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2021 Global Winners

Riad Tabbara

American University of Beirut
Architecture & Design

Piper Prolago

University of Tulsa
Art History & Theory

Jill Humby

Technological University Dublin
Business

Ali Abdelfadil

University of Leeds
Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences

Emily Kerrison

University of Sydney
Classical Studies & Archaeology

Chen Sihao

Nanyang Technological University
Computer Science

Yilin Zhang

Nanyang Technological University
Earth & Environmental
Sciences

Beatriz Sasse

University of Warwick
Economics

Roxanne Lau

National Institute of Education
Education

Lim Si Xian

Nanyang Technological University 
Engineering

Hannah Kern-Cheng

Brescia University College
History

Amrita Deshmukh

Symbiosis International University
Law

Jenny Gehlen

ETH Zürich | Karolinska Institutet
Life Sciences

Oisín Nolan

Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin
Linguistics

Dylan Chng

National University of Singapore
Literature

Hongjia Chen

University of Auckland
Mathematics & Physics

Delia-Denisa Dunca

Karolinska Institutet
Medical Sciences

Sher Yao

University of Toronto Music, Theatre & Film Studies

Fridaous Karimu

Trinity College
Nursing, Midwifery & Allied Healthcare

Young-il Kim

Utrecht University
Philosophy

Ng Yi Ming

Yale-NUS College
Politics & International Relations

Stephanie Yu

University of British Columbia
Psychology

Arizona Haddon

Massey University
Social Science: Sociology & Social Policy

Beth Hayes

University College London
Social Science: Anthropology & Cultural Studies

Afnan Albladi

American University of Sharjah

Visual Arts

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Riad Tabbara

Architecture & Design
American University of Beirut

Winning Paper: Hypersites in the Urban Realm

Riad recently graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from the American University of Beirut. A childhood well-spent near the seashore and a stack of illustrated books on marine life has forged in him a profound admiration for the mysteries of the ocean, and the peculiarities of the world in general. Years after, these early curiosities greatly inform his outlook on architecture. Designing a space is a chance to produce something intriguing in its foreignness, and comforting in its richness. Riad also takes interest in product design, and is fascinated by languages, the human mind, and all things beautifully strange.

Piper Prolago

Art History & Theory
University of Tulsa

Winning Paper: A Mughal Miraj: Imagining The Prophet in the Newark Khamsa Manuscript

Piper Prolago is a senior from Wichita, Kansas studying art history and anthropology at the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. At the University of Tulsa, she is a member of the global scholars and honors programs and currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the student-run newspaper. Following her graduation, Piper hopes to pursue a graduate degree in art history, researching intersections between public art, collective memory, and community identity by examining historical narratives represented in the urban environment.

Jill Humby

Economics Business
Technological University Dublin

Winning Paper: #Filtered: An exploration into social anxiety theory and Automated reality (AR) filter use on Tik Tok

Jill is a graduate from the Technological University of Dublin, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. Currently Jill is completing a MSc Masters programme in Marketing practice at the UCD Michael Smurfit School of Business. She is passionate about all things marketing, with a particular interest in the role of social media and the immense impact that Tik-Tok has had on the lives of generation-Z.

Ali Abdelfadil

Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of Leeds

Winning Paper: PDMS-based microfluidic device using Human Endothelial Umbilical Vein Cells (HUVECs) for Bisphenol A toxicity testing

Ali is an Egyptian graduate from University College London (UCL) with an MSc in Nanotechnology. His specialization in this field was due to a growing fascination in miniaturized technology, after completing a BEng in Mechatronics and Robotics from the University of Leeds. Due to its multidisciplinary nature, he was exposed to various branches of engineering and science. As part of his current research project, he established models to study applications of Integrated III-V QD-based Optical Semiconductor Waveguide Modulators in high-performance long-haul telecommunication and data networking systems. He hopes to continuously use this exposure to improve upon his skills and areas of expertise.

