Darwin High School students place third at 2024 International Science and Engineering Fair

Three students who plan to help Territorians save on their power bills has landed them a place on the podium at an international science fair. Find out more.

Darwin High School students Pothik Vincent Mondol (left), Monishi Rangchak Tripura (right), and Mohammad Niyaz Hasan (absent) came third in their category at the 2024 International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles.

Three students’ plan to help Territorians save on their power bills has landed them a place on the podium at an international science fair.

Darwin High School trio Monishi Rangchak Tripura, Pothik Vincent Mondol, and Mohammad Niyaz Hasan took their unique cooling strategy to the 2024 International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles in May.

The team came third in the Earth and Environmental Sciences category.

Darwin High School students Pothik Vincent Mondol (left green shirt), Monishi Rangchak Tripura (middle green shirt).

Mr Mondol said the win felt like a “fever dream” he had yet wake up from.

“Coming from Darwin – which has never been represented previously at ISEF – our objective

was to create a pathway for future Territory students, and we did not expect to even place on the awards, let alone take out third in the world,” he said.

“Walking into the hall and seeing the large banners and thousands of people in a hall is a sight I will never forget.

“It felt like competing in the Olympics.”

Pothik Vincent Mondol (right) and Monishi Rangchak Tripura (left) point to their missing teammate’s name on an event banner.

Darwin High School students Pothik Vincent Mondol (left), Monishi Rangchak Tripura (right), and Mohammad Niyaz Hasan (right) reunite at Darwin Airport after their third place win.

But the brainy trio’s victory was slightly dampened by a missing teammate.

Though the group had been fundraising for their trip for months, their late funding meant Mr Hasan was not able to secure a visa on time.

Mr Hasan’s teammates were “absolutely devastated” they could not share the whole experience, but they made sure his efforts were not overlooked.

Darwin High School students Pothik Vincent Mondol (left) and Monishi Rangchak Tripura (right) saw the Hollywood sign during their trip.

Mr Tripura said his teammate was “highlighted throughout the whole day”.

“I feel extremely disappointed in the fact that we all did the work together and only two

of us got to go and reap the rewards of going over to Los Angeles and presenting our

project,” he said.

“AUSSEF and ISEF members fought really hard to have his visa expedited, but were unsuccessful.

“Although we could not have him in person or in zoom, during the judging we made sure that his contributions to the project were made clear to the judges.”