He's a Class XII student of Carmel Junior College, Jamshedpur, but you can call him a Yalie. Almost, as budding scientist Prashaant Ranganathan (17) has been chosen for the Yale Young Global Scholars programme at Yale University in Connecticut, US, a two-week-long session for outstanding pre-collegiate students across the world.
Prashaant was selected among thousands of applicants from 150 countries across the globe for the prestigious programme which includes a 5,000USD scholarship and a chance to stay and work in one of Yale's historic residential colleges.
But, the brilliant schoolboy is no stranger to fame. Prashaant has been among the top 20 innovators in Google Science Fair, won a science contest organised by IIT-Guwahati and been the all-India champion in IRIS (Initiative for Research and Innovation in Science) by Intel Corporation.
A pure science student, Prashaant however applied for the biological and biomedical science session for the Yale programme as his original work lies in demonstrating how iron oxide enhances chlorophyll and speeds up photosynthesis in plants. The boy who idolises American scientist Norman Ernest Borlaug is also working to reform the molecular structure of pesticides to reduce its harmful effect on plants.
Yale selects only around 200 students from around the world every year for the biological and biomedical science session.
"I applied (Yale Young Global Scholars programme) just a few hours before the application process closed in January. I am happy to be selected as it will be a huge learning experience. There will be sessions by professors of Yale University and we will also work on projects," said Prashaant, who received confirmation of his selection on March 28 for the programme to be held between July 27 and August 9.
Before this, Prashaant will also travel to Los Angeles in May to participate in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), a fully sponsored trip from Intel for winning IRIS 2016.
But the boy who's happiest inside his personal lab at his Sakchi home doesn't make a big deal of all this. "I experiment not to win contests but because it is interesting and findings can have a larger effect on mankind. I started with small experiments but using iron in plants caught people's attention and helped me get selected in the Yale Young Global Scholars programme too. But, the selection criteria was more about analysing and assessing yourself," Prashaant said.
The son of CSIR-NML scientist S. Ranganathan and homemaker Vijayalaxmi is also confident of managing his Class XII school schedule despite his upcoming trips to the Intel fair and Yale, unfazed by the pressure of this being his "ISC board year". Scoring 95 per cent in ICSE, he believes marks don't matter but also that he is regular in studies and wouldn't disappoint his teachers.
His teachers are also confident. "I know Prashaant since LKG. A very sincere child, he has been seriously working on his goals while managing his studies well. What matters more is his bigger success and not his exam percentage," said Paramjeet Kaur, his Hindi teacher.
Do you agree that marks shouldn't matter for original thinkers like Prashaant? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com
