Water is the foundation of earth and the elixir of life on the planet. Millions of lives are endangered due to lack of clean, safe, drinkable water in developing countries, including India. Freshwater makes up only 2.5% of the total water on earth, and only 1% of freshwater is easily accessible and safe to drink. The rest is undrinkable saltwater. India itself is grappling with acute water crisis and trying various measures of water conservation to get over it.

The number of people affected by water crisis in India has shot up from 330 million in 2016 to nearly 600 million this year. Chennai, a metropolis of five million, is one of the most affected victims of water scarcity in India. The continued depletion of water in four of Chennai’s major reservoirs to an alarming level, leaving a majority of the city populace bereft of water in everyday life has caught global attention. Reportedly, a rainfall deficit of 41% in Tamil Nadu is adding to the repercussions of water shortage in Chennai this year.

With the tempo of life coming to a standstill in the water-crisis-hit states of India, temple priests of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have got themselves busy leaving no stone unturned to appease the rain god for good showers. On the other side of the globe, a cost-effective method to make saltwater drinkable is a new ray of hope to flip the depressing pictures of water crisis in India and other parts of the world.

All thanks to Chaitanya Karamchedu, an Indian American high school senior from Portland, for giving the world a new lease of life! He brainstormed an idea for his science project at Jesuit High School, Portland and invented an affordable method to turn seawater into drinking water, which piqued the interest of many international tech firms. This Portland Indian teenager’s method of desalination is a pleasant surprise in the face of the futility of years-old experiments in world-class science labs. (Watch a video clip of his project below)

Indian American Chaitanya Karamchedu’s method to make saltwater drinkable is being lauded as a scientific breakthrough. When he found that desalination is not available in many inaccessible coastal areas due to high-cost implementation, he made up his mind to develop a cost-effective solution to desalt seawater. He also discovered that seawater is not saturated with salt. It led him to work with an absorbent polymer to filter out pure water from the water bonded with salt, during his experiment in the science lab at Jesuit High School, Portland.

Chaitanya Karamchedu found that only 10% of seawater is saline but the remaining 90% is not bonded to salt particles. Unlike scientists, he tried to figure out a cost-effective desalination method for the 90% instead of the 10%. His method to make seawater drinkable for a larger part of the world is a boon to millions of people without access to clean, safe water, and those grappling with inadequate drinking water.

Desalination, which is currently a most-practiced method to desalt seawater, is not just too expensive but also not supported by environmentalists for its high-level energy consumption. The Portland Indian boy, Chaitanya Karamchedu’s method to make saltwater drinkable is a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution.

The US Agency for International Global Development awarded him $10,000 at Intel’s International Science Fair so that he could continue the experiment and pursue the research for further development of the method. It also earned him the second prize at MIT’s TechCon Conference.

This story is brought to you by Indian Eagle, a most trusted air travel booking partner of Indians in the USA. Indian Eagle not only offers cheap air tickets for flights to India, but also promotes stories of achievements and inspiration on its Indian community portal, Travel Beats.

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The United States’ announcement of having selected 13-year-old Indian American Rishab Jain as the nation’s Top Young Scientist of 2018 seems to have doubled up the Dussehra celebration for Indians in America. Having won Discovery Education’s 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2018, Rishab Jain joined the league of extraordinary young Indians at Travel Beats, an Indian American community portal by Indian Eagle Travel.

Held in St. Paul, Minneapolis the day before yesterday (October 17, 2018), the 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2018 selected 7^th grader Rishab Jain out of the ten finalists, for his artificial intelligence-based algorithm for effective pancreatic cancer treatment, declared him America’s Top Young Scientist and awarded him a scholarship worth USD 25,000.

The 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2018 winner, Rishab Jain from Portland has created the Pancreatic Cancer Deep Learning System (PCDLS) to help locate the pancreas accurately during MRI radiotherapy, using artificial intelligence in real time. Right from the beginning of the competition, he has been confident about his invention’s potentiality of being instrumental in making pancreas cancer treatment effective manifold.

