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Artash Nath, Stanford University

This announcement comes a few months late, but I am beyond thrilled to share that I have graduated as a TOPS student from Bloor Collegiate Institute in Toronto and have been admitted to the Stanford University Undergraduate Class of 2028! 🌟

As an inaugural Rise Scholar, and after an incredible journey through high school, I am eagerly looking forward to the next chapter at Stanford, where I will be pursuing Computer Science alongside Environmental Studies and Neuroscience.

Over the past decade, I have immersed myself in building robots, rovers, rockets, and AI models. I’ve developed innovative projects, participated in over 50 hackathons, and have been participating and winning in national and international science fairs since grade 5. You can revisit my first blog post from over 10 years ago when we started this website to spark conversations about science and technology at family dinner tables: NASA Space Apps Challenge 2014: Toronto People’s Choice Award Winner.

Some of My Recent Award-Winning Projects

Throughout my journey, I’ve had the opportunity to work on several key projects that combine technology with real-world impact:

• Monitor My Lockdown: Developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, this platform visualizes lockdown measures and their effects on communities worldwide, aiding in data-driven decision-making.
• Monitor My Ocean: An initiative to track oceanic conditions such as temperature, pollution levels, and marine life activity, promoting awareness and conservation of our oceans.
• You Oceans: A collaborative project aimed at engaging the public in ocean conservation through educational content and interactive tools.
• AI Models for Exoplanet Characterization: Worked on developing AI algorithms to analyze data from telescopes for identifying and characterizing exoplanets, contributing to our understanding of the universe.

My unwavering passion has always been using technology for the public good. My journey to Stanford has been enriched by countless mentors, team members, and organizations who have supported and guided me. Their encouragement, advice, and inspiration have made my learning experience both enjoyable and curiosity-driven. I’ve also found immense joy in sharing my knowledge through outreach activities.

These experiences have solidified my belief in the power of open data and open science to solve problems across various domains—from pandemics and exoplanet exploration to ocean conservation and artificial intelligence. Many of these challenges are intergenerational and require a collaborative approach that bridges policy and technology. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside government organizations, international bodies, UN agencies, and research institutions. Sadly, some of the very institutions that shaped my curiosity are no longer the same, such as the Ontario Science Centre.

These experiences have prepared me to engage deeply in research and academics at Stanford and to develop innovative solutions for the benefit of humanity. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey. You can follow me at www.ArtashNath.com

Special Thanks To:

• Ocean Networks Canada
• Ontario Science Centre
• The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
• EarthEcho International
• NASA International Space Apps Challenge
• University of Toronto Aerospace Team
• University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
• Schmidt Futures
• Youth Science Canada
• The Canadian Science Fair Journal
• ECOP Canada
• Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
• Toronto District School Board

Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey. The future holds limitless possibilities, and I can’t wait to contribute to the world through innovation and collaboration.