Fourteen-year-old Advay Ramesh was on cloud nine when he got a call from software giant Google this Tuesday morning. He is the only Asian to be shortlisted for the Google Science Fair Community Impact Award in 2016! The project, ‘Fishermen Lifeline Terminal’ (FELT), uses Global Positioning Services (GPS) to enhance the safety and productivity of fishermen. Now called ‘Handheld GPS Devices for Fishermen at Sea,’ it will compete for a $50,000 Google scholarship.
Elaborating on his project, an elated Advay says, “This is my pet project and I had submitted it to ISRO earlier as well. My mother came to know about the science fair organised by Google, and asked me to apply for it. I did some groundwork, enhanced it, and did some experiments at Marina Beach and Rameshwaram,” says the city lad.
Screenshot of the app
As of now, only the app is ready, and Advay along with his dad is working on the device. He states that the project has four features. “First, it alerts fishermen when they approach maritime boundaries — this will help them remain within the boundary. Second, fishermen can store all the information needed. Third, the app will help in recording details of their catch. Instead of wandering into the sea, they can go back to the same area to fish. Finally, the app alerts them if there are natural calamities like storms, typhoons, etc., in the vicinity,” reveals Advay, who is a science buff.
So, why did he choose to make an app for fishermen? “I read about the fishermen’s plight being caught by the Navy for crossing the maritime boundary, and decided to help them. My dad, who is a software engineer, encouraged me,” says Advay.
A class X student of National Public School, Chennai, Advay wants to use technology to help communities, and work with software giants like Apple and Google. A hard-core bookworm, he loves to play football and cricket during weekends.
He knows that this is not child’s play, and stresses, “I am able to balance my studies and work on this project now. If you chalk out a plan with a proper outline, you can definitely do it.”
Google Science Fair is an international online science-and-technology competition that encourages students between the ages of 13 and 18 to use science to make the world a better place.
