Indian student inspires new award at Google Science Fair

Posted On: 02/03/2012 Updated On:

Inspired by an Indian student, Harine Ravichandran's project that seeks to eliminate voltage fluctuations, a new prize has been introduced in this year's ‘Google Science Fair', the largest online science competition in the world for students between 13-18 years.

Harine was among the 15 finalists and the only one from India at the inaugural edition of the event last year, launched by the Google in partnership with CERN, The LEGO Group, National Geographic and Scientific American. She was quizzed by eminent judges at Google headquarters at Mountain View, California on her project, which envisaged developing multi-level inverters to solve voltage sags, particularly in rural areas.

The 15 finalists were five each from three age categories- 13-14 years, 15-16 years and 17-18 years. Seventeen-year-old Shree Bose (17-18 years) from Fort Worth, Texas was the grand prize winner, while Naomi Shah ( 15-16 years) and Lauren Hodge were the other two top finalist winners in 2011.

Announcing a new category for this year's competition—the Scientific American Science in Action award—Google said “ We were so inspired by 2011 finalist Harine Ravichandran's project, which attempted to solve energy surges in rural villages, that we decided to recognise an outstanding project that addresses a social, environmental or health need to make a difference in the lives of a group or community, as Harine's project did for her grandparents village in India. The winner will also be flown to Mountain View for the finalist event in July”. The award winner will get $ 50,000 and a year-long mentorship to make the project goal a reality.

The Google Science Fair, which opened on January 12, will accept submissions until April 1. Reacting to institution of the new award, Harine (16), told The Hindu that initially she wondered why she did not get $50,000 prize. “But later I felt so happy that I could inspire Google to initiate a new award. This award will make people come up with new idea to solve problems of a community”.

Harine, who is appearing for Intermediate second year examinations in March, said her dream was to study at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

This year the event has been broad based and submissions will be accepted in 13 languages-- Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Spanish and Russian.

As many as 90 regional finalists will be recognised (30 each from the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe/ Middle East/ Africa).

The regional finalists will be announced in May and 15 among them will be top finalists, who will be flown to Google headquarters for final event to be held on July 23, 2012 for selecting top winners in each age category.

The grand prize winner would get $ 50,000 and a trip to Galapagos Islands, while the other two top winners would earn $ 25,000 each.

More News

NEET UG 2022 Correction Window Closes Today; Steps To Edit Application Form

The application correction window for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test- Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2022 will be closed today, May 27. The NEET UG correction window 2022 is available on the official website- neet.nta.nic.in. Cand...

Posted On: 27/05/2022

Meghalaya Board HSSLC Result To Be Out Today; How To Check MBOSE 12th Result

The Meghalaya Board of School Education, or MBOSE, will release the Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC), 12th result today, May 26, 2022. The MBOSE HSSLC results will be declared at official websites- mbose.in and megresults...

Posted On: 26/05/2022

NEET UG Correction Window 2022 Opens; Here’s How To Edit Application Form

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has opened the application correction window of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, or NEET 2022 today, May 24, 2022. The NTA has come up with the NEET correction window 2022 at the official website neet.nta....

Posted On: 25/05/2022

AP POLYCET 2022 Hall Ticket Released; Check Direct Link, Instructions

The Andhra Pradesh Polytechnic Common Entrance Test, or AP POLYCET, hall ticket has been released today. The State Board of Technical Education and Training, Andhra Pradesh has released the AP POLYCET 2022 hall ticket on the official website- polycet...

Posted On: 24/05/2022

WBJEE 2022 Result Date Soon; Know Where, How To Check

The West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination (WBJEE) 2022 result date is expected to be announced soon. The WBJEE 2022 administering body, West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board (WBJEEB) official website -- wbjeeb.nic.in, will host the WBJEE res...

Posted On: 23/05/2022

BITSAT 2022 From July 2: How To Score Well? Prepare With This Knockout Programme

The Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences (BITS) Pilani will conduct its Engineering Entrance Exam- BITSAT 2022 from July. As per the schedule, session 1 of BITSAT 2022 will be conducted between July 2 and July 9, while the BITSAT session 2 exam...

Posted On: 20/05/2022

Karnataka KSEEB To Announce SSLC Class 10 Result 2022 Today

The Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) will announce the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) Class 10 result 2022 on Thursday, May 19. The SSLC Class 10 result 2022 will be available on the official website- ssl...

Posted On: 19/05/2022

West Bengal WBJEE Result 2022 Date Likely To Be Announced Next Week: Official

The West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination Board (WBJEEB) is likely to announce the result of state Joint Entrance Examination (WBJEE 2022) by May-end. According to a WBJEEB official, WBJEE result 2022 declaration date is expected to be ann...

Posted On: 18/05/2022

NEET PG 2022 On May 21; Check Syllabus, Paper Pattern

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) will conduct the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Postgraduate, or NEET PG 2022 on May 21, 2022. The candidates who have successfully registered for the exam, got access t...

Posted On: 17/05/2022

NEET UG 2022: NTA Extends Registration Deadline Till May 20; Here’s Direct Link To Apply

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has again extended the registration deadline for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2022. The NEET 2022 application process has been extended till May 20. Earlier the last da...

Bangalore, Karnataka

MBA, BBA, MCA, BCA, B.Com, BA, MA, M.Com.

Apply