Winning with Innovation

Celebrating 10 years of Intel’s science fair initiatives in India

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Foreword

Intel is directly involved in education today, through the

Intel® Education Initiative, to inspire and enable tomorrow’s
innovation. Intel believes that students everywhere
deserve to have the skills necessary to become the next
generation of innovators. We are actively involved in
education programs, advocacy, and technology access to
enable tomorrow’s innovators.

Back in 1998, Intel launched our first program under the Intel Education Initiative
in India: the Intel Science Talent Discovery Fair (Intel STDF). Since then, Intel
STDF has grown into India’s largest science promotion and fair initiative for
students. Now called Initiative for Research & Innovation in Science (IRIS), it is
conducted in partnership with the Department of Science & Technology,
Government of India, and the Confederation of Indian Industry.

Over the last 10 years, Intel STDF and IRIS have succeeded in unearthing brilliant
young minds from schools across the country at the National Fairs held every
year. The National Winners have gone on to represent India and showcase their
ideas to the world at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel
ISEF), held in the United States of America.

In this book, we celebrate some of the past winners, as they tell us about
the impact that this scientific initiative has had upon their lives and choices.
We salute their innovative ideas, which reveal the abundance of science talent
that India has. We have also profiled the resource persons and scientists who
have made consistent efforts across the years to make IRIS what it is today, and
take this opportunity to thank them all.

Best wishes

Praveen Vishakantaiah
President, Intel Technology India Pvt Ltd

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Contents
The Story So Far... 7

10 Years of Scientific Excellence: The Milestones 8

Profiles
Madhurima Benakareddy A Passion for Research 11

Amruth B R All I Need are Wings 12

Kanishka Raajkumar Pest Control Gets the Digital Edge 13

Amar Deep The Problem of the Root 14

Hamsa Padmanabhan A Bright New Star 15

Swathi Soman India’s Pride: Twice Over! 16

Rishin Behl An Ignited Mind 17

Sarvesh Nevatia & Rehan Netarwala A Smooth Ride to Success 18

Vaishnavi Vishwanathan Termites Meet Their Nemesis 19

Ambud Sharma A Cool Solution 20

Riddhi Dasani & Pooja Dholakiya An Edible Palette 21

Vishakh Hegde Beacon of Hope 22

Other Recent Winners

Apurv Mishra 23

Kanishka Tiwary & Varun Mittal 23

Ram Raghunathan 24

Aavishkar Apoorva Patel 24

Tanay DeLima & Nikhil Khosla 25

Lavanya H Giriraj 25

Divya Venkatraman & Neha Kulkarni 26

Quick Reference
India at Intel ISEF 27

The National Winners By Subject Category 31

By State 34

Participating in IRIS 37

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The Story So Far…
Joyeeta Das
Corporate Affairs Group, Intel India

Since the Intel® Education Initiative was launched in India, Intel has been challenging
young minds to bend the rules of science to find new answers and innovative
applications. To start with this was done annually through the Intel Science
Talent Discovery Fair (Intel STDF).

Launched in 1998, this nationwide initiative helped infuse a spirit of discovery in

school children, increase their interest in science and technology, and build a robust
scientific temper among the youth. Intel STDF gave students a platform to display
their scientific aptitude, discover unique scientific solutions to everyday problems,
and win public recognition and awards at the national and international level.
It also encouraged students to use research as a tool for creating new knowledge
about themselves and the world around them.

In February 2006, Intel STDF was merged with Steer the Big Idea, a joint
initiative of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India,
and the Confederation of Indian Industry, to form Initiative for Research
& Innovation in Science (IRIS). This is a comprehensive initiative for popularising
innovation and science among students.

IRIS is now the single largest science initiative in India. IRIS conducts science
fairs annually in India for middle and high school students. They compete in
10 subject categories: Bio-Chemistry, Botany, Chemistry, Computer Science,
Earth and Space Science, Engineering, Environmental Science, Mathematics,
Physics and Zoology.

Every year, the National Winners at IRIS (and, earlier, Intel STDF) have gone on to
represent India and showcase their work to the international scientific community
at the Intel International Science and Engineering (Intel ISEF), held in the United
States of America. Intel ISEF is the world’s largest pre-college science competition
that brings together millions of young scientists to share ideas, showcase
cutting-edge science, and compete for scholarships.

In India, nearly 1.5 million students have been touched by Intel’s science initiatives
till now. In the last 10 years, a total of 47 students Indian students have won
54 awards and accolades at Intel ISEF, including seven awards won by the eight-
member Indian team at Intel ISEF 2008.

Detailed information on IRIS is available on www.educationinindia.net and

www.intel.com/education/in.

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 1999 2001
“ISEF no doubt
broadened my
spectrum and
gave me the
much needed

2000
perspective and
confidence…
it offered me focus…
and therefore,
a thorough edge “We had won the US Navy
over other starry- and Coast Guard Award!
eyed 16 year olds”. Life seemed like a dream, my
Madhurima heart tap-danced, and I was
Benakareddy grinning from ear to ear”.
Intel ISEF 1999 Bharat Suresh Mhatre
Intel ISEF 2001

10 Years of Scientific Excellence:

2005
2004
“Personally, the thing I value the most about the
ISEF experience is the level of confidence and
motivation it gave me. As for my career, ISEF
gave me the confidence that I can do whatever
I put my mind into to the best of my ability”.
Amruth B R
Intel ISEF 2004

2006

“The other projects at ISEF were absolutely amazing. They

were very ingenious and well thought out. It was evident that
everyone had put in a great deal of effort to get to ISEF, and
each one clearly deserved to be there.”
Hamsa Padmanabhan
Intel ISEF 2006

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 “We had the privilege of sharing our table
with Norman Ramsey, Nobel Prize winner
for Physics. In the same function, we had a
session with Jeanne Cavelos, an astrophysicist,
and Dr David Stork, CEO of Seagate, Inc. All
these are my precious memories of Intel ISEF”.
Yash Vasant Joshi
Intel ISEF 2001

2002 2003
The Milestones
“The biggest impact
that ISEF had in my life
was that it changed my
perspective on life;
now I believe that
anything is possible.”
Rishin Behl
Intel ISEF 2007

2007
“Participating in ISEF was a great chance for
us to know new things related to science.”
Pooja Dholakiya & Riddhi Dasani
Intel ISEF 2008

2008
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1999
St Augustine’s School, Anantapur
Madhurima Benakareddy
Bio-Chemistry
Insecticides and Anti-feedants from
Custard Apple Seeds

Winner at Intel ISEF 1999

Grand Awards: Third Prize of USD 1,000,
Individual Category, for Bio-Chemistry

A Passion for Research

As a student at St Augustine’s School in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, Madhurima
Benakareddy was an enthusiastic participant at the Intel International Science
and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) in 1999.

Madhurima’s project, Insecticides and Anti-feedants from Custard Apple Seeds,

at ISEF explored how biological pesticides were effective in controlling pests
that were resistant to chemical pesticides. It won her a Grand Award in the
Bio-Chemistry category, making her the first ever Indian winner at the
“Intel ISEF has broadened my prestigious forum.
spectrum and given me the much
needed perspective and Intel ISEF put her on the shining path of success, and, a year later, she was
confidence… it offered me focus… invited to participate at World Wide Young Researchers for Environment, a forum
and, therefore, a thorough edge for young environmental researchers, in Hanover, Germany.
over other starry-eyed 16 year olds”.
Encouraged by the exposure and recognition, Madhurima was ready for greater
challenges in science, and completed her B Sc from Osmania University.

Today, Madhurima continues to indulge her passion for research and science.
She is currently associated with the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
(TIFR), Mumbai, as a Research Scholar, and is pursuing her Ph D in Animal Models
of Depression.

According to Madhurima, her exposure at Intel ISEF helped her in many ways.
Among the advantages: “Experience and soft skills. It taught me the art of
effective communication and making tough, yet good, choices.”

With her feet firmly planted on the ground and eyes turned towards the skies,
Madhurima Benkareddy is sure to achieve even greater heights in the future.

