Sia Godika, a 17-year-old girl from Bengaluru, has recently made headlines by winning the Breakthrough Junior Challenge 2023. This global science video competition, founded by tech moguls such as Google co-founder Sergey Brin and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, aims to inspire creative thinking and communication skills in the fields of life sciences, physics, and mathematics.
Sia’s winning video titled Yamanaka Factors explains the discoveries of Nobel laureate Shinya Yamanaka on cellular reprogramming. In her video, Sia plays an elderly woman who transforms into a young person, showcasing how Yamanaka’s induced pluripotent stem cell technology can turn back time on cells. This breakthrough has huge implications for treating age-related and degenerative diseases.
Sia was inspired by her own grandparents’ battles with cancer and neurological issues. She hopes to contribute to research that can make cellular age reversal a reality.
Reversing cellular ageing can proactively prevent several debilitating diseases, says Sia.
https://breakthroughjuniorchallenge.org/
This is not the first time a member of Sia’s family has won this prestigious award. Her brother Samay Godika was a winner six years ago. Sia’s video was selected from over 2,400 submissions from more than 100 countries.
How Was It Judged?
After two rounds of judging, Sia’s video was chosen as one of the 30 semifinalists. These 30 videos were then put up for a popular vote on the Breakthrough Prize Facebook page. Sia’s video received the most votes, making her the winner of a $250,000 college scholarship.
In addition to the scholarship, Sia’s science teacher Arka Moulik will receive $50,000 and a new $100,000 science lab designed by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Inspiration Behind the Video
Sia says her own journey in creating this video was both creative and analytical. She spent weeks researching and reading journal articles on cellular age reversal while also exercising her creativity in writing scripts and designing sets.
One of the most memorable moments for Sia was when she created a mountain depicting the Waddington model. She used coconuts from her grandparents’ backyard and other household items to create it. However, after weeks of hard work, it was destroyed by rain. But this only pushed Sia to create an even better mountain for her video.
Celebrating Young Minds in Science
The Breakthrough Junior Challenge not only recognizes and rewards young minds in science but also encourages them to think creatively and communicate their ideas effectively. It is an opportunity for teenagers like Sia to showcase their passion for STEM education and inspire others to pursue their interests.
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Charudatta Pathak was a student at St. Aloysius High School in Bhusawal, established in 1874, making it one of India’s oldest convent institutions. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from SSVPS College of Engineering, Dhule in 1995, demonstrating exceptional academic achievement. Thereafter, he launched his career as a CNC programmer in a toolroom. He has utilized FANUC, Deckel, Maho, and Mikron controllers to operate 2-axis and 3-axis machines for the fabrication of jigs, fixtures, dies, and molds. He commenced his career as an academic in 1996, when he assumed the role of lecturer at SSVPS College of Engineering, Dhule. Additionally, he earned his post-graduate degree in CAD/CAM from L. D. College of Engineering, Ahmedabad, in 2000, and then acquired a Ph.D. from COEP in 2011 while concurrently engaged in teaching. Until 2023, he occupied many academic roles, including lecturer, assistant professor, professor, dean, principal, director, and vice chancellor at both public and private universities throughout India. From 2008 to 2010, he served as the project lead in the CAE department of a European multinational firm. During his 28-year professional tenure, he identified a need for dependable books targeted at students in grades 8 to 12, particularly for nascent career planning. He founded ENTECH Digital Magazine, a free monthly publication available on entechonline.com and magzter.com. Teens with a strong interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) who aspire to pursue careers in these fields may find ENTECH Digital Magazine beneficial.