Pancreatic cancer is the third major cause of cancer-related deaths in America. Nearly 55440 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the US this year, according to the American Cancer Society. Unfortunately, about 44,330 victims of pancreatic cancer in the US are likely to die anytime this year. The developed countries, including the United States report the highest rates of pancreatic cancer mobility. Asia experiences the lowest incidence of pancreatic cancer.

Difficulty in targeting the affected cells of the pancreas due to the gland’s obscured location behind stomach and amidst other nearby organs lessens the efficacy of radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer. Apart this, the pancreas may be moved a little by the dint of certain anatomical changes in the abdomen, which makes it difficult to locate and target tumorous growths in the gland during radiation treatment. As a result, healthy cells of the pancreas are mistakenly targeted for radiotherapy, at times.

America’s Top Young Scientist in 2018, Rishab Jain tested his AI-based algorithm named Pancreatic Cancer Deep Learning System, using images of the human digestive system. As expected, the device successfully located the pancreas and detected the affected cells with 98.9 percent accuracy. Indian American Rishab Jain’s algorithm for pancreatic cancer treatment aims to increase accuracy and efficiency of radiotherapy, thereby decreasing invasiveness of radiation. The better the treatment is, the more the chances are for survival.

The runner up in Discovery Education’s 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2018 is an Indian American, too. 13-year-old Mehaa Amirthalingam from Texas became second. An 8^th grader ofSartaria Middle School in Sugar Land, Mehaa Amirthalingam has developed a water-saving toilet flushing system that uses recycled water in order to reduce water consumption in households and alleviate water scarcity.

Interestingly, Mehaa Amirthalingam featured in our ‘International Day of the Girl Child 2018’ story of Seven Amazing Indian American Girls, on October 11.

The fourth runner-up in the race for America’s Top Young Scientist 2018 is 12-year-old Sriram Bhimaraju from Cupertino, California. An aspiring Nobel laureate, Indian American Sriram Bhimaraju has developed an innovative app named Archery Assistant to help improve an archer’s aim at the target in real time.

You can read about the other two Indian American finalists among the top 10 and their innovative entries to America’s Young Scientist Challenge 2018 and sign up for our free newsletter subscription for the upcoming Indian American community stories and visa & immigration news.     

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Young Indian Americans are doing wonders beyond the imagination of the world. Recently, 15-year-old Tanishq Abraham from California became the youngest biomedical engineer in North America. Now three Indian American school students won top prizes at the 2018 International Olympiad in Math, Physics and History. Their achievements are new feathers in the cap of Indian American community and that of the American nation as well.

Indian American Gopal Goel from Portland, Oregon became one of the gold medalists at the 2018 International Physics Olympiad (IPhO). A member of the United States Physics team, Gopal scored 36 including 9 in the experimental test and 27 in the theory exam at the international contest. Out of the 88 countries which participated in the 49^th International Physics Olympiad, the US Physics team finished seventh on the basis of the total medal count.

Interestingly, each of the five students of the physics team from India returned home with a gold medal. It is the Indian team’s first such grand achievement in the 21 years of the International Physics Olympiad. The American Association of Physics Teachers commended the US Physics team, including Portland-based Gopal Goel. The International Physics Olympiad is an annual global physics competition for high school students.

The 6-member US team of budding mathematicians owes its stupendous success in the 2018 International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) to Indian American Mihir Singhal from California. A resident of Palo Alto in California, Mihir led the US team to beat the 115 other countries and win the first prize in the competition. The six team members including Mihir Singhal beat the other 609 participants and bagged five gold medals as well as one silver medal.

Coached by Po-Shen Loh, a professor of mathematics at Carnegie Mellon University, the US team for IMO took the first place for the third time in the International Mathematical Olympiad, which is considered as Olympics of mathematical competitions for high school students. Over 300,000 students take part in the American Mathematics Competitions which test their mathematical knowledge and problem-solving skills, to qualify for the US team for the International Mathematical Olympiad.

Indian American Shiva Oswal from California earned the first place for the United States in the 2018 International History Olympiad by winning five gold, four silver and two bronze medals. A middle school student in Cupertino, Shiva Oswal also bagged the coveted title of Overall Middle School Olympiad Champion. The US History Team for the Olympiad 2018 stood first with the total number of 40 medals, out of which Shiva Oswal bagged 11.

