NASA Aeronautics Essay Contest

In keeping with the many accomplishments of its students, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, USA) has awarded Yashraj Khaitan of Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Mumbai the second prize in the Aeronautics Essay Contest to describe "Air Transportation in 2057." Yashraj is pursuing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program and his essay was on the influence of successful implementation of supersonic and hypersonic technologies, 50 years down the line, on space and air travel.

As per a NASA press release of 10th May, "teens from across the United States and six foreign countries submitted 88 essays in four categories: U.S. individual, U.S. team, international individual and international team. In all, 14 teams and 75 individual students submitted essays to NASA's Fundamental Aeronautics Program, which sponsored the contest."

"The essays were reviewed by 24 NASA managers and engineers from four NASA centers: Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif., Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, and Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va. They based their scores on how well students focused their essays and how well they addressed four basic criteria: informed content, creativity and imagination, organization and writing."

"The second and third place individual international awards went to senior level students from India. Second place went to Yashraj Khaitan from the Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai, and third place was awarded to Ketan Sharma from the Amity International School in Haryana."

Yashraj has been a star performer all along both in academics and co-curricular activities. He has taken part in a number of technology festivals and exhibited his scientific and technological acumen. He has also participated in National Level Squash tournaments.

Yashraj Khaitan

The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2007:

In the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2007 (Intel ISEF) held in Alberque, New Mexico during May 13-19, 2007, two students of Dhirubhai Ambani International School - Tanay Delima and Nikhil Khosla - have won the 4th prize in the "Group Projects" category of this prestigious prize. These IGCSE class 9 students were representing India, after they won the best prize in Physics Group Category of the Intel India Science Fair 2006 for their projects titled: "A Novel Advanced Brake Light Warning System to prevent Vehicular Tailgating Accidents". There were 1400 students participating from around the world and the awards were given in individual as well as group categories.

The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) is the world's largest pre-college science competition that provides an opportunity for the best young scientists from around the globe to share ideas, showcase cutting-edge science projects, and compete for a number of awards in scholarships, tuition grants and scientific field trips. Students that compete in Intel ISEF emerge from a worldwide field of several million science fair participants. They compete with more than 65,000 students at more than 500 regional Intel ISEF affiliated science fairs around the world to win the right to attend the Intel ISEF.

The Intel India Science Fair 2006 received a total of 1240 project synopses from across the country. Upon evaluation of the synopses by its Scientific Review Committee, projects that were innovative and met IRIS criteria were short-listed and selected for the National Fair. A total of 185 projects were short-listed this year, of which two from Dhirubhai Ambani International School eventually made to the final round of selection. It is one of these two projects that won the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2007 prize.

The Dhirubhai Ambani International School encourages its students to participate in a variety of competitions and scientific fairs within India and worldwide, which helps foster their versatile interests and their urge to excel in many ways.

Tanay Delima	Nikhil Khosla