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Meet the STEM Superstars: 4 Inspiring Teen Inventors Who Set Out to Tackle Cancer, Anxiety, Suicide & More

We canvassed the country in search of creative high-schoolers. Here are four innovators we can’t stop talking about.

By The 74

March 13, 2024

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Thursday is officially Pi Day, offering Americans the annual opportunity to geek out over math, geometry and all things STEM. (It’s also recently become #DressForSTEM Day, celebrating women in science — more on that below)

In honor of 3.14, we recently canvassed the country, searching out STEM students with noteworthy projects and inventions. You can see all our recent profiles on our STEM Superstars microsite; here are our most recent video profiles of four remarkable teenagers:

Helping Amputees — Virginia’s Arav Bhargava

The 18-year-old senior at The Potomac School in McLean, Virginia has developed a universal fit, 3D-printed prosthetic for amputees missing their forearms. (Read the full story)

Confronting Depression & Suicide — New York’s Natasha Kulviwat

The 17-year-old from Jericho researched a biomarker to help identify those at risk of suicide. (Read the full story)

Easing Anxiety — Philadelphia’s Gavriela Beatrice Kalish-Schur

The 18-year-old senior at Pennsylvania’s Julia R. Masterman High School gave fruit flies anxiety to gain a deeper understanding for what makes us anxious — and to pave the path for better treatments. (Read the full story)

Improving Rural Health Care — Maryland’s William Gao

The 18-year-old from Ellicott City’s Centennial High School created an AI-enabled diagnostic app that could help save rural cancer patients. (Read the full story)

And in honor of March 14 and Women’s History Month, The 74’s Trinity Alicia explores women’s ongoing impact in STEM and how a hashtag is driving the Pi Day conversation to representation of women in the field:

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                <h1>Inspiring: 4 Teen ‘STEM Superstars’ Build Inventions to Address Cancer, Suicide</h1>

                <h2>We canvassed the country in search of creative high-schoolers. Here are four innovators we can’t stop talking about.</h2>

                <p class="sans">By <a rel="author" href="index-1976.html">The 74</a></p>

                <img src="four-stem-superstars.html">

                <p>This story first appeared at <a href="index.html">The 74</a>, a nonprofit news site covering education. <a href="index829f.html">Sign up for free newsletters from The 74</a> to get more like this in your inbox.</p>
                
<p>Thursday is officially Pi Day, offering Americans the annual opportunity to geek out over math, geometry and all things STEM. (It’s also recently become <a href="index-4470.html">#DressForSTEM Day</a>, celebrating women in science — more on that below) </p>



<p>In honor of 3.14, we recently canvassed the country, searching out STEM students with noteworthy projects and inventions. You can see all our recent profiles on our <a href="index-2071.html">STEM Superstars microsite</a>; here are our most recent video profiles of four remarkable teenagers: </p>



<h3>Helping Amputees — Virginia’s Arav Bhargava</h3>



<p>The 18-year-old senior at The Potomac School in McLean, Virginia has developed a universal fit, 3D-printed prosthetic for amputees missing their forearms. (<a href="index-147.html">Read the full story</a>) </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="video-container"><iframe loading="lazy" title="STEM Superstars: Arav Bhargava" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gJ44YASIXQM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
</div></figure>



<h3>Confronting Depression & Suicide — New York’s Natasha Kulviwat</h3>



<p>The 17-year-old from Jericho researched a biomarker to help identify those at risk of suicide. (<a href="index-138.html">Read the full story</a>) </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="video-container"><iframe loading="lazy" title="STEM Superstars: Natasha Kulviwat" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T3fcZPMMVHc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
</div></figure>



<h3>Easing Anxiety — Philadelphia’s Gavriela Beatrice Kalish-Schur</h3>



<p>The 18-year-old senior at Pennsylvania’s Julia R. Masterman High School gave fruit flies anxiety to gain a deeper understanding for what makes us anxious — and to pave the path for better treatments. (<a href="index-145.html">Read the full story</a>) </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="video-container"><iframe loading="lazy" title="STEM Superstars: Gavriela Beatrice Kalish-Schur" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DYVPMjkdtpY?start=1&feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
</div></figure>



<h3>Improving Rural Health Care — Maryland’s William Gao</h3>



<p>The 18-year-old from Ellicott City’s Centennial High School created an AI-enabled diagnostic app that could help save rural cancer patients. (<a href="index-144.html">Read the full story</a>) </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="video-container"><iframe loading="lazy" title="STEM Superstars: William Gao" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EeKiUCmjBVU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
</div></figure>



<p><strong>And in honor of March 14 and Women’s History Month, The 74’s Trinity Alicia explores women’s ongoing impact in STEM and how a hashtag is driving the Pi Day conversation to representation of women in the field:</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="index-4470.html"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1200" height="720" src="readmore-piday.html" alt="" class="wp-image-723862" srcset="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/readmore-piday.png 1200w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/readmore-piday-300x180.png 300w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/readmore-piday-825x495.png 825w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/readmore-piday-215x129.png 215w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/readmore-piday-768x461.png 768w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/readmore-piday-232x139.png 232w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></a></figure>

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Explore

Meet the STEM Superstars: 4 Inspiring Teen Inventors Who Set Out to Tackle Cancer, Anxiety, Suicide & More

We canvassed the country in search of creative high-schoolers. Here are four innovators we can’t stop talking about.

Sharpen Up!

Most Popular

Whistleblower: L.A. Schools’ Chatbot Misused Student Data as Tech Co. Crumbled

Turmoil Surrounds Los Angeles’ New AI Student Chatbot; Tech Firm Furloughs Staff

Was Los Angeles Schools’ $6 Million AI Venture a Disaster Waiting to Happen?

‘I Can’t Wait to Be Sued’: Louisiana Ten Commandments Law Not Just About Schools

Homeschoolers Embrace AI, Even As Many Educators Keep It at Arms’ Length

Helping Amputees — Virginia’s Arav Bhargava

Confronting Depression & Suicide — New York’s Natasha Kulviwat

Easing Anxiety — Philadelphia’s Gavriela Beatrice Kalish-Schur

Improving Rural Health Care — Maryland’s William Gao

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