In November 2017, 13-year-old Shiva Oswal made his debut on American TV and won $250,000 in Who Wants to be a Millionaire Whiz Kids Edition. India and Canada finished second and third with 23 medals each in the 2018 International History Olympiad.

This news story about the Indian American achievers in the 2018 International Olympiad competitions is part of our continued effort at Travel Beats, an Indian American community portal to promote the achievements of young Indian Americans. Subscribe to our free newsletter for the latest community news, regular updates on US visa & immigration, air travel news, and inspiring stories of Indian Americans.

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The United States is all set to select the nation’s Top Youngest Scientist from among the 10 finalists including five Indian American youngsters. The finalists of Discovery Education Network’s 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2018 are promising innovators and inventors on a mission to ensure a better future for mankind.

The young Indian American finalists in the race for America’s ‘Top Young Scientist of 2018’ title are Mehaa Amirthalingam of Texas, Sriram Bhimaraju of California, Krish Wadhwani of Georgia, Cameron Sharma of Virginia, and Rishab Jain of Oregon. They are gearing up for the grand finale of Discovery Education Network’s 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2018, which will be held in October at 3M Innovation Center at St. Paul, Minneapolis.

Mehaa Amirthalingam of Texas

A resident of Sugar Land in Texas, 13-year-old Mehaa Amirthalingam has invented a unique toilet flushing system which uses grey water and fresh water. She believes, “Innovation should not degrade humanity for the sake of personal gain.” Her favorite invention of the last 100 years is smartphone which, she says, has made our day-to-day life incredibly easier. An 8^th grader at Sartartia Middle School, Mehaa aspires to be a patent-holding engineer by the time she turns 30. Here’s a video illustration of her invention:

Rishab Jain of Oregon

A resident of Portland in Oregon, 7^th grader Rishab Jain is an aspiring biomedical engineer. One of the 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2018 finalists, Rishab has devised the Pancreatic Cancer Deep Learning System (PCDLS) tool which helps with accurate location of the pancreas during MRI radiotherapy using artificial intelligence. A 13-year-old student of Stoller Middle School, Rishab is confident that his tool will be instrumental in effective pancreas cancer treatment. He demonstrates his invention in the video below:

Sriram Bhimaraju of California

A resident of Cupertino in California, 12-year-old Sriram Bhimaraju aspires to be a Nobel Laureate in 15 years. His novel app named Archery Assistant is one of the entries in the final competition of Discovery Education’s 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2018. The app helps improve an archer’s aim at the target in real time using a Bluetooth sensor. A student of Harker Middle School, Sriram says, “People like me would not be able to make an impact on the world without the invention of the I.C. chip.” Here’s a brief demonstration of his invention:

Krish Wadhwani of Georgia

A resident of Alpharetta in Georgia, Krish Wadhwani has enhanced the possibility of developing a cure for Huntington’s disease. His Synthetic Antibody Mimics helps locate cancerous cells and gets attached to a specific protein found on the surface of those cells responsible for Huntington’s disease. The 14-year-old 8^th grader at DeSana Middle School wants to be a cardiologist or neurosurgeon. Pacemaker is his favorite invention of the past 100 years. Do take a walk through his invention in the video below:

Cameron Sharma of Virginia

A resident of Glen Allen in Virginia, Cameron Sharma has created uFlu, a unique computer model that uses artificial intelligence to calculate seasonal flu vaccines and identify the most effective vaccine for those affected by flu. His interest in engineering aspects of healthcare drove him to create uFlu leveraging his knowledge of immunology, computer programming, virology, math and genetics. One of the promising finalists of Discovery 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2018, Cameron Sharma aspires to be a biomedical engineer.

The finalists will take a summer internship program under the supervision of 3M scientists and transform their ideas or inventions into working solutions before the grand finale in October 2018. In the final competition, they will demonstrate the USP and usefulness of their tools and devices before a panel of judges including noted researchers and scientists. The winner of Discovery 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2018 will be declared America’s Top Young Scientist and awarded a scholarship worth $25,000.

