Kaavyan Palaniappan

At an early age, I was captivated by documentaries about the human body, spending hours looking at anatomical charts and human diagrams. I became aware firsthand of the lack of access to healthcare and its effects in poor communities where my grandparents lived, influencing my desire to pursue medicine. Despite my passion for learning medicine, I struggled with the sight of blood and accepted that I may never pursue medicine. That began to change when I read a story about a man who overcame his fear by focusing on his desire to help others rather than his fear of blood. That sudden realization changed my fear into motivation, inspiring me to pursue my passion for biology and medicine. My journey into STEM helped facilitate this passion. In AP Chemistry, hands-on labs allowed me to experiment and immerse myself deeply, unlike my biology class, which relied on videos. This difference taught me the significance that active learning has to help foster curiosity, influencing me to explore ways to improve STEM education.

• Collaborated with team of 3 in the development of an engineering and med-based LLC to help foster education.

• Co Founder – Educational Biology Demonstration Kits (LLC)
• Founded an LLC focused on creating hands-on demonstrative kits to explain biological processes
• Designed physical models illustrating concepts such as:
• Heartbeat mechanics
• Heart valves and blood flow
• Combined biology, engineering design, and education to improve conceptual understanding.

• Vice President – Red Cross Club
• Served as VP for one year