The Bethpage Union Free School District is pleased to announce that Ankur Raghavan, a senior from Bethpage High School, was recently recognized as a 2024 scholar in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, a program of Society for Science. He is among 300 students to be honored in the science and math competition for his exceptional research project. This year’s scholars hail from 196 American and international high schools and homeschools in 36 states and China.
Ankur was selected for his project “The Reduction of Agricultural Water Consumption Through the Utilization of Wireless Sensor Arrays.” His research looked at ways to reduce the amount of water that is being wasted on farms. Ankur developed a cost-effective soil moisture sensor that would replace farmers going out in the field to manually inspect crops. He began his research in August 2022, started building his project a few months later and completed it in December 2022.
“I am extremely confident that Ankur will have a successful career in the STEM field, due largely in part to his ability to think critically and tactfully about problems,” Raghavan’s science research teacher Nicole Dulaney said. “As demonstrated through his research project, Ankur successfully designed a solution to an essential global issue by thoroughly engaging in the engineering design process.”
Ankur’s application was among 2,162 submitted into the competition this year from 712 high schools across 46 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and ten other countries. According to Society for Science, scholars are selected based on their “outstanding research, leadership skills, community involvement, commitment to academics, creativity in asking scientific questions and exceptional promise as STEM leaders demonstrated through the submission of their original, independent research projects, essays and recommendations.”
Ankur will continue in the competition with the hopes of being named one of the 40 student finalists who will participate in final judging. Finalists are expected to be announced on Jan. 24. These finalists will then continue to compete for more than $1.8 million in awards during a week-long competition in Washington, D.C. in March.
“We are extremely proud of Ankur and all his accomplishments in our school district,” Director of Science K-12 Chris Pollatos said. “Thank you to all the staff at Bethpage, mentors, and family that helped him achieve this great honor!”