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The City of Hyderabad drank to the ecstasy of Kuchipudi dance performance by Prashanthi Harathi, an eminent Indian American choreographer and dance instructor, on a breezy Sunday evening this month. Prashanthi Harathi, a Portland-based Kuchipudi exponent, travelled along with her troupe all the way from the northwest US to India to mesmerize her admirers and classical dance lovers in Hyderabad City.

When the sun was setting behind skyscrapers of Hi-Tech City sprinkling a plenty of red and orange hues all over the skyline, Prashanthi Harathi and her students from USA graced the amphitheater at Shilparamam, a hub of fine arts and performing arts in Hyderabad. With the audience pouring in, the Indian American Kuchipudi exponent inaugurated the program with a numinous tribute to Lord Ganesh and Goddess Saraswati. Ritwika Petluri, one of her disciples, accompanied her in the inaugural performance.

Prashanthi Harathi (left), Tanya Krishna Harathi (middle), Ritwika Petluri (right)

While the echoes of ovation following the dance recital of prayers to the deities were fading away, Prashanthi Harathi hit the stage for a visual enactment of Mahishasura Mardini, a story of Goddess Durga’s act of annihilating the king of demons. In this Kuchipudi dance performance, Prashanthi Harathi was accompanied by her daughter, Tanya Krishna Harathi. The mother-and-daughter duo gave an excellent account of Mahishasura Mardini in Kuchipudi, which wowed the audience. The way Tanya Krishna Harathi rhymed her steps with her mother’s on stage impeccably, was simply amazing.

It was followed by a solo performance by Kumari Ritwika Petluri. Titled Govardhana Giridhara, this piece of Kuchipudi dance performance narrates the story of Lord Krishna lifting Mountain Govardhana with his little finger to save the entire village from heavy downpours caused by the wrath of Lord Indra. Composed by Saint Sri Narayana Thirtha, it culminated in euphoria over Ritwika Petluri’s intricate movements on a brass plate to the utter amazement of the audience.

The next was Sivastakam, a heart-warming tribute to Lord Shiva, the presiding god of Himalayas. Tanya Krishna Harathi, along with another performer of her age, Aarya Aluru enacted a eulogy in honor of Lord Shiva at the Shilparamam amphitheater in Hyderabad. The young performers immaculately accompanied and complemented each other to entertain the audience with their expertise in Indian classical dance.

It was followed by two solo performances: the Hiranmayi Lakshmim by Prashanthi Harathi and the Hanuman Chalisa by Tanya Krishna Harathi. The Hiranmayi Lakshmim Sada Bhajami was a spiritual invocation of Goddess Lakshmi, and the Hanuman Chalisa was a eulogy of Lord Hanuman. With her delicate step in rhyme with the beats of percussion and other instruments, Prashanthi Harathi cast a spiritual reverie on the audience. The joy of watching her daughter enacting the Hanuman Chalisa was inexplicable.

The Kuchipudi dance performance by Prashanthi Harathi and her disciples from USA concluded with Thillana, a pure nritta show which is distinguished by the virtue of graceful steps and sculpture-like poses. All the performers presented Thillana harmoniously, which the audience enjoyed to their heart’s content. Then they performed Mangalam to conclude the program. Mangalam is a short prayer seeking divine blessings for the wellbeing of everyone in the world.

Prashanthi Harathi is a Kuchipudi exponent based in Portland in the US state of Oregon. A postgraduate in Indian classical dance with specialization in Kuchipudi from Hyderabad Central University, Prashanthi Harathi began her career as a dance instructor in India in 1996. She moved to USA in 2007 and founded Abhinaya Dance Academy in Portland to popularize Indian classical dance thousands of miles away from home (India). She treasures over 30 years of professional experience in performing and 20 years of experience in teaching Kuchipudi.

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Indian Independence Day Celebrations in USA are the biggest events for Indians in America. The calendar of August 2017 is full of events around the 71^st Indian Independence Day in USA. Needless to say; the Indian community in US cities will be having a gala time throughout the month of August. We at Indian Eagle handpicked some of the best 71^st Indian Independence Day celebrations in USA cities for you.

