hails from Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. His academic focus revolves around the convergence of law, society, and technology. His ambition is to explore the influence of technology in enhancing access to justice within marginalised segments of society. He aspires to undertake socio-legal research at Oxford.

[caption id="attachment_35036" align="aligncenter" width="356"] Mohammad Zayaan Asimi[/caption]

The sports enthusiast has represented Jammu and Kashmir in national basketball tournaments.

Siddhant Dhawan

Siddhant completed his BS in bioengineering at Stanford University in 2022 and is currently pursuing a research-focused MS in biology at the same institution. During his tenure as a researcher at Stanford, he has contributed to multiple neuroscience research papers while working in the laboratories of esteemed professors like Nobel laureate Prof. Thomas Sudof, Prof. Tarik Massoud, and Prof. Nicolas Grillet.

[caption id="attachment_35037" align="aligncenter" width="343"] Siddhant Dhhawan[/caption]

Devoted to advancing inclusive healthcare and education, Siddhant spearheads initiatives that advocate for menstrual equity and promote science education, impacting numerous individuals in both the US and India. His dedication extends to advocating for mental health support and promoting diversity within academia. In preparation for a career as a physician-scientist, Siddhant intends to further his studies in neuroscience. He aims to conduct research on motor neuron diseases utilizing stem cells and genetic engineering techniques.

The applications for the 2025 Rhodes Scholarships will open in June 2024. More information about the Scholarship application can be found here.

“There are over 4,500 living Rhodes scholars residing in more than 100 countries around the world,” shares the Rhodes Trust’s website.

Some of the eminent Global Indians who have been Rhodes Scholars in the past:

Montek Singh Ahluwalia – Economist and policy expert who won the Padma Vibhushan award
Sanjay Singh – Businessman and former first class cricketer
Dr Menaka Guruswamy – Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India
Sagarika Ghose – Journalist, columnist and author who has written biographies of former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Tanjore Ramachandra Anantharaman – One of India’s eminent metallurgists and materials scientists
Late Girish Karnad – Playwright, author, actor and director

Reading Time: 5 mins

Sajini Varadharajan: UAE-based Indian teen eyeing sustainable development through AI

(May 17, 2024) Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands as the cornerstone of our future, reshaping industries and societal landscapes. What's truly remarkable is the growing fascination among the younger generation. Today, even children are eagerly immersing themselves in the world of AI, showcasing an innate curiosity and aptitude for the technology. One such youngster is Abu Dhabi-based 13-year-old Sajini Varadharajan. A ninth grader at Gems United Indian School in Abu Dhabi, she is an author and an innovator. Having authored 16 books till now, Sajini is also one of the youngest to complete the Artificial Intelligence Internship Program under Ken Kahn, Senior Researcher at Oxford University. "With AI, we can process and analyse vast amounts of data quickly, making it easier to find and access the information we need. To gain practical knowledge about this technology, I developed a keen interest in AI," she said in an interview. [caption id="attachment_37839" align="aligncenter" width="528"] Sajini Varadharajan[/caption] Early tryst with AI Her interest in AI began as early as five years old and soon started learning. A few years ago, she joined Clevered, an organisation specialising in customised AI coding programs for children and teenagers, in the Junior Data Scientist course. Currently, at the

an as early as five years old and soon started learning. A few years ago, she joined Clevered, an organisation specialising in customised AI coding programs for children and teenagers, in the Junior Data Scientist course. Currently, at the A1 Expert Level, she is learning computer vision techniques and neural networks.

Developing apps

Having an interest in collaborating AI with the environment, she is already working towards an AI tool that promotes sustainable development. Last year during her three-month internship, she developed Nutrihome, an Automated Restaurant, showcasing her skills in coding and programming. Among its innovative features are a Sentiment Analysis App, a Tkinter Online Ordering System, a Speech Emotion Detection App, and a Conversational Talking Chatbot. This impressive project demonstrates her multifaceted skills and her ability to leverage technology to enhance user experience and streamline operations in the food industry.

As per Sajini, the automated restaurant initiates a user survey, facilitates online ordering, and collects feedback via speech or chat. It prioritises serving nutritious and delicious meals, aligning with the current demand for healthier food options.

"AI education is highly significant in India today," said Sajini, adding that through AI education, India can equip individuals with essential skills to utilise AI technology effectively, fostering innovation and driving economic growth.

The teenager is currently developing Astounding Agridon, which merges a Plant Disease Prediction App with a Crop and Fertilizer Prediction App. Agridon serves as a reliable companion for farmers, aiding in the detection of plant diseases and enhancing crop yield in agriculture.

A passionate author

Even some of the books authored by her delve into the world of AI, especially Kelly Lunature Thrillers – Face in the Mirror and Kelly Lunature Thrillers 2.0 – A Looming Shadow. In the first book, a girl's close friend disappears, prompting the use of a robot to locate her missing companion. Contrastingly, the second tale transports readers to the bustling city of Yellowsberry, where an unidentified flying object sparks chaos. Amid this crisis, a robot emerges as the city's saviour. "I find inspiration for my stories from Bollywood movies," said the Global Indian teen whose books are available on Amazon.

Originally from Andhra Pradesh, she earned a place in the India Book of Records and Asia Book of Records for 'Maximum books written by a child at the age of 10 years, 3 months and 16 Days' in 2021. Sajini was just four when she penned her first poem. Sajini's mother, Radhika Varadharajan, credits a CD 'Your Baby Can Read' gifted by her mother which she played for 10 minutes every day ever since her daughter turned six months. "She used to watch, grasp and try to read the word tiles that appeared on the screen. She tried to read placards too and it was probably the rhymes that interested her, because she also has a flair for music," she added. Sajini soon started penning down more poems about everything she saw. "So, my parents collected and stored all those poems, and that is how my third book, one with 108 poems, came about," said the young author.

AI is the future

Keen to learn more, she wants to pursue a course in animation and also dabble in ethical hacking and cyber security. "AI is the future and kids should explore, discover, and create more."

Sajini is truly passionate about harnessing AI to improve our world. Continuously exploring new ideas and advocating for change, she firmly believes in AI's enormous potential for the future and actively works towards realising it. Through her dedication, Sajini not only develops apps but also writes books that delve deep into the realm of AI, offering insights into its transformative capabilities. Her relentless efforts serve as a testament to the profound impact AI will have on our lives.