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2004
Sadvidya Composite Pre University
College, Mysore Amruth B R
Physics
Wave Modulation and its Applications

Winner at Intel ISEF 2004

Grand Awards: Fourth Prize of USD 500,
Individual Category, for Physics
Honorable Mention Award Certificates
for International Students

All I Need are Wings

When the tsunami devastated Indian shores in December 2004, Amruth B R
must have felt a strange sense of déjà vu. It was only seven months earlier that
this young boy from Mysore had wowed the judges at Intel ISEF 2004 in
Oregon, USA, with his solution for reducing the impact of giant tsunami waves
on a major construction project along the Japanese coastline. He showed how
an effective shock absorbing system can decrease the impact of waves by
modulating amplitudes.
“Personally, the thing I value the
Right from an early age, Amruth was intrigued by science, especially physics.
most about the ISEF experience
His parents, both of whom are science graduates, have played a very vital role in
is the level of confidence and
nurturing his inquisitive interest in unveiling the mysteries of science. His project,
motivation it gave me. As for my
Wave Modulation and its Applications, which won him a Grand Award at Intel ISEF,
career, ISEF gave me the confidence
had its genesis in a documentary he saw on Discovery Channel. It showed how
that I can do whatever I put my
an ambitious Japanese construction project had been affected by a tsunami.
mind into to the best of my ability”.
Today, at 21, Amruth holds a Masters degree in Physics from the prestigious
Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani, and is co-founder and Chief
Executive Officer of a Web solutions company—Vita Beans—that helps in the
recruitment and management of employees by storing neurobehavioural profiles
of the candidates. His company works on algorithms to duplicate the decision
making pathways in the human brain.

Amruth feels that Intel ISEF has contributed in more ways than one to his
success. Apart from the confidence and penchant for success he gained from
his participation at Intel ISEF, the prize money he won helped in a big way in the
initial funding when he set up Vita Beans.

Talking to Amruth, it is tough to not to be affected by his highly contagious

energy and optimism, and his interest in fuzzy logic and neuroscience. Every
time he talks about his company and his plans for the future, you can see the
sparkle in his eyes."One little dream is all it takes," he says, "to make a believer
out of you..."

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2004
Shree Baldevdas Kikani Vidyamandir
Matriculation Higher Secondary Kanishka Raajkumar
School, Coimbatore

Computer Science
PESDOC – A Farmer Friendly
Software for Pest Diagnosis of Crops

Winner at Intel ISEF 2004

Intel Achievement Awards: Prize of
USD 5,000

Award of USD 500 US Savings Bond

by AVASC Foundation

Pest Control Gets the Digital Edge

Before Kanishka Raajkumar participated at the Intel STDF in 2003, he had very
little exposure to computers. But as he worked on his project, Kanishka developed
quite an in-depth knowledge of computers and software programming. His new
found expertise propelled him to success at Intel STDF: his project was adjudged
the best in the Bio-Chemistry category. The software that Kanishka developed
can analyse symptoms, identify pests, and suggest remedial measures for
farmers in remote areas growing cotton, sugarcane and rice.
“Be yourself. Work hard and most
For young Kanishka, who was all of 14 at the time, and taking part in his first
importantly have fun doing that.
science fair, that was nothing short of a spectacular achievement. But even
There is no point in doing a project
greater recognition was to follow: at Intel ISEF in May the following year, his
if you are not having fun doing it.”
project, PESDOC — A Farmer Friendly Software for Pest Diagnosis of Crops, won
him the Intel Achievement Award, with a cash award of USD 5,000, and another
award of a US Savings Bond worth USD 500 from the AVASC Foundation.

It was an article that said pests caused the maximum damage to crops that had
got him thinking: “I thought these problems could be addressed with artificial
intelligence and expert guidance systems.” After he conceptualised the idea,
Kanishka found that it was rather a tough project to handle. Apart from correcting
his ignorance of computers, he had to scout for books on pest management, and
transcribe them in to a simple format. But nothing could stop this boy, once he
had set his mind to the task.

Kanishka recalls that his experience at Intel ISEF at Oregon was “exhilarating and
entertaining”. He remembers how he found the high standard of the projects quite
mind-boggling. He feels he was successful in the face of stiff competition because
he was able “to present my project in a clear, concise, funny and unique way to
the judges.” This way, he says, he could keep them entertained, “rather than them
dozing off from a boring presentation!”

After his success at Intel ISEF, only the sky is the limit for Kanishka, who is
currently pursuing his undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering from the
University of Waterloo in Canada.

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2006
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya,
Meerut Amar Deep
Mathematics
A Novel Technique to Find Cube Root

National Winner

The Problem of the Root

Life has never been the same for Amar Deep after he returned from the United
States of America, where he and his teammate, Vakeel Ahmed, had gone as part
of the team that represented India at Intel ISEF 2006. This village boy now has
new dreams, immense motivation, and great hopes, all born out of his interaction
with Nobel laureates and fellow participants from different countries.

Amar Deep is a shining example of how the nationwide network of Jawahar

Navodaya Vidyalayas, the residential schools set up by the Navodaya Vidyalaya
“Before participating in the IRIS, my
Samiti (NVS), an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Human
aim was to become an engineer but
Resource Development, Government of India, has helped to tap into the pool of
now I want to pursue a career in
rural talent in India.
research related to computers.”
What took Amar Deep to Intel ISEF 2006 was his fascination for numbers. “Math
is in my blood,” says this 18 year old, whose father, a Mathematics teacher, has
had a huge role to play in developing his interest in the subject.

For his project, Amar Deep and his teammate Vakeel Ahmed presented a unique
way to easily calculate the nth root (3rd root, 4th root, and so on) of any number.
Normally, this would involve a log table and differential calculus, a cumbersome
and difficult process. On the other hand, the technique that he and his teammate
developed is very simple and accurate, and enriches conceptual understanding
as well.

Though Amar is still in college, completing his undergraduate course in advanced

computer hardware and networking from the Indira Gandhi National Open
University (IGNOU) , he has already moved on to a new research project related
to space, which he calls “Space Elevator”. Though lack of money and high speed
internet connectivity are hindering his research, he is confident of completing his
project in the next two years. “My dream is to become an anti-hacker,” says this
boy from a rural village in UP with a sparkle in his eyes.

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2006
Kendriya Vidyalaya, Ganeshkhind,
Pune Hamsa Padmanabhan
Physics
Physics of a Simple Prototype for
Static Magnetic Levitation

Winner at Intel ISEF 2006

Second Prize of USD 1,500 by
Lawrence Livermore Laboratory

Third Prize of USD 300 & UTC Stock

worth approximately USD 2,000
by American Association of Physics
Teachers and the American Physics
Society

A Bright New Star

Success is not new to Hamsa Padmanabhan, be it her merit list performance in
Class 10 and Class 12, or her 15-page page research paper, titled Physics of a
Simple Prototype for Static Magnetic Levitation, that won her three prestigious
awards at the 2006 edition of Intel ISEF.

Hamsa’s project provides an understanding of magnetic levitation of static

extended bodies, and shows that a prototype can be built with inexpensive,
everyday, materials. She was inspired by a magnetic pen set gifted to her by her
“The other projects at ISEF were
parents. She began investigating magnets and magnetic fields, and researched
absolutely amazing. They were very
the variable strengths and distances of magnets that would keep a magnetic
ingenious and well thought out.
pen suspended in mid-air.
It was evident that everyone had
put in a great deal of effort to get Physics runs in Hamsa’s family: she is the daughter of Vasanthi, who holds a
to ISEF, and each one clearly Ph D in physics, and Thanu Padmanabhan, noted physicist and dean at the
deserved to be there.” Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune, who is
also a senior visiting fellow at the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge, and at
Princeton University. Small wonder that Hamsa herself aspires to be a physicist!

For her project, Hamsa began the theoretical analysis under the guidance of her
father, a specialist in quantum theory, gravitation and structure formation in the
universe at IUCAA. “This is a very complex process, and my daughter analysed
the forces involved in the process, as well as factors contributing towards the
stability of the levitating pen,” says her mentor-father.

Intel ISEF 2006 was Hamsa’s second major co-curricular win. In 2004, she had
won the gold medal at the prestigious all India test for Class 9 students
conducted by Educational Initiatives—an organisation started by IIM-Ahmedabad
alumni to bring about qualitative improvement in school education.

Hamsa Padmanbhan is currently a second year B Sc (Physics) student at

Fergusson College, Pune.

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2006 & 2008
Christ Nagar Senior Secondary
School, Thiruvananthapuram (2006) Swathi Soman
Bhavan’s BPVidyamandir, Nagpur (2008)

Environmental Science
Fungal Bio-Pesticide for Eco-Friendly
Management of Insect Pests

Winner at Intel ISEF 2006

Grand Awards: Third Prize of USD 1,000,
Individual Category, for Environmental
Science

Fusarium Pallidoroseum II:

Can it Control Water Hyacinth?