Emily Kerrison

Classical Studies & Archeology 
University of Sydney

Winning Paper: Role doubling with Tecmessa in Sophocles’ Aias

Emily is a final year Honours student at the University of Sydney, where she completed a combined Bachelors Degree in Arts and Science, with majors in Classical Greek, Latin, Mathematics and Physics. Her Arts thesis examined expressions of the infinite in the poetry of the Hellenistic period. In her spare time she enjoys fencing, reading and feeding the local wildlife. She hopes to continue her academic journey with postgraduate studies after completing her Honours year in Physics.

Chen Sihao

Computer Science
Nanyang Technological University

Winning Paper: Learning to See in the Dark – Low Light Image Enhancement

Sihao is currently completing his M.Sc. in Technology Management and B.Eng.Sc. in Computer Engineering at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. During his undergraduate studies, he worked with MMLab@NTU to explore deep learning methods in enhancing images taken in poor lighting conditions. As an aspiring Machine Learning Engineer, he is interested in applying machine learning to solve problems and optimizing state-of-the-art models for real-time production and distribution. Apart from academia, Sihao enjoys volunteering work and believes in giving back to the community.

Yilin Zhang

Earth & Environmental Sciences
Nanyang Technological University

Winning Paper: Sea Surface Temperature and Sea Surface Salinity Calibration Using Porites Coral Geochemical Proxies from Dongsha Atoll in the South China Sea

 

Yilin recently graduated from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, with a B.Sc. in Environmental Earth Systems Science with Honours (Highest Distinction) and a minor in computing and data analysis. During her undergraduate study, Yilin specialised in ecology & ecosystems and had a strong passion for sustainability, GIS, climate research and environmental data analysis. She is currently a PhD student at the Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University. Her research interest includes geochemistry, stable isotopes and climate change. Apart from academia, Yilin enjoys swimming, cooking and travelling.

Beatriz Sasse

Economics
University of Warwick

Winning Paper: The limited impact of a drinking-and-driving law reform on traffic accident hospitalisations: quasi-experimental evidence from Brazil

Beatriz has recently graduated from the University of Warwick with a BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, and is now undertaking an MSc in Social Research Methods and Statistics at the University of Manchester. She was born and raised in Brazil before moving to Germany to finish her secondary education with the International Baccalaureate programme at Munich International School, before coming to the UK for her further education. Interested in behavioural economics and quantification of insights, Beatriz seeks a career in evidence-based decision-making and evaluation within private and public spheres.

Roxanne Lau

Education

National Institute of Education

Winning Paper: Designing Problem-Centric STEM Activities

Roxanne Lau is a student-teacher at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. She is currently in her final year of undergraduate studies, thereafter she will become a secondary school teacher where she aims to incorporate STEM education in her teaching. With an avid interest in nature and biodiversity, she strives to raise awareness about nature conservation as well as ecological biodiversity. It is her hope to be able to integrate STEM education and conservation into formal school curriculums, thereby inspiring students to explore STEM solutions in tackling issues revolving around conservation, biodiversity preservation and the environment.

Lim Si Xian

Engineering

Nanyang Technological University

Winning Paper: Particle self-assembly in sessile droplet on patterned substrate

Si Xian earned his Bachelor’s Degree in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Nanyang Technological University. He was working on particle self-assembly of the sessile droplet on a patterned substrate in his final year project. The exciting findings from this research are helpful for further understanding the applications including coating, printing, and advanced manufacturing. The successful experience will a be confidence booster, and a starting point in his journey to keep moving forward on his research road.

Hannah Kern-Cheng

History

Brescia University College

Winning Paper: REINSCRIBING THE SELF AND RE-WRITING THE WORLD: Ojibwe and Báxoje Autoethnography in Victorian Ethnological Exhibitions 

Hannah is a fourth year Honours History student at Brescia University College. As a settler Canadian, she is drawn to understanding the historic and ongoing realities of colonialism and her place within this story. She is particularly interested in exploring settler identity, Indigenous agency, and the (il)legitimacy of the settler state. Alongside her studies, she enjoys horseback riding and hiking.

Hannah lives, works, and studies on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron peoples.

After graduating, Hannah hopes to pursue a career in law.

