Adithya Narayan of Trivandrum International School on Saturday received The Hindu Young Scientist–South India 2014 award for his research exhibit on robotics.
He will get an opportunity to visit the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa). “I want to become a scientist in artificial intelligence,” he said.
Raghav Anand of PSBB-Nungambakkam was the runner-up. He will go to Malaysia on a school visit programme. “I developed a walking stick for the blind. The sensors convey messages on obstacles to the user,” said Raghav Anand.
Speaking at the function, Governor K. Rosaiah said India must plan ahead, exploring the demographic transition.
“India will be the world’s youngest country with more than 64 per cent of its population in the working age group by 2020. In the field of scientific research, we have made rapid strides. But we have a long way to go,” he said.
“The historic epic of Mahabharata talks of spacecrafts and advanced weapons and missiles. Usage of spacecrafts is not new to us,” said Mr. Rosaiah. “This initiative to organise workshops in aero space and aviation management deserves commendation.”
Elizabeth Varghese, chancellor of Hindustan University, Padur, where the event was organised, stressed upon student innovation to cope with the challenge of rapid advances in technology. “This event will motivate students. As many as 987 young scientists between the ages of 14 and 17 enrolled for this talent hunt. They worked on aeronautical, environmental, electrical, medical and space sciences, electronics, and robotics,” said K. Srimathy, Director, Space Kidz India.
The model presentation was evaluated by a panel from IIT-Madras, Anna University and Hindustan University. The top 70 students exhibited their models and the winners were announced on Saturday.
One of the finalists, M. Karthikeyan of BMC Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Tuticorin, said he wanted to generate wealth for the nation using innovation as a tool. He had developed an internet-controlled remote car.
Damini Chandramohan, another finalist, from Chennai Public School, had developed an advanced nurse aid robot to support patients in hospital.