List of 71st Indian Independence Day Celebrations in USA

Festival of India in Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta will soak in Indian culture and heritage at the Festival of India on August 5. First held in 1997 to commemorate the 50^th Independence Day of India, the festival became one of the biggest Indian Independence day events in Atlanta. Among the most-awaited Atlanta Indian events in August 2017, the 21^st edition of the festival will celebrate India’s 71^st Independence Day with mouthwatering dishes from various Indian cuisines and cultural programs on Indian performing arts. The event will also feature petting zoo for kids, shopping booths and seminars on different topics. Being hosted by India American Cultural Association, the event will be held at Infinite Energy Center in Duluth.

India Day Parade in New York

The Indian Independence Day celebrations in New York City are second to none. Desis in New York will commemorate India’s independence with the grand India Day Parade on August 20. One of the biggest Indian events in New York in August 2017, it was initiated in 1981 and became an annual tradition for New York Indians. The India Day Parade NYC is a great chance to witness the Indian Independence Day celebrations in New York. Organized by Federations of Indian Associations, the NYC India Day Parade 2017 will start at Madison Avenue’s 40^th Street and end at the 23^rd Street.

India Day in Boston

Boston Indians are not less enthusiastic about Indian Independence Day celebration than Indians in other US cities. The India Day by India Association of Greater Boston on August 20 is among the best Boston Indian events in August 2017 as the event marks the celebration of 71^st Indian Independence Day. One of the top Indian Independence Day events in USA, the India Day in Boston has the theme ‘Unity in Diversity’. In keeping with the theme, the programs on the schedule of the India Day 2017 in Boston will showcase the cultural diversity of India.  The Hatch Memorial Shell is the venue for the India Day in Boston.

2017 India Day in Naperville, Chicago

Indian Independence Day celebrations in Chicago include the 2017 India Day in Naperville on August 13. Hosted by Indian Community Outreach, it seems one of the largest events for Indians in Naperville in August 2017 to celebrate India’s 71^st Independence Day. To be held at Naperville’s Knock Park, the event will start with a spectacular parade followed by a live concert by Bollywood rockstar Mika Singh. Other entertainment programs include local talent show and fashion show. The Indian Independence Day events in Naperville will conclude with a breathtaking display of fireworks.

India Independence Day in Los Angeles

Are you looking for the top Indian Independence Day events in Los Angeles? Then you should definitely show up at the India Independence Day in California’s Chatsworth on August 26. Among the August 2017 events for Los Angeles Indian community, it will offer Bay Area Indians an amazing chance to take part in Indian Independence Day celebrations in California. The Desis can have tryst with Indian culture, heritage and food as the event venue will have several booths dedicated to Indian food and cultural performance. There will also be many fun programs for kids besides a health fair. The event is sponsored by Emirates Airlines and the India Association of Los Angeles at Chatsworth High School in California.

FOG India Day Parade in Fremont, CAL

Among the Indian Independence Day celebrations in Fremont, the 2017 FOG India Day Parade in Fremont on August 13 celebrates whatever is Indian to the core. Among the biggest Indian parades in USA, it features majestic processions of Grand Marshals riding more than 100 open-top cars, 50 colorful floats, cultural presentations, etc. Expected to see the participation of over 150,000 people, it will surely be on the list of events for Indians in San Francisco in August 2017. Paseo Padre Parkway in Fremont is the venue for the grand parade.

Jai Ho! Independence Bollywood Party in Seattle

Among the upcoming Indian Independence Day celebrations in Seattle, Jai Ho! Bollywood Party will make Indians in Seattle celebrate the 71^st anniversary of Indian independence by shaking their legs to some of the best Bollywood songs. The best of Seattle Indian events in August 2017, it will be a great opportunity to socialize with the fellow Desis. The party will also feature eminent DJ Ki and other special guests for entertaining the audience. Make sure to wear either orange, white and green clothes or traditional Indian attires as there is a dress code. Being hosted by DJ Prashant, the dance party will be held on August 12 at the Crocodile Club in Seattle.

