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- Micro-campus news for students #14
Micro-campus news for students #14

Written by a student, for students. Science is endlessly fascinating and I have had an amazing time sharing that with you through this newsletter. It’s been fun keeping it informative, easy to understand, and, of course,100% free! As I approach the final weeks of my senior year, I have truly enjoyed growing the community to 600 subscribers from scratch. While I wrap up this chapter I am exploring the future of the newsletter I am not closing the door just yet but am exploring a few options. Keep an eye out for whats coming next!!
Announcement coming soon! Till then for this month 👇️
What I’ve been reading :(JohnHopkins:Medical Robotics)
Join Ishaan @Vidya-AI
Gene Therapy: Curing Blindness!
New Podcast alert: ‘Beyond the Pulse’
Code Denied !!
🫡 Oops… here’s something we don’ t get to read about a lot ….AI refusals. A developer working on a racing game project using Cursor AI hit an unexpected roadblock when the AI abruptly stopped generating code. After producing 750-800 lines, the assistant refused to continue, offering unsolicited career advice instead: "I cannot generate code for you, as that would be completing your work." Switching gears —next up, it’s packing your lunch and telling you to get more sleep! Wink..
The Intern was a Robot
🫡 A robot, trained for the first time by watching videos of seasoned surgeons, executed the same surgical procedures as skillfully as the human doctors. This marks a significant step forward toward a new frontier in medical robotics.

👇️ You get to read about Axel Schmitt: While training as a bread sommelier, he experimented with blasting sourdough with heavy metal music during fermentation and discovered that sound waves actually speed up the ripening process. Shoutout to all my high school friends interested in music and baking… Go ahead give it a try!
Turning Up the Volume on Sourdough Science!
👇️ On to some exciting news: Gene Therapy! In a world-first breakthrough, doctors in London have successfully restored sight in children born with a rare genetic condition using cutting-edge gene therapy.The children had ‘Leber Congenital Amaurosis’ (LCA), a severe form of retinal dystrophy that causes vision loss due to a defect in the AIPL1 gene. Those affected are legally certified as blind from birth.But after doctors injected healthy copies of the gene into their eyes with keyhole surgery that took just 60 minutes, four children can now see shapes, find toys, recognize their parents’ faces, and in some cases, even read and write.““These remarkable outcomes highlight gene therapy’s life-changing potential,” said Prof Michel Michaelides, retinal specialist at Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL.
Genetic therapy gives infants life - changing improvements in sight
👉️ Also making waves-Scientists have developed an innovative hydrogel that mimics human skin, capable of repairing 90% of wounds in just 4 hours and achieving full healing within 24 hours. This breakthrough technology could transform wound care, reducing recovery time and lowering the risk of infections. With potential applications in treating burns, surgical wounds, and injuries, this advancement offers a promising future for medical treatments. Rapid healing indeed.

#skin #hydrogel #innovation
👉️The University of Surrey in the United Kingdom hosts a contest each year focused on developing robots that mimic things in nature. The 2022 winner, chemistry undergrad Eleanor Mackintosh, designed a robot that looks and acts like a fish and is skilled at filtering microplastics from water it sucks in through its gills. Aptly named- Gillbert measures 50 centimeters in length, roughly the size of an adult pink salmon. Designed in the shape of a fish, it moves just like one too—gliding through water via remote control while its gills rhythmically pulse, drawing in water. As it swims, it filters out microplastics, including particles as tiny as 2 millimeters. It's an incredible piece of tech—and with how fast innovation moves across industries, it wouldn’t be surprising if Gillbert 2.0 is already on the horizon. Can’t wait to see what’s next!
Meet Giil-Bert

#studentpower
💪 Podcast Alert
“Beyond the Pulse” hosted by my junior at GEMS Modern Academy, an aspiring med professional with a passion for medical research, neuroscience who is here to take you beyond the textbook and into the real stories, breakthroughs, and ethical dilemmas shaping healthcare today. As the host and producer, Unnati Saxena is on a mission to bring you a medical podcast that’s not just informative, but also engaging and thought-provoking. From cutting-edge research to neuroscience breakthroughs and the future of healthcare—this is where science meets society. 🎧💡 Join her on this journey to make complex medical knowledge understandable and impactful. Beyond the Pulse isn’t just a podcast—it’s a movement! Don’t miss out! Link to the podcast on Spotify: 🎙️ https://open.spotify.com/show/6UJh8ft81DtZfyaXZpqEk0 🎙️
#BeyondThePulse #Healthcare #Neuroscience #MedicalEthics #FutureOfMedicine #ScienceMeetsSociety #PodcastLaunch