Katherine Amrita Deshmukh

Law

Symbiosis International University

Winning Paper: The Intersection of Space Laws and Intellectual Property Rights: A Narrative for Space Sustainability

Amrita is a final year student pursuing an integrated degree of Bachelors in Business Administration and Law (HONS). She has developed a keen interest in research and contemporary laws such as IPR, Technology and Space Laws. She has published papers in various journals across India and is an active Mooter, bagging an Hon’ble Mention for the Fali Nariman Award at Vis Hong Kong, 2020. She has had the unique opportunity to intern under Prof. Ingeborg Schwenzer. She was a volunteer at her college community service cell. Amrita enjoys trekking, dancing, travel and painting during her leisure time.

Jenny Gehlen

Life Sciences

ETH Zürich | Karolinska Institutet

Winning Paper: Functional Analysis of Volumetrically 3D Bioprinted Bone-like Tissues

Jenny graduated in June 2021 from Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm with a B.Sc. in Biomedicine. She spent her final semester at ETH Zürich and conducted her thesis work in the Laboratory of Bone Biomechanics. In her project, Jenny focused on stem-cell based biofabrication using a novel tomographic 3D bioprinter and successfully established a prototype for pre-vascularized tissues. Her passion for biophysics and biomechanics was already founded during her previous apprenticeship at the Research Center Jülich in Germany. She will continue her research in Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering in the London Interdisciplinary Doctoral Training Programme (LIDo) at King’s College London.

Oisín Nolan 

Linguistics

Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin

Winning Paper: Linguistic Complexity as an Indicator of Writing Quality

Oisín is currently studying for an MSc in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Edinburgh, having recently completed his BA in Computer Science and Language at Trinity College Dublin. During internships at Google, Stripe, and research labs in Trinity College, Oisín has worked on a variety of industrial and academic projects in the fields of computer science and linguistics. He is excited to explore topics in computational linguistics, artificial intelligence, and cognitive science in the future.

Dylan Chng

Literature
National University of Singapore

Winning Paper: “Now I was become…a Woman of Business”: The Unstable Ontology of Value in Daniel Defoe’s Roxana

Dylan is a final year Honours student at the National University of Singapore, majoring in English Literature and minoring in Art History. His honours thesis focuses on Web-based literary practices and social media horror writing, and how new forms of digital reading impact both the ontologies of online texts and their interactors. He intends to pursue his PhD and a career in academia researching the intersections between literature, new media, and cybernetics towards an understanding of their joint implications for a digital posthumanism. He is also the Editor-in-Chief for Margins, NUS’s undergraduate literary journal.

Hongjia Chen

Mathematics and Physics
University of Auckland

 

Winning Paper: Mathematical billiards: Periodic orbits within quadrilaterials

Hongjia is a Distinguished Graduate from the University of Auckland with First Class Bachelor of Arts Honours in Mathematics and Bachelor of Science degrees in Applied Mathematics and Statistics. He has published in several of the top journals for Evolutionary Dynamics, Game Theory and Applied Mathematics.

Delia-Denisa Dunca

Medical Sciences
Karolinska Institutet

Winning Paper: Neurodegeneration, Autophagy, and Amyloid-beta metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease

Delia was fascinated by the human brain since she saw a coronal section of it in a schoolbook in secondary school. The mystery and complexity of the human brain made her decide to pursue a career in science. Her ambition is to become a neurosurgeon who focuses on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Delia is a graduate from Karolinska Institute in Sweden, where she studied Biochemical Sciences. While waiting for her admission for a medical and doctoral degree in Karolinska Institute, she is currently studying a Master’s Degree focused on Neurochemistry and Molecular Neurobiology at Stockholm University to further her understanding of the brain.

Sher Yao

Music, Film and Theatre

University of Toronto

 

Winning Paper: Explorin’ Gangsta Rap: Dead Prez & the School-to-Prison Pipeline

A native of Canada, Sher earned her Bachelor of Music with honours (Piano), a certificate in Health Applications in Music, and a minor in the French Language from the University of Toronto. Her research areas include social justice pedagogy, hip-hop based education, and racialized listening. Sher is currently a Master of Education (Curriculum & Pedagogy) candidate at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto. Recently, she also began an exciting journey as a Junior Professional Consultant with UNICEF, in partnership with the UNA-Canada’s IDDIP program.