India Independence Day Parade in Chicago

India Day Parade NYC might be famous as the world’s biggest Indian day parade, but Chicago’s annual India Independence Day Parade is undoubtedly one of the not-to-be-missed Indian Independence Day celebrations in Illinois. With a lineup of exciting activities for Chicago Indians, the parade is among the top Indian events in Chicago in August 2017. The Indian Independence Day Parade in Chicago will start at 11 AM on August 19 from Devon Avenue.

Parade of India in Austin, Texas

The Parade of India in Austin on August 12 is what Austin Indians are eagerly waiting for to get soaked in patriotism during the Indian Independence Day celebrations in Austin. Of the upcoming Austin Indian events in August 2017, it will be a spectacular celebration of not only Indian independence but also Indian culture. The schedule of the 2017 Parade of India in Austin is chock-a-block with a number of cultural performances alongside many fun activities such as face painting for kids. Delicious Indian food at the Parade of India in Austin will surely be a treat to the taste buds. The Texas State Capitol is the venue for the parade in Austin.

Magnificent India- Independence Day Celebrations in Stafford

Indians in Stafford are gearing up to take part in the 71^st Independence Day celebrations in Houston at the Magnificent India festival on August 20. One of the best August 2017 events for Houston Indians, it will be an ethnic extravaganza full of cultural programs. While Indian kids can participate in quiz and elocution contests, the grown-ups can catch up with their fellow Indians over appetizing Indian dishes and drinks. The Riyaaz Qawaali music concert is another highlight of the event. Being organized by the non-profit India Culture Center, it will be held at Stafford Centre.

Independence Day Mela in St. Louis, Missouri  

The list of Indian Independence Day celebrations in St. Louis includes Independence Day Mela by the India Association of St. Louis on August 13 in Missouri. The event will start with the hoisting of Indian Flag. One of the most awaited Indian community events in St. Louis in August 2017; the Independence Day Mela in St. Louis takes Missouri Indians on a ride of nostalgia through whatever is Indian essentially and what they miss in USA. Mahatma Gandhi Center in St. Louis is the venue for the event.

India Festival 2017 in Portland, Oregon

Indians in Portland are about to experience the culture, food, traditions and heritage of India like never before during the 71^st Indian Independence Day celebrations in USA. One of the amazing Portland Indian community events in August 2017, the India Festival 2017 will commemorate India’s 71^st Independence Day with dance, food and music. The cultural gala includes also children’s craft workshop, rangoli making and sari tying in its schedule of entertaining programs for Portland Indians. Hosted by India Cultural Association Portland, the India Festival 2017 in Portland will be held on August 13 at Pioneer Courthouse Square.

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If you are not traveling to India this holiday season, you must know where to spend New Year’s Eve 2016 in USA. Needless to say, America is known for wild celebrations on the eve of New Year. After all, December 31 is the most awaited time to look back into what has gone past and make new resolutions for the New Year. Though most of the US cities are party capitals offering live music, street dance, dazzling fireworks and a lot more, we at Travel Beats handpick some of the best places to celebrate the eve of New Year 2017 and watch fireworks in USA for you.

San Francisco

San Francisco is one of the best places in USA for firework celebration on the eve of New Year 2017. Spectacular fireworks between the Ferry Building and the San Francisco Bay Bridge fill the night sky with lots of gleams and glitters. The New Year’s Eve in San Francisco culminates in partying which keeps the city sleepless till wee hours.

Miami

Miami offers myriad places to spend New Year’s Eve 2016 and watch firework display. Apart from rooftop restaurants and galleries, Nikki Beach and Miami City Beach are the best spots to see the night sky light up on the eve of New Year 2017 in Miami. You can also join a cruise party to celebrate the New Year’s Eve in Miami. Needless to say, Miami is known for its vibrant nightlife.

New York

No need to wonder where to spend New Year’s Eve and watch firework display in America if you are in New York. The iconic Times Square in New York City is one of the best places for firework celebration on the eve of New Year 2017 in the US. The Times Square throbs as a partying zone with thousands of revelers ringing in the New Year. Several rooftop bars, lounges and restaurants, including Monarch Rooftop Lounge, in and around the Times Square offer mind-blowing views of fireworks at the Hudson River and on top of the Empire State Building.

