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लौ सुनौं बिज्ञानका चम्किला नेपाली युबाका सफलताका कुरा
A Bright Young Nepalese Student Scientist Pukar and His American Dream
Pukar Hamal with his award certificates. Photo courtesy: Pukar
My Growing Up and Moving to USA
My name is Pukar Hamal. I was born in Kathmandu, Nepal. I came to the United States as a 7 year old child in June of 1999. Assimilating in the American Culture was very tough for me. I can say that it did take me a while to fully understand the newly discovered world around me.
My parents are Harish Chandra Hamal and Sunita Hamal. I am eternally grateful to them for all they have done for me as parents. I was always interested in many things; I didn’t ever have any particular subject that I preferred. I wasn’t so fond of English. I did realize after a couple of years that I really did enjoy science. Science to me more than all the other subjects made sense.
New Doors to My future
When I entered Forest Hills High School in New York, new doors were opened for me in the field of science. I was put into a special science program called Carl Sagan Science Research Program. I competed in the New York City Science and Engineering Fair when I was in 10th grade.I was a finalist but I didn’t make it to the International Science Fair. But I was granted an opportunity by my teacher to work at a private research laboratory at the Columbia University Medical Center. I took this opportunity and since last June, 2007 I have been working at this lab.
Representing New York
Then with the project I had through this research laboratory at Columbia University I competed in the regional New York City Science and Engineering Fair again during my 11th grade. This year I felt more confident about my project and felt as though I had a better chance. The New York City Science and Engineering Fair had over 1200 participants and finally through the rigorous selection process 18 students were selected as winners to move on and compete internationally. I was among those 18 students chosen to represent New York City in the International Science and Engineering Fair held in Atlanta, Georgia this year.
My Research Project
My project dealt with the study of the nervous system in a microscopic worm from the phylum Nematoda called Caenorhabditis elegans or C. elegans for short which are a model organism. I was studying two bilaterally symmetric neurons in the worms called ASE neurons. Specifically I was studying the transcription factor of these neurons and tried to understand how it is expressed in the worm as well as the ASE neurons themselves.
Although it seems highly specific, studying a complex system such as the nervous system in humans is extremely complicated. However if a model organism is used it is much easier to understand how neurons are functioning at this simple level so that knowledge can be applied to understanding more complex organisms.
Time for World Competition
The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is the largest pre-college science fair in the world. It is sponsored by Intel and Agilent Technologies as well as other major sponsors. There are over 50 countries participating and over 1500 students competing. Every year it happens in a different host city which is picked 4 years prior to the competition. The process for picking the host city is like the Olympics where the specific city has to make the case of why it is most qualified to host the Intel ISEF.
This year it was in Atlanta, Georgia and there were 1557 participants from 51 different countries, territories or regions around the world. It was held from May 11 to May 16.
The Rewards of Hard Work: Looking for Future
I won 2nd place in this fair receiving a $1500 cash prize along with up to $54000 scholarship to University of Sciences in Philadelphia as well as other recognitions from colleges. As I look forward to the my future involvement with the science, I know that I will be there, perhaps trying to achieve more things through it for the benefit of the world.
-Pukar Hamal, New York, May 19, 2008
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