17-year-old Sia Godika from Bengaluru has emerged victorious in the prestigious Breakthrough Junior Challenge 2023, a globally acclaimed science-video competition often hailed as the ‘Oscars of Science.’
Sia’s triumph not only marks a personal milestone but also stands as a testament to India’s flourishing young talent in the field of science.
The Breakthrough Junior Challenge, an integral part of the Breakthrough Prizes initiated by luminaries such as Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, Russian-born Israeli billionaire Yuri Milner and wife Julia, and US entrepreneur Anne Wojcicki, attracted over 2,400 submissions from students in more than 100 countries by June 25, 2023.
The rigorous selection process involved two rounds of judging – a mandatory peer review and an evaluation panel.
By September, the field was narrowed down to 30 semifinalists who engaged in a Popular Vote on the Breakthrough Prize Facebook page.
The public played a pivotal role in choosing the finalists by liking, sharing, or reacting positively to their submissions.
Throughout the 15-day contest, the 30 videos collectively reached over 5 lakh people on the Breakthrough Prize Facebook and YouTube pages, serving as an educational catalyst and inspiring minds worldwide.
The 15 finalists underwent scrutiny by a selection committee, consisting of distinguished scientists from various US universities, NASA, and chaired by Pete Worden, chairman of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation and executive director of Breakthrough Initiatives.
Sia Godika’s award-winning video, titled “Yamanaka Factors,” explores the discoveries of Nobel laureate Shinya Yamanaka on cellular reprogramming.
In the video, Sia portrays an elderly woman undergoing age reversal, vividly illustrating Yamanaka’s induced pluripotent stem cell technology’s ability to “turn back time” on cells.
As the victor, Sia will receive a $250,000 college scholarship for her outstanding video presentation. Her science teacher, Arka Moulik, will be awarded $50,000, and the prize includes a new $100,000 science lab designed by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Sia Godika is set to receive her well-deserved prize alongside the 2024 Breakthrough Prize laureates at an upcoming ceremony in Los Angeles this spring.
Her achievement not only highlights her creative and analytical prowess but also underscores the significance of nurturing and celebrating young minds in the pursuit of scientific excellence.
Sia expressed, “It was a creative and analytical journey. I read through journal articles and watched videos on the science of cellular age reversal. It was a riveting journey of discovery. At the same time, I was also able to exercise my creativity — whether it was in writing scripts, directing scenes or designing sets.”
Sia’s win stands as a beacon, inspiring future generations and solidifying India’s position on the global scientific stage.