Los Angeles

Credit: Shutterstock

Los Angeles, the City of Hollywood, is undeniably where to spend New Year’s Eve in USA by clubbing, dancing, singing, lounging and dining in downtown. Grand Park is one of the few places to be for free events on the eve of New Year in Los Angeles. The Cleopatra’s Ball at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood is one of the most popular events to attend in the evening of December 31, 2016. The New Year’s Ball at the Edison in downtown Los Angeles is full of amazing performances.

Orlando

Orlando is also on the list of best places in USA for firework celebration on New Year’s Eve 2016. Being one of the entertainment capitals in America, Orlando knows how to ring in the New Year. The Magic Kingdom of Walt Disney in Orlando is one of the few most popular places for revelry on the eve of New Year 2017. Walt Disney World is the venue for one of the biggest New Year eve celebration parties in USA. The Church Street Entertainment District in Downtown Orlando is another thriving venue for outdoor entertainment and celebration.

Chicago

Chicago has been voted as one of the best places in USA for firework display on New Year’s Eve for years. The shores of Lake Michigan glitter with dazzling fireworks and throbs with cries of joy on New Year’s Eve in Chicago. The venues of music and dance at Chicago House rock with electrifying numbers played by international DJs, live Jazz shows and live blues plays from early evening till midnight of December 31. You can catch glimpses of fireworks at Navy Pier while enjoying cruise dining with your dear ones on Lake Michigan.

Atlanta

Atlanta has been ringing the bell of New Year with the Peach Drop on the New Year eve since 1989. What started as a trend of New Year eve celebration in Atlanta has become a tradition. Thousands throng at Underground Atlanta to catch views of the 800-pound peach fall from a 138-foot tower of lights. You can spend the New Year’s Eve 2016 by laughing out loud at Atlanta Comedy Theater in Norcross. Celebrity comedians will bring the house down to fill you with enthusiasm for a new year.

New Orleans

A blend of food, music, fun and firework makes New Orleans one of the best places to spend New Year’s Eve in USA. Revelers rock the December 31 evening from Bourbon Street to Jackson Square with live music and street dance. No wonder where to spend New Year’s Eve 2016 in USA if not in New Orleans where sparkling fireworks light up the sky over the Mississippi River for the New Year celebration.

Portland 

Among the best places for firework celebration on the eve of New Year 2017 in USA, Portland is dotted with a great number of nightlife venues for fun and entertainment. The city hosts some epic balls on New Year’s Eve.  The Portland Champagne Ball is one of the most popular celebration parties in the evening of December 31 in Portland. Portland offers whatever you are looking for a high time on New Year’s eve in the Pearl District.

Travel Beats is a portal for Indian Americans by IndianEagle, a leading travel partner of Indians in USA. Travel Beats publishes the latest news and stories from USA and India with regard to Indian Diaspora, air travel, young Indians, philanthropy and tourism.

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The United States shortlisted 10 young scientists, including five Indian American students for Discovery Education Network’s Young Scientist Challenge 2016. Young Indians in USA have been riding the waves of innovation and invention contributing to the progress of society from different perspectives.

These five Indian American finalists are gearing up for the grand finale of 3M Young Scientist Challenge in St. Paul, Minnesota, while 13-year-old Anushka Naiknaware from Portland became a Google Science Fair winner yesterday for her cost-effective, biocompatible dressing material for chronic wounds.

Meghna Behari from Pennsylvania, Rohit Mital from Rochester Hills in Michigan, Rohan Wagh from Portland in Oregon, Mrinali Kesavadas from Illinois and Sara Makboul from Georgia are potential young scientists of America among the finalists. They will compete for the prestigious title “America’s Top Young Scientist.”

Among the finalists of 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2016, Pennsylvania-based Meghna Behari has created an innovative device to make it easy to reach waterways which are difficult to access. The device will also help to analyze the level of difficulty in accessing waterways by monitoring temperature and pH levels of waters. She is sanguine about the usefulness of her invention for scientists.

14-year-old Rohan Wagh from Portland will compete in the grand finale of 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2016 for his invention to eliminate deficiency of energy in underdeveloped countries. This student of grade 8 from the Portland Indian community in Oregon believes that his invention can increase the efficiency of microbial fuel cells. The device is compact in size and requires low maintenance.

