Indian-American Syamantak Payra wins Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award

Indian-American Syamantak Payra, a 15-year-old from Friendswood, Texas, in May 2016 won Intel Foundation Young Scientist Awards of 50000 US dollar. He was awarded for developing a low-cost electronically aided knee brace that allows an individual with a weakened leg to walk more naturally.

He shared the 50000 US dollars award with Kathy Liu of Salt lake City, Utah who was awarded for developing an alternative battery component that could significantly improve battery performance and safety.

The first prize in the form of Gordon E. Moore Award of 75000 US dollars went to Han Jie (Austin) Wang. He was awarded for developing microbial fuel cells (MFCs) that more efficiently convert organic waste into electricity.

The award was given by Intel Corporation and the Society for Science & the Public at the 2016 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair on 13 May 2016 at Phoenix, a city in Arizona.

These Awards were given in 22 different categories of which some include among others:

• Rajeev Jha from Honolulu, Hawaii: Was awarded in the field of Behavioral and Social Sciences

• Swetha Revanur from San Jose, California: Was awarded in the field of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics

• Tiasha Joardar from Plano, Texas: Was awarded in the field of Energy: Physical

• Translational Medical Science Prashant Godishala and Brennan Clark from Golden Valley, Minnesota: Were awarded in the field of Translational Medical Science

Intel International Science and Engineering Fair

Intel International Science and Engineering Fair is the world’s largest high school science research competition. It honours the world’s most promising student scientists, inventors and engineers.

Finalists are selected annually from hundreds of affiliated fairs. The 2016 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair featured more than 1700 young scientists selected from 419 affiliate fairs in 77 countries, regions and territories. The Intel Foundation also awarded a 1000 US dollar grant to each winner’s school and to the affiliated fair they represent.

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