A steel city girl is learning ways to find solutions to global problems at Yale University in Connecticut, United States.

All of 17, Smriti Prakash, a Class XII science student of DAV Public School, Jamshedpur, is currently attending a 14-day Yale Young Global Scholars programme on Sustainable Development and Social Entrepreneurship at Yale University.

The programme, which started on June 19 and would conclude on July 2, gives Plus II students an opportunity to work in one of the historic residential colleges of Yale and grab a scholarship of 5,000USD. Smriti, a resident of Sonari, is one of the 200 students selected out of 2,500 applicants from across the globe.

The entrepreneurship programme targets students interested in exploring innovative solutions to greatest challenges faced by the planet right now.

"The most interesting aspect of the programme is that it brings students from over 142 nations under one roof. Besides lectures and seminars, we have also been asked to make a project based on any one sustainable goals of United Nations," Smriti told The Telegraph over a chat on WhatsApp.

Smriti, who scored 98.2 per cent in her ICSE exams, has been a national debate champ and has participated in Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths in 2014. She was also the first runner-up at the Leadership Challenge organised by Hill Top School in 2015.

Although a pure science student, Smriti wants to pursue a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) course along with economics for her graduation.

"I want to go to a liberal college that gives me the freedom to choose my subjects," Smriti, who is preparing for SAT, said.

True, future global leaders can't be hemmed in.