On April 17, University High School senior Ahsas Sidhu participated in the World Food Prize Youth Institute at Purdue University, where he presented original research on food insecurity and water scarcity in Punjab, India. As a result of his work, he was recognized as a Borlaug Scholar, an honor awarded to students who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to addressing global food security issues.
Ahsas chose his topic with deep personal connection.
“I am Punjabi, so when it comes to my inspirations for my research, it was because of my connections to my roots through my culture and heritage,” he shared. “I also have many relatives who live in Punjab, some of whom are farmers, and knowing that they were facing these immense water scarcity issues helped fuel me to try as hard as I possibly could to find solutions for them.”
While the experience of presenting in front of experts was, in his words, “a little nerve-wracking,” Ahsas described the day as one filled with inspiration, and connection.
“I made friends with peers and listened to some of the greats in the science field give inspiring speeches,” he said. “The only reason I agreed to do it was because Mrs. Summit-Mann was the one asking me, but after this experience, something has definitely sparked in me!”
As a Borlaug Scholar, Ahsas is now in the running to be one of Indiana’s four delegates selected to attend the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute in Des Moines, Iowa this October — a prestigious gathering of young leaders from around the world committed to solving global food challenges.
Ahsas plans to continue his environmental research in college. This fall, he will attend SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY, where he will major in Environmental Sciences.
University High School congratulates Ahsas on his achievement and applauds the curiosity, care, and commitment that drive his work.