14-year-old Mrinali Kesavadas from Illinois has built a cost-effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) simulator to save lives of the poor in underdeveloped countries. Made with low-cost materials, the simulator can give instant feedback through a computer-based program so that the accuracy of CPR tests can be checked. This device by the 8th grader is portable too.

8th grader Sara Makboul’s invention of Nano Cellulose Beads to improve the quality of water is her entry to the grand finale of 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2016. The 14-year-old Indian American girl from Georgia created Nano Cellulose Beads using absorbent cellulose from leaf remains. If combined with sodium polyacrylate and dispersed on land, the beads can absorb excess storm water to decrease the level of pollution.

13-year-old Rohit Mital entered the grand finale for his device to curb pollution caused by emission from diesel automobiles. The device will not only optimize filters to reduce the quantity of hazardous solid and liquid particles in the air but also save 250 million gallons of fuel per year. This 8th grader from the Indian community in Michigan aims to save people from life-taking diseases caused by air pollution.

The 10 finalists will present their innovations to a panel of judges including noted scientists and explain how their inventions can solve everyday problems in the grand finale of 3M Young Scientist Challenge 2016 in St. Paul, Minnesota. The event will be held on October 16, 17 and 18. They will also compete in a number of scientific challenges during the event which will be held on October 16, 17 and 18. The winner will be awarded the title “America’s Top Young Scientist” and a scholarship worth $25,000.

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More power to young Indians for making waves from Google Headquarters in the Silicon Valley to the White House! Three Indian American kids won the White House Recipe Contest in July 2016. The US First Lady Michelle Obama felicitated two Indian American teens as National Student Poets of the year 2016 at the White House on September 8. Now six Indian students including 2 from India and 4 from USA are stepping towards the finals of the 2016 Google Science Fair to compete for a whopping scholarship worth $50,000.

Anika Cheerla from California, Nikhil Gopal from New Jersey, Anushka Naiknaware from Oregon, and Nishita Belur from California are four Indian American teens among the 16 finalists of the sixth annual Google Science Fair competition which will be held on September 27 at Google Headquarters.

Anushka Naiknaware (left), Nikhil Gopal (middle), Anika Cheerla (right)

13-year-old Anushka Naiknaware from the Portland Indian community in Oregon is a student of chemistry. She has developed a cost-effective, biocompatible wound dressing material with moisture level monitoring sensor. Her invention helps to monitor healing of wounds without removing the dressing. Inspired by Marie Curie, Anushka Naiknaware had been at work to find a solution to chronic and complex wound care in the United States where about 165 million injuries are reported a year.

Anika Cheerla, a 14-year-old high school student from the Indian community in California, has devised an automated tool to predict probability of breast cancer development in individuals based on accurate screening of mammograms. She has developed curriculum for the ‘Coding for Kids’ workshop at the non-profit MathandCoding School where she teaches programming to kids. Anika Cheerla wants to be a professor since she is fond of teaching and research.

Nikhil Gopal, a 15-year-old student from the community of New Jersey Indians, has invented a portable malaria monitoring system to check the level of malaria parasite in the blood and decide on required amounts of medications based on the analysis from time to time. When his aunt succumbed to malaria in rural India due to no method or system of checking efficacy of the medicines given to her, Nikhil Gopal decided to create an inexpensive solution for people suffering from malaria, irrespective of socio-economic backgrounds.

13-year-old Nishita Belur from the community of San Jose Indians in California is among the 2016 Google Science Fair finalists for her project on laser light reflection. Nishita, a 7^th grader, has invented a tool that uses laser light reflection to assess the quality of metal surfaces and detect defects in the same in the automobile industry. Nishita hopes that her automated scanning system will improve car production quality and reduce car production costs by accurately detecting defects in metal sheets at the very beginning.

The finalists of the Google Science Fair 2016 also includes two Indian students – one from Hyderabad and the other from Bengaluru – for their innovative solutions to improve human lives.

The winner will be announced and awarded the $50K scholarship in the grand finale to be held on September 27 in the Silicon Valley.

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