Fridaous Karimu

Nursing, Midwifery & Allied Healthcare

Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin

Winning Paper: An Exploration of Registered Nurses’ Experiences of and Attitudes Towards Providing Care to Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and their Families.

Fridaous Karimu currently a fifth year Integrated Children’s and General nursing student at Trinity College Dublin. During this undergraduate degree, she became a general and children’s nursing Trinity foundation scholar, a highly esteemed award at Trinity College.

Growing up, she’s always been interested in the area of healthcare which is why she decided to pursue a career in nursing. Her interest in healthcare lies more particularly in public health, and health inequalities. This interest and passion for inclusivity in healthcare inspired her to write her paper. Alongside her studies, she enjoys playing sports and traveling. Being Ivorian-Irish, she’s always found herself being engrossed in different cultures, traditions, and languages.

Young-il Kim

Philosophy
Utrecht University

Winning Paper: How Should We Think About the Systematicity of Nature, According to Kant?

Young-il completed his (honours) undergraduate studies at the University of Utrecht, obtaining a BSc in sociology and a BA in philosophy after first obtaining an MA (honours) degree in pure mathematics. His philosophical interests are very broad and he is currently still exploring what area he wants to pursue a PhD and after that an academic career in. Currently, he is taking a master in Logic at the University of Amsterdam and two further undergraduate degrees in Korean studies and Japanese studies as he is interested in further exploring Asian philosophy. In particular, he is interested in learning more about North Korea’s Juche philosophy.

Ng Yi Ming

Politics & International Relations

 Yale-NUS College

Winning Paper: How Shared Experience Helps in Semi-Democratic Parliaments: Raising Hands for Women and Minorities in Singapore

Yi Ming recently graduated from Yale-NUS College with a BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. His senior thesis investigated the driving factors behind the representation of marginalized communities in Singapore’s dominant-party parliament. He is an aspiring sociologist interested in the intersection of the culture of work, careers & organizations, socioeconomic opportunity, and community & urban sociology. He is presently a master’s student in Urban Science, Policy, and Planning at the Singapore University of Technology & Design.

Stephanie Yu

Psychology

University of British Columbia

Winning Paper: Conversing With Chatbots: The Power of Good Bots Over Bad Humans

Stephanie is a fourth-year Honours Psychology student at the University of British Columbia. She is currently conducting her senior thesis on Leader Displays of Curiosity with Dr. Jonathan Evans. She is broadly interested in the interplay between leadership styles and demographic characteristics (e.g., race). After graduating, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. and academic career in Organizational Behavior. In her spare time, she’s usually listening to a podcast or trying to revitalize her dying plants

Arizona Haddon

Social Science: Sociology & Social Policy

Massey University

Winning Paper: Millennials Perceptions of Gentrification in Tamaki Makaurau Auckland

Arizona is currently in her third and final year, studying towards a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Sociology at Massey University. Her primary research interests are in housing and urbanism – particularly, in processes of ‘place-making’ and how, in Aotearoa New Zealand especially, they are deeply enmeshed in colonial and capitalist constructions of land and housing. She plans to explore her interests further by pursuing a Master’s degree in Urban Planning next year. In the long-term, she is working towards a career as an urban researcher.

Beth Hayes

Social Science: Anthropology & Cultural Studies

University College London

Winning Paper: How, and why, should considerations of gender and sex be pragmatically incorporated into medicine.

Beth entered UCL as a medical student, but in 2021 she took a break from this degree to complete an integrated BSc in the History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine. She has now returned to medicine and has begun her clinical training. Beth is passionate about the promotion of inclusive, intersectional medical practice, and was recently selected to co-chair the medical school’s Student Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committee.

Afnan Albladi

Visual Arts

American University of Sharjah

Winning Paper: The Art of Destruction

Afnan is a visual artist and designer. She has started by mastering fine arts from a very early age then moved to study Visual Communication at the American University of Sharjah. Having been a devotee of the creative fields, she has an affinity for different genres and experimental art and design, which she has applied to the development of her projects. She is currently in her senior year, and she’s interested in further developing and challenging her professional growth and creativity.