#girlpower #medpodcast
💪 Einstein—errr, ‘AI’nstein
Next up is AInstein which isn’t just a tool, it’s an AI companion that adapts to your needs, making it perfect for both personal and professional use. It’s maker-Adharv Arun , a 15-year-old programmer, is passionate about technology and software development. He focuses on mastering Python and JavaScript while exploring web development, machine learning, and mobile apps. Adharv is a student at JSS Private School, Dubai, with a strong passion for technology and innovation. Outside of coding, he actively follows emerging tech trends and engages in online developer communities to collaborate and exchange knowledge. Driven and curious, he aims to contribute to forward-thinking projects and is constantly seeking opportunities to grow within the dynamic tech industry.Key Features about his brain child AInstein :
Natural Language Understanding: AInstein communicates effortlessly with users.
Wide-Ranging Knowledge Base: From technology to science, AInstein has the answers you need.
Context-Aware: It remembers past interactions to offer relevant responses.
Quick & Efficient: Delivers accurate information in seconds.
Built on the powerful DeepSeek R-1 model, it leverages advanced natural language processing to understand and respond to user queries in a conversational manner.You can ask AInstein about various topics, from general knowledge to specific requests, and it will provide accurate and relevant responses. Whether you need assistance with finding information, solving problems, or making decisions. Go ahead give it a try- AInstein is here to help. 👇️
💪 Revolutionizing Education with AI
Inspiration much 🫡 During a recent visit to a school in Pune, India, 16-year-old Ishaan Palicha, (a boy with his heart in the right place), observed the challenges faced in low-income classrooms, especially the overwhelming student-to-teacher ratio of 40 to 50 students per class. Motivated to make a change and supported by The Akanksha Foundation, he developed VIDYA.AI, an AI-powered tool that transcribes lessons in real-time using speech-to-text technology and generates detailed notes aligned with textbook chapters. With a deep passion for software development, particularly in AI and app creation, his goal is to use tech to drive real-world impact. After this recent success, he has already moved on to his next project, LitterPic, an app created to combat the global litter crisis by gamifying cleanup efforts, leveraging advanced ‘Object Detection’ technology. A student at Jumeirah College, he is an international debater, public speaker and nominated for the prestigious GEMS STEM Leadership Award in recognition for his contributions. Keep an eye out for this young innovator—he’s on a path to the global stage! If you’re committed to supporting the education-for-all movement www.vidya-ai.com 👈️
#EdTech #AIEducation #VIDYAAI #JoinTheMoment #Volunteer #Partner #TransformEducation
💪 A Journey of Growth and Achievement
Next up- a grade 10 student from Adwaith Thought Academy-Tamil Nadu meet Karthikaa Kannan who took part in the Startup Pitching Competition organized by E-cell IIT Bombay. Starting with a quiz and giving her best in every task her dedication earned her a spot at a 2-day bootcamp at IIT Bombay—a proud moment! 🌟 Ranking in the top 0.4% of participants, she reached the finals of Eureka Junior 2024, a prestigious national business & innovation competition by E-cell IIT Bombay. This achievement highlights her creativity, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial spirit, standing out among thousands of entries. At the grand finale, Karthikaa at just 17 years was fortunate to pitch her startup idea to investors—an experience she once thought was out of reach! If you're looking for mentorship on pitching your own startup, don’t hesitate to reach out to her for tips!
#BelieveInYourself #GrowthMindset #EurekaJunior #IITBombay #DreamBig #NeverGiveUp

#girlpower
🤞 An Appeal for Support
To wrap up this segment, high school student Dhruv Bhola is seeking sponsors for an incredible opportunity at UCLA. He has been accepted into a prestigious three-week program at the University, where he will gain hands-on experience in AI and Machine Learning and connect with industry professionals. This experience will also help him refine his Skin Cancer Detection Model, which uses AI to assist in early detection. To make this opportunity possible, Dhruv is looking for financial support to cover the program’s costs, including tuition and accommodation.Hope this post helps you on your journey Dhruv !! Best of luck!
#AI #machinelearning #sponsorships #ucla #summerprogram #support #appeal

#saudi
Saudi sovereign wealth fund-backed Scopely Inc. has agreed to buy Niantic Inc.’s gaming business, including the mobile hit Pokémon Go, for $3.5 billion.
Pokémon Go is one of the world’s most popular mobile games. Launched in 2016, the augmented reality game was developed in collaboration with 👉️ Pikachu and Nintendo. Its user ship peaked at 232 million active monthly players in 2016 and is currently at around 30 million monthly players. It will mark the biggest gaming acquisition in the industry. Find out more 👇️

💻️ Dubai AI Week 2025 I April 21-25th I Register 👈️
A week-long event across Dubai dedicated to driving global AI innovation. Join for discussions, competitions, and workshops that accelerate AI adoption in Dubai and beyond…
Workshops
Talks
Exhibition
Challenge
🎭️ Step into a world where art knows no boundaries! #WAD2025 brings together visionaries, creatives, and art lovers in an exciting art showcase of talent, innovation, and creativity.
From stunning installations to interactive experiments, this is the art gallery you don't want to miss. In addition, artworks by artists qualified for the finalists will be on display in the Emirates’ Environment Action Group’s ‘Art from Waste’ competition, highlighting the power of sustainability through creativity.

#recycle #competition
🎭️ World Art Dubai, the MENA region’s largest art fair, returns for its 11th edition from 17–20 April 2025 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (VIP Preview on 16 April). Featuring over 10,000 artworks by 400+ artists and galleries from 65+ countries, the event promises an immersive experience with live performances, workshops, and talks—celebrating global creativity under one roof. Colorful & surprising-It's like stepping into the coolest art level of your favorite game.
When:17-20 April, Thursday To Sunday
Time: 1:00PM – 9:00PM
Where: Hall 1 & Zabeel halls 1,2,3.

#worldart #creativity
👉️ Wanna know how to publish a 📚️ book?
BookHub is a student-run organization that helps aspiring authors gain recognition, improve their writing, and access valuable resources. It offers editing, book reviews, and writing guidance, along with workshops and events like interview prep and writing lessons. BookHub is excited to host an exclusive webinar guiding young authors through the publishing process. Learn step-by-step insights on book publishing, followed by a discussion with an experienced author and a young writer sharing their journeys. Perfect for aspiring authors, this event offers practical tips for both self-publishing and traditional book deals.
Date & Time: April 27, 2025 at 6:00 pm IST
Where: Google meet (Online)
Meant for : Young aspiring authors looking to get their work published.
Write to : [email protected]