Winner at Intel ISEF 2008

Grand Awards: Third Prize of USD 1,000,
Individual Category, for Environmental
Science

Fourth Prize of USD 500, by American

India’s Pride: Twice Over!
Phytopathological Society It wouldn’t be surprising if Swathi Soman builds a shrine to Fusarium pallidoroseum.
After all, it is this fungus that has given her the unique experience of representing
India twice at Intel ISEF. Even better, she was a winner both times!

Back in 2006, little did Swathi Soman know that her curiosity about black spots
in vegetables would take her to Indianapolis as the youngest budding scientist
ever selected to represent India at Intel ISEF. Swathi, who saw that her mother
would always have to throw away fungi infected peas, wanted to find a solution—
“Don’t waste a minute not being
that, too, without using chemicals. She discovered that Fusarium pallidoroseum
happy. If one window closes, run to
can be used to control the fungal infection in the cowpea plant. For her project,
the next window—or break down a
she won a Grand Award in the Environmental Science category at Intel ISEF 2006.
door! When you feel down and out,
just remember that the darkest hour This passionate environmentalist from Kerala was determined to represent her
is just before sunrise.” country again at the international fair. She participated at the IRIS 2007, this
time with a project on how to control water hyacinth, the pernicious aquatic
weed—this time, it was the sight of the ghastly weed choking the water bodies
around her house in Kerala that egged her on to find a solution. Swathi found an
efficient method to integrate Fusarium pallidoroseum with cashew nut shell
liquid, a byproduct of the cashew industry, and turn it into an effective bio-control
agent against the weed. After her last win in 2006, Swathi knew exactly how to
present an award winning project, and, at Intel ISEF 2008 in Atlanta, she won
not only another Grand Award, but also an award from the American
Phytopathological Society.

Swathi attributes her success to her parents and her sister, who have been a
constant source of support and inspiration.

While Swathi’s interactions with the Nobel Laureates at the international fairs
had inspired her to try to become one some day, life seems to be taking her
down another path. Currently studying in Class 12 in her Nagpur school, Swathi
intends to become a Chartered Accountant.

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2007
Kendriya Vidyalaya, Mankhurd,
Mumbai Rishin Behl
Engineering
A Novel Design for Magnetic
Levitating Seismograph

Winner at Intel ISEF 2007

Second Prize of USD 1,500 by Shell Oil

Full Tuition Scholarship Award by

University of New Mexico

First Prize of USD 1,000 US Savings

Bond by AVASC Foundation

Prize of USD 500 by Society of

Exploration Geophysicists

Trip to China to attend 22nd China

Adolescents Science and Technology An Ignited Mind
Innovation Contest (CASTIC) by China
Association for Science and Technology A keychain laser, an aircraft—and the spark of genius. That’s what went into
making Rishin Behl the biggest Indian winner at Intel ISEF to date.

Rishin was toying with the keychain laser, which was reflecting off the window
when an aircraft passed overhead, causing the window to vibrate. Rishin noticed
that this made the laser spot oscillate—it was his Eureka moment! He put his
discovery to practical use in his project, A Novel Design for Magnetic Levitating
Seismograph, which is a product of his spirit of enquiry that questioned the
“The biggest impact that ISEF had
inability of seismographers to detect the tsunami that struck India in 2004.
in my life was that it changed my
perspective on life; now I believe From a playful experiment to a prize-winning project, it was a lot of hard work,
that anything is possible. I always reading, experimenting and thinking for Rishin. But not an ounce of his efforts
liked structures and systems, went futile: he went on to win as many as five awards at Intel ISEF 2007. If
though, to tell the truth, before ISEF cash prizes worth USD 3,000, a trip to the Society of Exploration Geophysicists
I was confused like every other International Exposition, and another to Kunming in China for a week to attend
teenager. But now I believe one the 22nd China Adolescents Science and Technology Innovation Contest were
should do what he likes without not enough, he also won a full tuition scholarship award of USD 60,000 over 4
being pressured by society.” years from the University of New Mexico.

Both Rishin’s parents have an engineering background, which has contributed a

lot to his exceptional talent in this field. Rishin is currently studying to be a
structural engineer—”because I always liked structures and systems”—at the
University of New Mexico on the scholarship he won at Intel ISEF.

With a minor planet already named after him by the Lincoln Laboratory at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Rishin, who modestly believes that
“being good at what I do is my reward”, is well on his way to finding his place in
the universe.

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2007
Jai Hind College, Mumbai Sarvesh Nevatia
& Rehan Netarwala
Engineering
Design, Fabrication and Testing
of an Omni-Directional Vehicle
using Spherical Wheels

National Winner

A Smooth Ride to Success

After one of their friends met with an accident and was confined to a wheelchair,
Sarvesh Nevatia and Rehan Netarwal wanted to devise a mechanism that would
help him move around more easily. Taking their cue from the ball in a computer
mouse, they proposed that using spherical wheels, instead of conventional
circular wheels, would improve the ease of movement. It will reduce turn radius,
allow free movement in any direction, increase mileage and safety, and provide
better stability and grip.
“The recognition that comes with
The two boys come from non-technical families, but they have had a very strong
this award has significantly boosted
instinct for science and technology from a very tender age. Says Rehan: “I have
our confidence, and will go a long
always tinkered with machines, gadgets and gizmos, repairing or improving on
way in helping us in our studies and
them.” Sarvesh “loves being creative and trying to invent new things to help
career. It’s said that the best way to
mankind in daily life and to make the world a better place.”
predict the future is to create it. We
believe we are getting by—with a IRIS 2006 was Sarvesh’s and Rehan’s first attempt at any national level competition,
little help from Intel.” and with tremendous support from their family members, they made it a winning
start. The recognition and experience they gained opened new vistas for them.
They represented India at Intel ISEF 2007 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the
17 year old duo from Mumbai returned to India as confident and triumphant lads
ready to take on the world. “We got to meet like-minded people, young scientists
and engineers. We learnt a lot about other projects, and had a chance to showcase
our skills as well. It was not merely a science fair; other activities like students
mixer and pin exchange were really enjoyable”.

Their winning project,Design, Fabrication and Testing of an Omni-Directional

Vehicle using Spherical Wheels, was also showcased on the The Next Big Thing,
a show on NDTV 24x7, India’s leading English news channel.

Rehan is now a first year Mechanical Engineering student at the K J Somaiya

College of Engineering in Mumbai. He aims to do an MBA and pursue a career in
a technical field. Sarvesh is currently pursuing his degree in Mechanical
Engineering from the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He aims to
pursue a career related to robotics and microsystems.

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2007
Modern English School, Mumbai
Vaishnavi Viswanathan
Environmental Science
Desmostachya Bipinnata/Kusha Root
as an Eco-friendly Termicide

Winner at Intel ISEF 2007

Second Prize of USD 500 US Savings
Bond by AVASC Foundation

Termites Meet Their Nemesis

15 year old Vaishnavi Viswanathan, the lone girl member of the Indian contingent
at Intel ISEF 2007 comes from a family of accountants, but has always found
science really interesting. She pondered for hours together about any phenomenon
that intrigues her. “Once you find out how and why it occurred after a lot of
logical reasoning, you understand how beautifully and logically the entire
universe has been created.”

At Intel ISEF, Vaishnavi was awarded the second prize of USD 500 in US Savings
“Respect for science was a common
Bonds by the AVASC Foundation in the Individual Category for Environmental
thread among all individuals attending
Science. Her project, titled Desmostachya Bipinnata/Kusha Root as an Eco-friendly
the ISEF. The total experience was
Termicide, showed that the presence of Kusha root extract leads termites to
extremely rewarding as it gave me an
exhibit a “lingering behaviour”, while the Desmostachya Bipinnata extracts had
opportunity to interact with students
potent anti-termitic properties. Using this knowledge, she developed a natural
from all over the world. I felt very
alternative to current environmentally detrimental termicides.
proud to note that the number of
Indian students representing Vaishnavi was inspired to participate in IRIS after two students from her school—
various other countries at the ISEF Srividya Swaminathan and Shriram Jayaraman—found success at the 2004
was very high. This event has not edition of Intel ISEF. She says that she owes most of her success to her guide.
just given me excellent exposure ”My guide, Sitalakhsmi Parmeshwaran, was really supportive and guided me in all
but also helped me make new possible ways. After I conceived the idea, I felt lost when I did not know how to
friends from across the globe.” proceed. That’s when she carved out a proper methodology and gave me advice
on all the subjects involved. Right from going to various scientific institutions for
more information to assisting me with the experiments, she was there for me.
My school was also very supportive. Without my school I couldn’t have achieved
as much.”

