TEDxGateway: Interview with Krtin Nithiyanandam

TEDxGateway will be held on December 4, 2016 at N.C.P.A in Nariman Point, Mumbai. One of the speakers is a young scientist named Krtin Nithiyanandam . His love for science started when he underwent a series of operations. Since then, he as been fascinated by the breakthrough technologies in healthcare.

He is currently focusing is finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer. His initial research involved the synthesis of a novel bispecific antibody intended for the earlier diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease received international recognition as he was awarded the Scientific American Innovator Award at the international Google Science Fair 2015 held at Googleplex in Mountain View, California. We had a chance to interview Dam and here’s what he had to say:

You’ve been diving into many spheres of science from an early age--what do you think can and should be done to spark scientific interest in young minds?
I strongly feel that science is simply a system of asking questions and find answers through experimentation. I think that students should be encouraged to ask questions and be creative and collaborative - but more than that, students should also be motivated and encouraged to act upon their questions and turn their ideas into realities. However, naturally everyone will have their own interests and nobody should be forced to enter a career of science if it doesn’t interest them. We should be encouraging people to explore what fascinates and inspires them instead of blatantly telling students what they should or shouldn’t be doing.

Apart from the cure to Alzheimer's disease, which other medical challenges--according to you--do you think, stand on the verge of a breakthrough?
I’m a huge fan of computer science and I firmly believe that the next breakthroughs in healthcare and medicine will be done through a combination of hard science and cutting edge technology. The strides we are taking to bring an end to diseases such as cancer and diabetes with the help of nanotechnology and smart medicine is really exciting and will open incredible new possibilities for the future of medicine.

Tell us about some of the subjects you’re most passionate about, and how do devote time to pursuing all of these areas given your existing responsibilities at school?
I am currently taking mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics at A-Level. Naturally, I find biology and chemistry the most fascinating but I have also been taking an interest in other disciplines of academia such as computer science. Conducting research usually has to take place during school holidays whenever I have the freest time. However, what I do with my research can also benefit me during my A-Level so sacrificing time to pursue my interests hasn’t been a problem.

What message would you like to leave for school students everywhere?
Always stay curious and ask questions. School is a place for you to learn and being curious allows you to learn more than any textbook can teach you. Explore what interests you and never forget to ask questions.