Intel International Science and Engineering Fair Features Three Bay Area Contestants

The youngest of the three featured contestants, Aradhana Sinha , a freshman at Salinas High School, first contended for the $75,000 prize at the mere age of 13.

From May 4th-9th of this year, Intel’s International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), held at the San Jose Convention Center and other locations in the city, attracted over 1,500 brilliant students — all uniting for the finals of the competition. Competing in over 17 fields of scientific study, these talented teenagers have flown thousands of miles and done hundreds of hours of research to present their ideas. A large percentage of the projects are being patented. Hosting the ISEF this year in San Jose was an honor in itself; however, the larger feat is that the Bay Area featured three members contending for the $75,000 prize.

One of the three contestants was Harikrishna Rallapalli of Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton. Harikrishna’s project focused on his passion for biomedical engineering. “I experienced issues with cancer in my family, so I decided to research the matter,” he explained. “Current cancer treatment methods are unspecific with huge collateral damage,” Harikrishna says. His product is a microscope which plays off basic biological principles, involving luminescence and detection of green fluorescent protein when attached to a stem cell. More important than the logistics of his project, however, are his perceived applications. Rallapalli utilized all his resources when creating the microscope — lowering product costs from $1,000 to around $400. “I found alternatives,” he explained when asked about cost efficiency. He found a filter that, in the scientific community would cost between $400-$1000, by getting the cooperation of a film video lighting company. Rallapalli hopes to recreate his product, and then market it to schools. “It’s increased resources, for a lower cost.” Although his future sales are uncertain, his academic future is set. Rallapalli plans to pursue a degree in Biomedical Engineering.

Ritik Malhotra of Lynbrook High School in San Jose shares a similar story of inspiration. Malhotra’s strong personal relationships introduced him into his idea. “My grandfather, as well as my partner Sudi’s grandfather, both suffered from and died of, lung cancer.” This tragedy inspired the team’s idea — a database consisting of genetic arrays—essentially, a way to detect cancer before symptoms are shown. “The problem is that by the time cancer is detected it’s too late.” Malhotra's project helps determine which genes cause cancer. If those genes are detected, they can be removed from the sequence — thus preventing progression. Although Malhotra admits that charting genes and accumulating a large, universal database will be a long process, he states its potential. “This is a foundation that opens up scientific possibility to the whole cancer world. It can open up new research and establish new information.” Malhotra’s team project took second place.

The youngest of the three featured contestants, Aradhana Sinha , a freshman at Salinas High School, first contended for the $75,000 prize at the mere age of 13. “Age doesn’t matter. Don’t give up, just do what’s fun,” she testifies. Sinha utilized knowledge yielded from her freshman Biology class as a base of information for her product, which involves testing the plant viruses Lettuce Necrotic Stunt Virus (LNSV) and Tomato Bushy Stunt Virus (TBSV) against plants in Salinas Valley. The LNSV stunts the growth and damages the leaves of the lettuce plant, while TBSV causes damage to the leaves and fruit of the tomato plant. The Salinas Valley is California’s food bowl, and use of Sinha's research is highly practical for the protection of crops in her region. Her findings have already been shared with the United States Department of Agriculture.

Each of the three contestants brings unique attributes to the table. Despite their different innovations, the three share their motivation for change and passion to inspire the scientific community. Each contestant expressed a desire to help or solve a societal issue using scientific knowledge — and although the science fair hosted only one winner, it housed three students sure to impact the future.