Surprisingly, this talented scientist does not want to pursue a career in a science
related field. Genes do matter—she wants to carry on in the footsteps of her
father. Currently studying in Class 11 in the Commerce stream at the Modern
English School, Mumbai, she aims to pursue a career as a corporate lawyer or
a Chartered Accountant.

19
2008
Sunbeam School Bhagwanpur,
Varanasi Ambud Sharma
Computer Science
A Low Cost Water Based Evaporative
Cooling Device for Computers

Winner at Intel ISEF 2008

Grand Awards: Fourth Prize of USD 500,
Individual Category, for Computer
Science

Scholarship of USD 50,000 by Florida

Institute of Technology

A Cool Solution
The absence of an airconditioner in his Varanasi home was a boon in disguise for
Ambud Sharma. His old PC was forever hanging, due to overheating. He tried
different ways to fix the problem, but got no respite—till he realised that the
chips could be cooled by water, and that water could be cooled by evaporation.

That’s the project that took Ambud to IRIS, and then to success at Intel ISEF 2008
at Atlanta. He did not have a guide for his project, and his parents did not know
how to operate a computer. So it was to his cousin, who works in USA in the field
“Representing my country at an
of robotics, that he turned for inspiration. Ambud’s groundbreaking Evaporative
international event gave me great
Cooling Device, which he named “Heat Busters”, has the potential to considerably
personal satisfaction. Also, I feel it
reduce the need for environmentally hazardous airconditioners that are a threat
was a major opportunity to interact
not only to individual health but also to the ozone layer.
with Nobel laureates, eminent
scientists, and heads of leading At Intel ISEF 2008, Ambud had the good fortune of participating in a Question-
companies of the world.” Answer session over lunch with eminent Nobel laureates and the Chairman of Intel,
Dr Craig Barrett. But his most cherished memories of Atlanta are the moments
he shared with Mrs Elizabeth Merrinchola, the President, Society for Science &
Public, Washington, USA, and Robert F Curl, who got the Nobel Prize in Chemistry
in 1996. It was also gratifying when several of the eminent judges told Ambud
that they look forward to his presence in the industry.

After garnering a Grand Prize and being awarded a USD 50,000 scholarship by
the Florida Institute of Technology at Atlanta, Ambud is very keen on developing
his project and marketing it, but a lack of corporate sponsors has hindered his
endeavours thus far.

This Class 12 student at Sunbeam School dreams of being a chip designer so

that he can work for Intel.

20
2008
Late Shree S G Dholakiya Memorial Riddhi Dasani
& Pooja Dholakiya
High School, Rajkot

Plant Sciences
Eco-Friendly Ink for Colour Pens

Winner at Intel ISEF 2008

Third Prize of USD 1,000 by
Science News

An Edible Palette
Winning at IRIS is not the prerogative of students from big schools in the
metros. Six of the eight students who represented India at Intel ISEF 2008 in
Atlanta are from small towns and lesser known schools from different parts of
India. Among them were Riddhi Dasani and Pooja Dholakiya, from the Late Shree
S G Dholakiya Memorial High School in Rajkot.

Their trip to Atlanta was their first anywhere outside their home town, but the
pride they felt at representing their country at the international level overcame
“We have got an opportunity to bring
any apprehensions they felt. And they did India proud, too: Riddhi and Pooja
out our talents in the field of science.
came back richer by USD 1,000, and became the first students from Gujarat to
We are very happy to participate in
win at Intel ISEF.
such a big scientific event.”
The idea for their winning project, Eco-Friendly Ink for Colour Pens, came after
Pooja saw some young children in her school licking ink from sketch pens. She
discussed this with her friend and teammate, Ridhhi, and they decided to do
something about it. Six long months of experiments later, they acheived their
objective: a special ink that is non-toxic. Their raw material: fruits, flowers and
vegetables, with their appetising colours! They successfully constructed their
edible palette: yellow from turmeric, red from chili peppers, pink from roses
Green-Greek, Light-Green Vetch, Pistachios-Gourd, Pink-Rose and White-Brown.

The girls consider the former President of India, Dr AP J Abdul Kalam, their idol,
and his words have been their constant inspiration. Their story and their path to
success have, in turn, been a great inspiration to not just the students in their school,
but to others in the community. They have proved that “If you desire anything
intensely, and you act upon it, then everything becomes within your reach.”

After being felicitated by the Union Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Kapil
Sibal, in New Delhi along with other winners at Intel ISEF 2008, they were also
honoured at a special event by the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr Narendra Modi.

Their school has sent the inks to various laboratories in Gujarat, and the analysis
has shown encouraging results.

21
2008
MES Kishore Kendra, Bangalore
Vishakh Hedge
Life Sciences
A Novel Low Cost Design
of Tic-Tac-Toe Board Game
for the Visually Challenged

National Winner

Beacon of Hope
“The visually challenged require not only our sympathy but also opportunity. It is
necessary to extend a helping hand, provide opportunities and thus build confidence
in them. We must realise, and also make them realise, that they are not a burden
to society, but a part of it.” When these words fell on 15 year old Vishakh Hegde’s
ears, he was inspired to make a difference in the lives of the visually impaired.

So Vishakh invented a low cost design of the tic-tac-toe board game for the
visually challenged which is much more than a means of recreation. His design
“As a human being, the most
helps in observing changes in the behaviour and mental ability of the visually
important conclusion I draw from
impaired as well. Instead of traditional X’s and O’s, there are two types of pawns
this whole experience is that the
which they can touch, feel and identify. The game box consists of a simple
visually challenged are no different
circuit on the base board. There are gaps in the circuit that are bridged when the
from the rest of us; instead, they
pawns are appropriately inserted. The circuit works purely electromechanically,
have much sharper senses, and a
and there are no complex logic circuits or ICs that are used, and, hence, the game
deeper understanding of the things
can be made at very low cost.
that surround us that most of us
gifted ones don’t understand.” Tested on visually impaired students, Vishakh’s tic-tac-toe proved to increase
their confidence levels, ability to interact with others, and levels of enthusiasm
and excitement. Based on feedback from two schools for the blind, he has
constantly improved his invention. Currently, he is working on the sixth version:
the circuit is now made on a Printed Circuit Board, an improvement from the
earlier versions, which used thin copper sheets as conductors. It now also
includes four buzzers—two to indicate wins for either player, one to indicate a
drawn game, and one that indicates when a player inserts a pawn.

IIT aspirant Vishakh’s role model is Albert Einstein, who has inspired him in many
ways. Especially encouraging to him were Einstein’s words while accepting the
Nobel Prize in 1921: “Imagination is more important than Knowledge”. And it
was Vishakh’s imagination and desire to have a perfect world, where the visually
challenged will have equal opportunities, that led to his invention. He hopes to
get generous funding from philanthropists and charitable organisations, so that
a series of games using similar technology can be developed and distributed to
schools for the visually challenged.

22
2006
DAV Public School, Bhubaneshwar
Apurv Mishra
Engineering
Glabenator – An Advanced
Alternative and Augmentative
Communication Device

Winner at Intel ISEF 2006

Grand Awards: Third Prize of USD 1,000,
Individual Category, for Engineering.

To help his grandfather, who had suffered a paralytic attack, to communicate,

Apurv Mishra conceptualised a machine that would allow paralytic, spastic, and
disabled persons communicate using the muscles of the forehead. His engineering
project, Glabenator – An Advanced Alternative and Augmentative Communication
Device, won a Grand Award of USD1,000 at Intel ISEF 2006. Additionally, Apurv
received a cheque of Rs100,000 from the Chief Minister of Orissa for his
achievement. He also reveived the National Technology Award for Welfare of
the Disabled from the former President of India, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam.

2006
Sanatan Dharam Public School,
Kanishka Tiwary
Pitampura, New Delhi
& Varun Mittal
Zoology
Effect of Chinaberry Fruit Extract
on Feeding, Growth and Fecundity
of DBM Plutella Xylostella

Winner at Intel ISEF 2006

Grand Awards: Fourth Prize of USD 500,
Team Category, for Zoology

Kanishka Tiwary and Varun Mittal discovered an environment friendly way to combat
a deadly moth that infests vegetables. They studied the diamond black moth
that is found in cruciferous plants, such as cabbage and cauliflower, and destroys
these crops. This moth also enters into the human brain and causes a severe
disease called cysterosis. Kanishka, who is from a family with agricultural links,
wanted to find a method to control this moth. Working with Varun, she found the
solution: chinaberry fruit extract oil. They stumbled upon chinaberry oil while
checking out neem leaves as a solution. An example of innovation by accident!

