A 16-year-old Indian kid from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who was diagnosed with stage-four renal failure last year has been awarded a scholarship worth 1.8 million Dirham (Rs 3,66,68,432). Pritvik Sinhadc is one among several students from across the world to apply for the scholarship. He applied for the prestigious scholarship from his hospital bed while battling his health condition.
Rise, a global project that encourages and supports talented young people, announced Sinhadc as one of the 100 winners globally and the only winner to be selected from the United Arab Emirates.
Sinhadc was born with 50 percent kidney function and his health completely deteriorated last year. He was asked by the doctors to undergo an immediate kidney transplant. It was earlier this year that he underwent the first pediatric kidney transplant in Dubai from a living donor, who gave him a new hope to live.
The medical case of this child prodigy was taken over by the office of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who personally wrote to him assuring that he would receive the best possible care. Sinhadc told the National News, “As of now, my treatment is slowly stabilizing. By the end of this year, hopefully, things should be in a better state and my immune system stronger.”
At 13, he undertook rigorous challenges in both academics and research arenas, achieving straight A*s and contributing to cutting-edge science by working on multiple projects as an Affiliated Researcher at the BEYOND: Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science. Sinhadc is also the world’s youngest author in palaeontology by publishing his first book, ‘When Dinosaurs Roamed the Earth’ at seven. He has also authored two other books titled ‘Planet Radioactive’ and ‘Walking with Prehistoric Beasts’.
At the age of fourteen, he was selected as one of the forty-five researchers from around the world to participate in the World Science Fair in New York. He is the founder-head of STEM Talks Society and Founding President-Head of Paleontology Society at Dubai College. He plans to study in the fields of astrobiology and astrophysics.
As part of the honour, Sinhadc will receive lifelong benefits, including a scholarship to the university of his choice, mentorship and potential funding for future projects.
