The science graduate from Fergusson College is the first grand award winner at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), where the prize money comprises $3,000. She was honoured by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lincoln Lab by getting a minor star named after them.
Not everyone can become a star. But this 20-year-old is fortunate enough to share her name with a planet!
“More than me, it is my family, friends, teachers and college mates who are excited about the honour. It is a nice feeling altogether,’’ says city girl Hamsa Padmanabhan, who has a minor planet (number 21575) named after her.
The science graduate from Fergusson College is the first grand award winner at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), where the prize money comprises $3,000.
The two grand award winners in each category are honoured by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lincoln Lab by getting a minor star named after them.
But it was not science that fascinated Hamsa. “In fact, I was inclined towards literature, art, music and dance. Then in standard IX, I started pursuing advanced mathematics from the Bhaskaracharya Institute of Mathematics. It exposed me to the wonders of this field. It was a lovely experience. Similar other experiences in the field of maths and science got the ball of ‘extra thinking’ rolling for me,’’ she said.
The scientific officer for public outreach programme at the Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Arvind Paranjpye, said that with the advent of electronic detector CCD, the number of minor planets and asteroids discovered has increased.
“The first asteroid discovered by Indians from India was on February 17, 1988. The MIT lab has discovered more than two lakh asteroids, and it has started naming minor planets in the name of grand award winners at ISEF,’’ he said.
Hamsa also has the ISEF 2006 to her credit. “The whole experience of selecting the project work, writing the hypothesis, experimenting and analysing conclusions was exhilarating and marvellous,’’ said the daughter of well-known Indian theoretical physicist, Thanu Padmanabhan.
Asked about her future plans, she said, “I am not clear about the field as of now. But I have decided to do my research in theoretical physics. I want to make my career in it.’’ For the moment, she is excited about her big achievement.
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