23
2007
Sishya School, Chennai
Ram Raghunathan
Computer Science
FDIS: A Fast Frequency Distribution
Based Interpolation Search Algorithm
for Ordered Lists

Winner at Intel ISEF 2007

Grand Awards: Second Prize of
USD 1,500, Individual Category,
for Computer Science

In his project, FDIS: A Fast Frequency Distribution Based Interpolation Search

Algorithm for Ordered Lists, Ram Raghunathan has developed a novel way to
guide searches based on the frequency distribution of an ordered list in the
database. It, hence, conducts the search in a more intelligent fashion than the
usual methods. The algorithm results in 82 to 94 per cent reduction in average
time for searches, compared to other methods that achieve only 15 to 88
percent reduction.

2007
National Public School, Bangalore
Aavishkar Apoorva Patel
Physics
A Coupled Oscillator Model for Grover’s
Quantum Database Search Algorithm

National Winner

Aavishkar Patel’s project, A Coupled Oscillator Model for Grover’s Quantum

Database Search Algorithm, demonstrates Grover’s quantum database search
algorithm in a simple and stable mechanical setting. It shows how the energy of
a coupled oscillator may be focused into a single oscillator. This mechanism could
be useful in the construction of nanotechnology devices.

24
2007
Dhirubhai Ambani International Tanay DeLima
& Nikhil Khosla
School, Mumbai

Physics
A Novel Advanced Brake Light
Warning System to Prevent
Vehicular Tailgating Accidents

Winner at Intel ISEF 2007

Grand Awards: Fourth Prize of USD 500,
Team Category, for Physical Sciences

Tanay Delima and Nikhil Khosla in their project ‘A Novel Advanced Brake Light
Warning System to Prevent Vehicular Tailgating Accidents’ explored whether it
was possible to reduce incidence of tailgating accidents by giving the driver in
the rear vehicle additional reaction time to apply his brakes. The brake lights of a
car usually come on when the breaks are applied. In their experiment the brake
lights come on when the accelerator is released prior to the brakes being applied.
Hence it was useful for the driver at the rear to be able to detect when the
front vehicle driver’s foot was taken off the accelerator.

2008
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya,
Mandya Lavanya H Giriraj
Plant Sciences
Winner at Intel ISEF 2008
Second Prize of USD 500 by American
Society for Horticultural Science

Lavanya Giriraj (fifth from right)

Lavanya Giriraj wanted to replace toxic chemicals that are commonly used in
household products with more environmentally friendly substances. She
investigated alternatives to synthetic dyes that are used in fabrics, paints, and
foods. She extracted dye from the petals of Ixora coccinea, a fuschia-flowered
plant of the coffee family. She was able to successfully dye icecream, cotton,
and silk, and prepared water colours and oil paints from the pigment.

25
2008
Modern English School, Mumbai Divya Venkataraman &
Neha Kulkarni
Life Sciences
Winner at Intel ISEF 2008
Third Prize of USD 1,000 by
Science News

Second Prize of USD 500 US Savings

Bond by AVASC Foundation

Divya Venkataraman and Neha Kulkarni were distressed by the increasing cases
of malaria and dengue fever around them. They were determined to find a way
to prevent the spread of these diseases.

Divya and Neha developed an extract from the leaves of the papaya, and tested
it at different stages of mosquito breeding. They studied the efficacy of the
extract for several months, and found that the mortality rate of mosquitoes was
86 per cent. Their product is completely bio-natural, easily available, and cost
effective. It doesn’t cause any harm to the soil, plants, or human beings.

26
India at Intel ISEF
Students who have represented India at the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF)

Year Participants Subject Category Awards Won at Intel ISEF

2008 Ambud Sharma Computer Science • Grand Awards: Fourth Prize of

Sunbeam School Bhagwanpur, Varanasi A Low Cost Water Based Evaporative USD 500, International Category,
Uttar Pradesh Cooling Device for Computers in Computer Science
• Scholarship of USD 50,000 by
Florida Institute of Technology
Swathi Soman Environmental Science • Grand Awards: Third Prize of
Bhavan’s B P Vidyamandir, Nagpur Fusarium Pallidoroseum II: USD 1,000, Individual Category,
Maharashtra Can It Control Water Hyacinth? in Environmental Science
• Fourth Prize of USD 500 by
American Phytopathological Society
Vishakh Hegde Life Sciences
M E S Kishore Kendra, Bangalore A Novel Low Cost Design of
Karnataka Tic-Tac-Toe Board Game for the
Visually Challenged
Divya Venkataraman & Neha Kulkarni Life Sciences • Third Prize of USD 1,000 by
Modern English School, Mumbai Larvicidal and Insecticidal Properties Science News
Maharashtra of Carica Papaya Leaf Extract • Second Prize of USD 500 US Savings
Against Mosquitoes Bond by AVASC Foundation
Lavanya H Giriraj Plant Sciences • Second Prize of USD 500 by
Jawahar Navodaya, Mandya Natural Colour from Ixora Flowers American Society for Horticultural
Karnataka Science
Riddhi Dasani & Pooja Dholakiya Plant Sciences • Third Prize of USD 1,000 by
Late Shree S G Dholakiya Memorial Eco-Friendly Ink for Colour Pens Science News
High School, Rajkot
Gujarat
2007 Vaishnavi Vishwanathan Botany • Second Prize of USD 500 US Savings
Modern English School, Mumbai Desmostachya Bipinnata/Kusha Root as Bond by AVASC Foundation
Maharashtra an Eco-friendly Termicide

Ram Raghunath Computer Science • Grand Awards: Second Prize of

Sishya, Chennai FDIS: A Fast Frequency Distribution USD 1,500, Individual Category,
Tamil Nadu Based Interpolation Search Algorithm for Mathematics
for Ordered Lists • Second Prize of USD 500 by
Association for Computing Machinery
Rishin Behl Engineering • Second Prize of USD 1,500 by
Kendriya Vidyalaya, Mankhurd, Mumbai A Novel Design for Magnetic Levitating Shell Oil
Maharashtra Seismograph • Full Tuition Scholarship Award by
University of New Mexico
• First Prize of USD 1,000 US Savings
Bond by AVASC Foundation
• Prize of USD 500 by Society of
Exploration Geophysicists
• Trip to China to attend the CASTIC by
China Association for Science
and Technology
Sarvesh Nevatia & Rehan Netarwala Engineering
Jai Hind College, Mumbai Design, Fabrication and Testing
Maharashtra of an Omni-Directional Vehicle using
Spherical Wheels

Aavishkar Apoorva Patel Physics

National Public School, Bangalore A Coupled Oscillator Model for Grover’s
Karnataka Quantum Database Search Algorithm
Tanay David DeLima & Nikhil Khosla Physics • Fourth Prize of USD 500 by
Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Mumbai A Novel Advanced Brake Light Science News
Maharashtra Warning System to Prevent
Vehicular Tailgating Accidents

