New Delhi: Driven by her grandparents’ battle with cancer, Bengaluru student Sia Godika, 17, created a science video that explained the role of pluripotent stem cells in turning back cellular ageing.
The Neev Academy student’s effort has now won her a $400,000 prize in the Breakthrough Junior Challenge — which is designed to inspire creative thinking and communications skills around fundamental concepts in the life sciences, physics, and mathematics.
Sia’s prize includes a $250,000 college scholarship, $50,000 for her teacher Arka Moulik, and $100,000 for a state-of-the-art science lab for her school.
Sia will receive the honour alongside other 2024 Breakthrough Prize laureates at a ceremony in Los Angeles this spring.
The sister of another Breakthrough winner Samay Godika, Sia called the recognition “an unbelievable honour”, expressing her gratitude to the organisers.
Sia said her grandparents were battling cancer and that she wanted to learn everything about the latest science to help finding cures. “Reversing cellular ageing can proactively prevent several debilitating diseases. I’m determined to contribute to research that can make this future a reality,” she said.
Titled ‘Yamanaka Factors’, the 17-year-old’s video is based on the discoveries made by 2013 Breakthrough prize winner and Nobel Laureate Shinya Yamanaka. The Japanese stem cell researcher identified genetic factors that “turn back the clock” on adult cells.
Incidentally, each cell usually starts out as an undifferentiated stem cell, which then undergoes changes to turn into specialised cells — like muscle cells or nerve cells.
Until 2013, it was thought that this change was irreversible, but Yamanaka found they could be restored to their original youthful, undifferentiated state.
The discovery of what came to be known as “induced pluripotent stem cells” has significant implications for the treatment of degenerative diseases.
Of Sia’s video, Yamanaka said in a statement: “It’s exciting to see a talented young student finding out about my work and explaining it to others in such a clear and creative way. My congratulations to Sia, and I hope she continues her journey in the life sciences, where so much waits to be discovered.”
The annual, global science video competition for high-school students was founded in 2015 by entrepreneur and scientist Yuri Milner and his wife Julia. It was founded by Sergey Brin, Priscilla Chan, Anne Wojcicki and Mark Zuckerberg. The awards fuel interest in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) streams and support STEM careers.
This year, more than 2,400 students from over 100 countries submitted videos. After two rounds of judging — first, a mandatory peer review, followed by an evaluation panel — the field was narrowed in September to 30 semifinalists.
These 30 competed in a Popular Vote on the Breakthrough Prize Facebook page, where the public were invited to choose their favourite semifinalist submission by liking, sharing, or posting a positive reaction.
Collectively, during the 15-day contest, the 30 videos reached more than 5,00,000 people on the Breakthrough Prize Facebook and YouTube pages, helping to teach and inspire minds across the globe.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)