Science Heroes Home Page > Nikhil Prem

Nikhil Prem

OMSI: Where were you born? Where did you grow up?

NP: Born and raised in Corvallis, Oregon.

OMSI: What three words best describe you?

NP:Positive, imaginative, and adventurous.

OMSI: As a child, did you have any hobbies, interests, or experiences that helped prepare you for success in science?

NP:I have always been fascinated with electronics and computers. As a preschooler, I would take apart anything lying around in the house. As a result, I ended seeing many fascinating aspects of electronics throughout my high school age including robotics, printer systems, and many different types of fuel cells.

OMSI: Please tell us about a mentor or teacher who helped to inspire your interest in science.

NP:In the summer of 2002, I attended SESEY (Summer Experience in Science and Engineering for Youth) at Oregon State University. Professer Skip Rochefort, an out of the ordinary man participated at this camp. He showed me how fun science really can be. Science out of a textbook can be stressful and tiring. Though when science can be applied to real life situations, it is a fascinating subject.

OMSI: What's the worst trouble you ever got into in school? Have you ever blown anything up?

NP:Getting detention for shooting rubber bands, experiencing the elastic potential energy found in rubber.

OMSI: Describe a difficult situation that you were in and how you handled it.

NP:While taking AP physics at Crescent Valley High School, I have experienced many difficult situations. During one occasion, I had to present a thorough analysis of nuclear fission. Coming to class prepared with a speech and a power point presentation, I was ready. Though 5 minutes before class, I found out that my topic was nuclear fusion, not fission. Instead of losing hope, I ran to the library and checked out books on nuclear fusion. My speech was scheduled about 30 minutes into class. Because of my faith in hard work and determination, I was able to create another slide show and prepare a wonderful speech.

OMSI: What is your favorite class this year?

NP:Psychology

OMSI: What is your dream? What do you most hope to accomplish in your career?

NP:I feel that the key to achieve peace, happiness, and prosperity throughout the world is through the globalization of economy and government. In some point of my career, I hope to improve the world's current situation in globalization or international relations. I also like to work with people that have different cultural backgrounds and hope to travel around the world with whatever occupation I pursue in.

OMSI: How do you feel about the current state of science education in the U.S.?

NP:The science education in the U.S. is excellent in certain districts, though lacking in others. The U.S. could improve its science education by spreading better programs and institutions to poorer neighborhoods. In today's world, science is an excellent path to success. It is unfair that certain areas in the U.S. do not provide adequate opportunities.

OMSI: What do you like to do in your free time?

NP:I enjoy hanging out with friends, playing or listening to music, snowboarding, spending time with family, and eating delicious food.

OMSI: What do you consider your very best skill?

NP:My very best skill by far is working with different people. I have a tendency to be able to get along with practically anybody. Whether the individual is 3 years old, or 93 years old, I'll always have a good time.

OMSI: Please tell us about your science fair project. How did you come up with the idea for your project? How did you go about researching and building your project? What was it like to participate in the science fair, and what do you remember most from the fair?

NP:I worked with two other students, Meher Vasdev and Clint Perlaki, on a microbial fuel cell project. This fuel cell basically consists of a graphite anode, buried in the bottom of the ocean floor and a graphite cathode in the overlying water. Biochemical reactions occur in the mud on the ocean floor, which break down organic compounds, in the process giving the graphite an electron. We created two ocean-like environments in two different fish tanks, and geometrically engineered two different anodes. Our mission was to find the most suitable anode for this specific fuel cell. I came up with the idea when I was reading an article titled "Mud Batteries." Amazed by the concept, I began digging deeper into the subject. My friends and I started working in the summer of 2003, reading articles and publications of past research done on this microbial fuel cell. After making different experiment proposals, we contacted different professors from Oregon State University, hoping for some assistance or guidance. Thankfully we received a reply from Professor Clare Reimers, who guided us in our project.

The regional science fair we competed in was fantastic. The competition was thrilling and exciting, while the projects other students performed were fascinating. Though I feel that we would have placed better in the competition if we had more experimental proof of our hypothesis.

OMSI: If you were to build your science fair project again, would you do anything differently?

NP:Time definitely was a factor. I wish we had constructed our fuel cells earlier, giving us more time to do longer term experiments.

OMSI: Please tell us about your educational plans and goals.

NP:I plan to complete an undergraduate program in engineering. The specific type of engineering I want to participate in is still undecided. For my graduate school, I plan on majoring either in law or business. Though of course things can always change, and I may develop new aspirations, which could change my planned educational background.

OMSI: Have you had any on the job training or science related work experience?

NP:In the summer of 2003, I worked at Hewlett-Packard as an intern in the department of system interactions in Corvallis, Oregon. I received this outstanding opportunity through the Apprenticeship in Science and Engineering program. (ASE) I urge any incoming sophomores or juniors in high school to apply to this program. I worked with Mech Watne, an engineer at Hewlett-Packard. She showed me what it is like to work in a large corporation and how different it is from the classroom environment.