27
 Year Participants Subject Category Awards Won at Intel ISEF

2006 Apurv Mishra Engineering • Grand Awards: Third Prize of

D A V Public School, Bhubaneshwar Glabenator – An Advanced USD 1,000, Individual Category,
Orissa Alternative and Augmentative for Engineering
Communication Device • Second Prize of USD 500 US Savings
Bond by AVASC Foundation
Swathi Soman Environmental Science • Grand Awards: Third Prize of
Christ Nagar Senior Secondary School, Fungal Bio-Pesticide for Eco-Friendly USD 1,000, Individual Category,
Thiruvananthapuram Management of Insect Pests for Environmental Science
Kerala
Mukund Tiwari Life Sciences
St Aloysius High School, Kanpur Multifunctional Therapeutic-cum-
Uttar Pradesh Mobility System for Cerebral Palsy
(Spastic) Children
Vakeel Ahmed & Amar Deep Mathematics
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Meerut A Novel Technique to Find Cube Root
Uttar Pradesh
Hamsa Padmanabhan Physics • Second Prize of USD 1,500 by
Kendriya Vidyalaya, Ganeshkhind, Pune Physics of a Simple Prototype for Static Lawrence Livermore Laboratory
Maharashtra Magnetic Levitation • Third Prize of USD 300 & UTC Stock
worth approximately USD 2,000 by
American Association of Physics
Teachers and the American Physics
Society
Kanishka Tiwary & Varun Mittal Zoology • Fourth Prize of USD 500 by
Sanatan Dharam Public School, New Delhi Effect of Chinaberry Fruit Extract on Science News
Delhi Feeding, Growth and Fecundity of DBM
Plutella Xylostella
2005 Mrunmaye V Math Bio-Chemistry
Indian Education Society, Mumbai Antimalarial Activity of Leaves of
Maharashtra Calycopteris Floribunda
Anitha P R Botany
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Mandya Parthenium as a Friendly Plant
Karnataka
Prathik George Computer Science
Kendriya Vidyalaya No 1, Bangalore An Algorithm for Hidden and
Karnataka Occluded Surface Removal from
One or More Viewpoints
Malavika Tiwari Engineering • Grand Awards: Third Prize of
St Mary’s Convent High School, Kanpur A Foot-Controlled Device and Wheel USD 1,000, Individual Category,
Uttar Pradesh Attachment for Persons with Upper for Engineering
Limb Disability
Mridul Engineering
C A K Fertilizer Model Senior Secondary Automatic Electronic Sun Tracker
School, Nangal
Punjab
Riddhiman Yadava & Mihir Tandon Engineering • Scholarship Award of USD 1,000 by
Modern School, New Delhi Saviour Helping People Walk again National Collegiate Inventors and
Delhi Innovators Alliance and The Lemelson
Foundation
Siddharth G Menon & Rohit Mohan Engineering
National Public School, Bangalore Emulating Insert Flight for The
Karnataka Development of Tomorrow’s Aircrafts
E Vindhya Revathi Vyjayanthi Mathematics
Takshasila Public School, Hyderabad Correlation of Radii of Incircle and
Andhra Pradesh Circumcircle with Lengths of the Sides
of Triangle: Two Specific Cases
Raghavendra G Physics
S B O A Schools and Junior College, Chennai Global Range Electronics Appliance
Tamil Nadu Controller
Prahlad G Menon & Shanda Prasad P N Physics
National Public School, Bangalore Improvement of Efficiency of Solar
Karnataka Cells Using Total Internal Reflection
Mallika Desai & Suvrata Desai Plant Sciences • Second Prize of USD 500 US Savings
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, South Goa Traditional Spices, Modern Pesticides Bond by AVASC Foundation
Goa
Shaarika S Zoology
Kendriya Vidyalaya, Thiruvananthapuram Shatavari – A Potential Enhancer of
Kerala Breast Milk Production

28
Year Participants Subject Category Awards Won at Intel ISEF

2004 Zeeshan Ali Sayed & Rishi Mahavir Patil Bio-Chemistry • Grand Awards: Second Prize of
Shreerang Vidyalaya, Mumbai To Study the Effect of Bio Seed USD 1,500, Team Category,
Maharashtra Dressing on the Growth, Yield and for Bio-Chemistry
Quality of Crop
Kanishka Raajkumar Computer Science • Intel Achievement Awards:
Shree Baldevdas Kikani Vidyamandir PESDOC – A Farmer Friendly Software Prize of USD 5,000
Matriculation Higher Secondary School, for Pest Diagnosis of Crops • Award of USD 500 US Savings Bond
Coimbatore by AVASC Foundation
Tamil Nadu
Shriram Jayaraman & Srividya Swaminathan Environmental Science • Third Prize of USD 1,000 by
Modern English School, Mumbai Paperwood – Paper from Wood? Science News
Maharashtra No, Wood from Paper • Scholarship Award of USD 1,500 by
National Collegiate Inventors and
Innovators Alliance and The Lemelson
Foundation
Sameer Yeleswarapu Mathematics • Honorable Mention Award Certificate
St Francis de Sales High School, Hyderabad An Interesting Property of Right Angle by National Aeronautics and Space
Andhra Pradesh Triangle Administration
Amruth B R Physics • Grand Awards: Fourth Prize of
Sadvidya Composite Pre University College, Wave Modulation and its Applications USD 500, Individual Category,
Mysore for Physics
Karnataka • Honorable Mention Award Certificate
for International Students
Harshini Ramachandran Plant Sciences
Shri B S Mootha Girls Senior Secondary Eco-Friendly Products: Application of
School, Chennai Date Palm as Bio -Manure, Cosmetics
Tamil Nadu and Health Drinks

2003 P Senthalir & S Sharanya Botany • Fourth Prize of USD 500 by

Avila Convent Matriculation Higher Suppression of Branches in Science News
Secondary School, Coimbatore Eucalyptus Trees • Award of USD 500 US Savings Bond
Tamil Nadu by AVASC Foundation
Bhushan Prakash Mahadik Chemistry • Grand Awards: Fourth Prize of
Fr Agnel Junior College, Mumbai Carbon Nanotubes (CNT): A New USD 500, Individual Category,
Maharashtra Frontier in Nanotechnology for Chemistry
• Prize of USD 1,000 and Honorable
Mention Award Certificate by
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration and DuPont’s Center
for Collaborative Research
Sangameswaran Tejeshwar Tandon Computer Science • Second Prize of USD 500 by IEEE
S B O A Schools and Junior College, Chennai Text Explorer Computer Society
Tamil Nadu
Aadhar Mittal Engineering • Award of USD 500 US Savings Bond
Montfort School, New Delhi Artificial Creation of Music Using by AVASC Foundation
Delhi Music Theory
Karan Sharma Engineering • Second Prize of USD 150 by Patent
Apeejay School, New Delhi Speed Booster System for Gliders and Trademark Office, US Department
Delhi of Commerce and Patent and
Trademark Office Society
Maithili P Dalvi Environmental Science • Award of USD 500 US Savings Bond
Smt Sulochanadevi Singhania School, Mumbai The Effectiveness of Coconut Flower by AVASC Foundation
Maharashtra Extract in Stopping Abnormal and
Excessive Uterine Haemorrhage
Samhita Anand Rao & Nikhil Mukund Thatte Life Sciences ——-
LES BVN Sule Guruji English Medium Evaluation of In Vitro Effect of
Secondary School, Mumbai Selected Food Items on Platelet
Maharashtra Aggregation
Varun Kumar Nagaraja Life Sciences • First Prize of USD 1,000 and
Sri Vani Public School, Bangalore Diagnosis of Pregnancy in Cattle a Certificate by American Intellectual
Karnataka (Punyakoti Pregnancy Test) Property Law Association

29
 Year Participants Subject Category Awards Won at Intel ISEF

2002 Anupama Bhadoria & Chetna Dudeja Botany

St Anthony’s Senior Secondary School, Fibre Bags
New Delhi
Delhi
Shraddha Mangesh Telli Chemistry • Fourth Prize of USD 500 by
& Shrushti Mukesh Shah Application of Natural Dyes on Science News
J B Vachha High School, Mumbai Natural Fibres • Award of USD 500 US Savings Bond
Maharashtra by AVASC Foundation
Akshat Singhal Computer Science • Summer Internship at
St Anselm’s Pink City School, Jaipur The Intelligent Document Management Agilent Technologies
Rajasthan System
Rahul Shah Computer Science
Cathedral & John Connon School, Mumbai Storage of Information as a Colour Code
Maharashtra
Vaibhav Gupta Environmental Science
Delhi Public School, Rourkela Cow Dung: The Legacy of Ancient
Orissa Pesticide Discovered
Madhav Pathak Life Sciences
Joy Higher Secondary School, Jabalpur Modification in Braille Slate to Make
Madhya Pradesh Writing Easy for Blind
2001 Ruchira Bajpai Bio-Chemistry • Grand Awards: Third Prize of
St Joseph’s School, Shakti Nagar Lowering Hyperglycaemia using USD 1,000, Individual Category,
Uttar Pradesh Custard Apple Leaves for Bio-Chemistry
• Second Prize of USD 500 by
Endocrine Society
Yash Vasant Joshi Engineering • Grand Awards: Fourth Prize of
St Xavier’s High School, Mumbai Bicycle Pump Modified for Household USD 500, Individual Category,
Maharashtra Recycling of Plastic Scrap for Engineering
• Intel Achievement Awards:
Prize of USD 5,000
Bharat Suresh Mhatre & Amit Kiran Sowani Environmental Science • Grand Awards: Fourth Prize of
Ramnivas Ruia Junior College, Mumbai Pollution Controller and Fuel Collector USD 500, Individual Category,
Maharashtra for Environmental Science
• Award of USD 5,000 by US Coast
Guard Research and Development
2000 Samip Agarwal & Sarvesh Rathore Biology • Grand Awards: Second Prize of
Christ Church Boys Senior Secondary School, Shellac Industry Waste as a Chelating USD 1,500, Team Category,
Bhopal Agent for Uptake of Micronutrients for Biology
Madhya Pradesh by Plants
1999 Madhurima Benakareddy Bio-Chemistry • Grand Awards: Third Prize of
St Augustine’s School, Anantapur Insecticides and Ant-Feedants from USD 1,000, Individual Category
Andhra Pradesh Custard Apple Seeds for Bio-Chemistry

