IRIS Winner

During the 20-24 January 2021, the Initiative for Research and Innovation in STEM (IRIS)  National Fair was held virtually. The IRIS was organised by Exstemplar, an organization that integrates STEM initiatives with real-life challenges. The event was a national event for students all across India to participate, and the event was open to anyone who registered to the fair. Approximately 25,000 people registered, one of which was TISB Grade 12 student, Tanvi, who won the Grand Award for her project in the Behavioural and Social Sciences category. We reached out to Tanvi to learn more about the fair as well as her contribution. 

I really loved the process of my research and wanted to take it further into a science fair environment” – Tanvi, Grade 12

IRIS is a science fair held at the national level with local branches coming together to compete During the fair there were four rounds, where scientists and experts were participating and judging to select the finalists. Additionally, experts from different areas of science and technology were guest speakers during the virtual fair. Tanvi’s research was in the area of cognitive neuroscience and  about face-blindness. “There is still a lot to be learned about the memory systems of the brain and face recognition mechanism is also a new area”, explains Tanvi who believes that her project offers insight into new ways of looking into face blindness.

As a winner in the IRIS. Tanvi has been selected to go further on to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in 2021. At ISEF, finalists will compete for nearly $5 million in awards, prizes and scholarships with 1800 participants from over 80 countries, regions, and territories around the world. “I’m really looking forward to seeing and learning about the other projects, particularly the neuroscience projects”, says Tanvi who is hopeful that she will be able to contribute to help diagnose it in patients in the future.