Polygence Scholar2023
Maya Vishwanath
Class of 2026Katy, Texas
About
Hello! My name is Maya Vishwanath, and I'm 14 years old. I'm a freshman at Seven Lakes High School and live in Katy, Texas. My Polygence project is on how microbial diseases are impacting impoverished communities. I chose to work on this project because this issue is something I'm very passionate about, and it combines both of my interests, biology, and humanitarianism. When I finish this project, I would like to have a tangible product, like an academic paper.Projects
- "Social factors impacting the dissemination and persistence of drug resistant tuberculosis in India" with mentor Savannah (Sept. 1, 2023)
Project Portfolio
Social factors impacting the dissemination and persistence of drug resistant tuberculosis in India
Started Sept. 16, 2022
Abstract or project description
This project will take a critical investigation into social factors unique to India that facilitate the prevalence, transmission, and persistence of drug-resistant tuberculosis. These factors include, but are not limited to: socioeconomic prejudice as a product of the caste system, religious practices as they relate to proper hygiene, and social conservatism and taboo relating to HIV co-infection. This work is intended to highlight cultural practices that may unintentionally be hurting both individual Indian people and worldwide progress to end the spread of drug resistant tuberculosis, while exploring the societal norms crucial to establishing Indian personal identity and nationalism.