30
The National Winners
By Subject Category

Subject Category Year Participants

Bio-Chemistry 2005 Mrunmaye V Math

Indian Education Society, Mumbai
Maharashtra
2004 Zeeshan Ali Sayed & Rishi Mahavir Patil*
Shreerang Vidyalaya, Mumbai
Maharashtra
2001 Ruchira Bajpai*
St Joseph’s School, Shakti Nagar
Uttar Pradesh
1999 Madhurima Benakareddy*
St Augustine’s School, Anantapur
Andhra Pradesh
Biology 2000 Samip Agarwal & Sarvesh Rathore*
Christ Church Boys Senior Secondary School, Bhopal
Madhya Pradesh
2007 Vaishnavi Vishwanathan*
Modern English School, Mumbai
Maharashtra
2005 Anitha P R
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Mandya
Karnataka
2003 P Senthalir & S Sharanya*
Avila Convent Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Coimbatore
Tamil Nadu
2002 Anupama Bhadoria & Chetna Dudeja
St Anthony’s Senior Secondary School, New Delhi
Delhi
Chemistry 2003 Bhushan Prakash Mahadik*
Fr Agnel Junior College, Mumbai
Maharashtra
2002 Shraddha Mangesh Telli & Shrushti Mukesh Shah*
J B Vachha High School, Mumbai
Maharashtra
Computer Science 2008 Ambud Sharma*
Sunbeam School Bhagwanpur, Varanasi
Uttar Pradesh
2007 Ram Raghunath*
Sishya, Chennai
Tamil Nadu
2005 Prathik George
Kendriya Vidyalaya No 1, Bangalore
Karnataka
2004 Kanishka Raajkumar*
Shree Baldevdas Kikani Vidyamandir Matriculation Higher Secondary
School, Coimbatore
Tamil Nadu
2003 Sangameswaran Tejeshwar Tandon*
S B O A Schools and Junior College, Chennai
Tamil Nadu
2002 Akshat Singhal*
St Anselm’s Pink City School, Jaipur
Rajasthan
2002 Rahul Shah
Cathedral & John Connon School, Mumbai
Maharashtra

*Winner at ISEF

31
 Subject Category Year Participants

Engineering 2007 Rishin Behl*

Kendriya Vidyalaya, Mankhurd, Mumbai
Maharashtra
2007 Sarvesh Nevatia & Rehan Netarwala
Jai Hind College, Mumbai
Maharashtra
2006 Apurv Mishra*
D A V Public School, Bhubaneshwar
Orissa
2005 Malavika Tiwari*
St Mary’s Convent High School, Kanpur
Uttar Pradesh
2005 Mridul
C A K Fertilizer Model Senior Secondary School, Nangal
Punjab
2005 Riddhiman Yadava & Mihir Tandon*
Modern School, New Delhi
Delhi
2005 Siddharth G Menon & Rohit Mohan
National Public School, Bangalore
Karnataka
2003 Aadhar Mittal*
Montfort School, New Delhi
Delhi
2003 Karan Sharma*
Apeejay School, New Delhi
Delhi
2001 Yash Vasant Joshi*
St Xavier’s High School, Mumbai
Maharashtra
Environmental Science 2008 Swathi Soman*
Bhavan’s B P Vidyamandir, Nagpur
Maharashtra
2006 Swathi Soman*
Christ Nagar Senior Secondary School, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala
2004 Shriram Jayraman & Srividya Swaminathan*
Modern English School, Mumbai
Maharashtra
2003 Maithili P Dalvi*
Smt Sulochanadevi Singhania School, Mumbai
Maharashtra
2002 Vaibhav Gupta
Delhi Public School, Rourkela
Orissa
2001 Bharat Suresh Mhatre & Amit Kiran Sowani*
Ramnivas Ruia Junior College, Mumbai
Maharashtra
Life Sciences 2008 Vishakh Hegde
M E S Kishore Kendra, Bangalore
Karnataka
2008 Divya Venkataraman & Neha Kulkarni*
Modern English School, Mumbai
Maharashtra
2006 Mukund Tiwari
St Aloysius High School, Kanpur
Uttar Pradesh
2003 Samhita Anand Rao & Nikhil Mukund Thatte
LES BVN Sule Guruji English Medium Secondary School, Mumbai
Maharashtra
2003 Varun Kumar Nagaraja*
Sri Vani Public School, Bangalore
Karnataka
2002 Madhav Pathak
Joy Higher Secondary School, Jabalpur
Madhya Pradesh

32
Subject Category Year Participant

Mathematics 2006 Vakeel Ahmed & Amar Deep

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Meerut
Uttar Pradesh
2005 E Vindhya Revathi Vyjayanthi
Takshasila Public School, Hyderabad
Andhra Pradesh
2004 Sameer Yeleswarapu*
St Francis de Sales High School, Hyderabad
Andhra Pradesh
Physics 2007 Aavishkar Apoorva Patel
National Public School, Bangalore
Karnataka
2007 Tanay David DeLima & Nikhil Khosla*
Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Mumbai
Maharashtra
2006 Hamsa Padmanabhan*
Kendriya Vidyalaya, Ganeshkhind, Pune
Maharashtra
2005 Raghavendra G
S B O A Schools and Junior College, Chennai
Tamil Nadu
2005 Prahlad G Menon & Shanda Prasad P N
National Public School, Bangalore
Karnataka
2004 Amruth B R*
Sadvidya Composite Pre University College, Mysore
Karnataka
Plant Sciences 2008 Lavanya H Giriraj*
Jawahar Navodaya, Mandya
Karnataka
2008 Riddhi Dasani & Pooja Dholakiya*
Late Shree S G Dholakiya Memorial High School, Rajkot
Gujarat
2005 Mallika Desai & Suvrata Desai*
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, South Goa
Goa
2004 Harshini Ramachandran
Shri B S Mootha Girls Senior Secondary School, Chennai
Tamil Nadu
Zoology 2006 Kanishka Tiwary & Varun Mittal*
Sanatan Dharam Public School, New Delhi
Delhi
2005 Shaarika S
Kendriya Vidyalaya, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala

33
The National Winners
By State

State Participants Year Subject Category

Andhra Pradesh E Vindhya Revathi Vyjayanthi 2005 Mathematics

Takshasila Public School, Hyderabad
Sameer Yeleswarapu* 2004 Mathematics
St Francis de Sales High School, Hyderabad
Madhurima Benakareddy* 1999 Bio-Chemistry
St Augustine’s School, Anantapur
Delhi Kanishka Tiwary & Varun Mittal* 2006 Zoology
Sanatan Dharam Public School, New Delhi
Riddhiman Yadava & Mihir Tandon* 2005 Engineering
Modern School, New Delhi
Aadhar Mittal* 2003 Engineering
Montfort School, New Delhi
Karan Sharma* 2003 Engineering
Apeejay School, New Delhi
Anupama Bhadoria & Chetna Dudeja 2002 Botany
St Anthony’s Senior Secondary School, New Delhi
Goa Mallika Desai & Suvrata Desai* 2005 Plant Sciences
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, South Goa
Gujarat Riddhi Dasani & Pooja Dholakiya* 2008 Plant Sciences
Late Shree S G Dholakiya Memorial High School, Rajkot
Karnataka Vishakh Hegde 2008 Life Sciences
M E S Kishore Kendra, Bangalore
Lavanya H Giriraj* 2008 Plant Sciences
Jawahar Navodaya, Mandya
Aavishkar Apoorva Patel 2007 Physics
National Public School, Bangalore
Anitha P R 2005 Botany
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Mandya
Prathik George 2005 Computer Science
Kendriya Vidyalaya No 1, Bangalore
Siddharth G Menon & Rohit Mohan 2005 Engineering
National Public School, Bangalore
Prahlad G Menon & Shanda Prasad P N 2005 Physics
National Public School, Bangalore
Amruth B R* 2004 Physics
Sadvidya Composite Pre University College, Mysore
Varun Kumar Nagaraja* 2003 Life Sciences
Sri Vani Public School, Bangalore
Kerala Swathi Soman* 2006 Environmental Science
Christ Nagar Senior Secondary School, Thiruvananthapuram
Shaarika S 2005 Zoology
Kendriya Vidyalaya, Thiruvananthapuram
Madhya Pradesh Madhav Pathak 2002 Life Sciences
Joy Higher Secondary School, Jabalpur
Samip Agarwal & Sarvesh Rathore* 2000 Biology
Christ Church Boys Senior Secondary School, Bhopal

*Winner at ISEF

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State Participants Year Subject Category

Maharashtra Swathi Soman* 2008 Environmental Science

Bhavan’s B P Vidyamandir, Nagpur
Divya Venkataraman & Neha Kulkarni* 2008 Life Sciences
Modern English School, Mumbai
Vaishnavi Vishwanathan* 2007 Botany
Modern English School, Mumbai
Rishin Behl* 2007 Engineering
Kendriya Vidyalaya, Mankhurd, Mumbai
Sarvesh Nevatia & Rehan Netarwala 2007 Engineering
Jai Hind College, Mumbai
Tanay David DeLima & Nikhil Khosla* 2007 Physics
Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Mumbai
Hamsa Padmanabhan* 2006 Physics
Kendriya Vidyalaya, Ganeshkhind, Pune
Mrunmaye V Math 2005 Bio-Chemistry
Indian Education Society, Mumbai
Zeeshan Ali Sayed & Rishi Mahavir Patil* 2004 Bio-Chemistry
Shreerang Vidyalaya, Mumbai
Shriram Jayraman & Srividya Swaminathan* 2004 Environmental Science
Modern English School, Mumbai
Bhushan Prakash Mahadik* 2003 Chemistry
Fr Agnel Junior College, Mumbai
Maithili P Dalvi* 2003 Environmental Science
Smt Sulochanadevi Singhania School, Mumbai
Samhita Anand Rao & Nikhil Mukund Thatte 2003 Life Sciences
LES BVN Sule Guruji English Medium Secondary School, Mumbai
Shraddha Mangesh Telli & Shrushti Mukesh Shah* 2002 Chemistry
J B Vachha High School, Mumbai
Rahul Shah 2002 Computer Science
Cathedral & John Connon School, Mumbai
Yash Vasant Joshi* 2001 Engineering
St Xavier’s High School, Mumbai
Bharat Suresh Mhatre & Amit Kiran Sowani* 2001 Environmental Science
Ramnivas Ruia Junior College, Mumbai
Orissa Apurv Mishra* 2006 Engineering
D A V Public School, Bhubaneshwar
Vaibhav Gupta 2002 Environmental Science
Delhi Public School, Rourkela
Punjab Mridul 2005 Engineering
C A K Fertilizer Model Senior Secondary School, Nangal
Rajasthan Akshat Singhal* 2002 Computer Science
St Anselm’s Pink City School, Jaipur
Tamil Nadu Ram Raghunath* 2007 Computer Science
Sishya, Chennai
Raghavendra G 2005 Physics
S B O A Schools and Junior College, Chennai
Kanishka Raajkumar* 2004 Computer Science
Shree Baldevdas Kikani Vidyamandir Matriculation
Higher Secondary School, Coimbatore
Harshini Ramachandran 2004 Plant Sciences
Shri B S Mootha Girls Senior Secondary School, Chennai
P Senthalir & S Sharanya* 2003 Botany
Avila Convent Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Coimbatore
Sangameswaran Tejeshwar Tandon* 2003 Computer Science
S B O A Schools and Junior College, Chennai

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 State Participants Year Subject Category

Uttar Pradesh Ambud Sharma* 2008 Computer Science

Sunbeam School Bhagwanpur, Varanasi
Mukund Tiwari 2006 Life Sciences
St Aloysius High School, Kanpur
Vakeel Ahmed & Amar Deep 2006 Mathematics
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Meerut
Malavika Tiwari* 2005 Engineering
St Mary’s Convent High School, Kanpur
Ruchira Bajpai* 2001 Bio-Chemistry
St Joseph’s School, Shakti Nagar

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Participating in IRIS

Who is eligible?
If you have an idea that is original and innovative, and yo belong to any of the categories below, you are eligible to participate
in IRIS, either as an individual or in a team of two:
• Category I Classes 5 to 8
• Category II Classes 9 to 12

Research-based projects alone qualify to participate at IRIS. Hence, your project must be original in content and should be
substantiated with data collected from experimentation, if appropriate.

In case of a team project, if you have worked as a larger group, two persons should be nominated to represent your project.
If selected for IRIS, the other members of your group need to give a No Objection Certificate to the nominees.

Projects selected from Affiliated Fairs, together with shortlisted Direct Entry projects, participate at the IRIS National Fair.

Subject Categories
Currently, there are 10 subject categories for which entries are accepted for IRIS:
1. Botany/Plant Sciences
2. Biochemistry
3. Computer Science
4. Chemistry
5. Environmental Science
6. Earth Science/Space Science
7. Engineering
8. Mathematics
9. Physics
10. Zoology/Animal Sciences

Affiliated Fairs
Various Science Fairs in the country are affiliated with IRIS:
• Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS)
• Central Board of Secondary Education
• Union Territory and State-level Science Fairs organised by:Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka,
Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan.
• National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC)
Projects are selected from these Science Fairs based on the judging criteria applicable to that particular year. These projects
must be research based projects, and simple models of existing scientific mechanisms or principles are not allowed.

Direct Entries
In the case of direct entries, students apply for the IRIS Handbook and Registration Kit.

The Handbook can be obtained through your school, at www.iris.educationinindia.net/iris.htm, or through IRIS 2008 workshops.
Students respond with the Participation Form, Project Details, and Project Synopses by a specified date, usually 31st August.

37
Scientific Review Committee
A Scientific Review Committee (SRC) screens and shortlists projects, from direct entries as well as those from Affiliated Fair.
The SRC is comprised of senior scientists from distinguished institutions like the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
(TIFR), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), The
Energy and Resource Institute (TERI), and Science City-Kolkata, as well as highly qualified technologists from industry. In 2008,
almost 60 professionals from academia and industry have volunteered their time to scan, interview and award India’s most
promising young scientists.

The members of the SRC take great pride in their voluntary work.. The judges analyse each project with much deliberation, and
give valuable feedback to the participants, thus greatly contributing to the overall educational experience of the competition.

National Fair
Projects shortlisted by the SRC are presented at the IRIS National Fairs, usually held in December. Project improvement kits are
sent to all the students selected by the judges. Online chat sessions with scientists affiliated to IRIS also help shortlisted
students for the National Fairs resolve project related queries and further improve their projects.

The winners of the National Fairs undergo two coaching sessions with the scientists to gear up for their participation at the
international level. Winners from the National Fairs may be invited to participate at Intel ISEF, held in USA in May each year.

For more information on IRIS, and how to participate, please contact:

IRIS Seema Gupta
C/o Direxions Marketing Solutions Pvt Ltd Confederation of Indian Industry
Hansraj Pragji Building Plot No 249, Sector 18, Udyog Vihar Phase IV
83-C Dr E Moses Road Gurgaon 122015
Worli Phone: 0124-401 4044
Mumbai 400 018 Fax: 0124-401 4080
Phone: 022-2496 5278 Email: seema.gupta@ciionline.org
Fax: 022-2496 1622
Email: iris@bom.direm.com

Joyeeta Das D K Pande

Intel Technology India Pvt Ltd Rashtriya Vigyan Evam Prodyogiki Sanchar Parishad
23-56 P, Devarabeesanahalli Department of Science and Technology
Outer Ring Road Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road
Varthur Hobli New Delhi 110016
Bangalore South Taluk Tel: 011-2686 6675
Bangalore 560037 Fax: 011-2696 0207
Email: joyeeta.das@intel.com Email: dkp@nic.in, sanuj@nic.in

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39
www.intel.com/education/in

www.educationinindia.net

©
Copyright 2008 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Intel, the Intel logo, and Intel Education Initiative are trademarks of Intel Corporation
in the U.S. and other countries. *Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others. 1108/JD/DMB/PP/321116-001IN

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