Leicester’s Anika Dharamshi has been crowned the winner of this year’s ‘Eurekas’, beating off competition from hundreds of other highly imaginative entries.
The 13-year-old has scooped £1,000 for herself and £250 for her school, Avanti Fields School, after winning The Eurekas 2023, with her creative ‘Formula 1’ board game
Now in its second year, competition saw hundreds of young people aged 11-16 across the UK take up the challenge to answer the question: how does physics power your passion?
Anika’s winning entry, impressed the expert judges by showcasing the laws of physics on a racetrack, scoring top marks for originality and creativity, quality, relevance and spirit.
“I really loved the challenge because it unlocked my potential and actually made me want to do more with Physics,” Anika told Leicester Times.
“I was actually really surprised to win the competition. It’s convinced me that anything is possible if you dedicate time and hard work. Remember to always think like a scientist and then think like a dreamer.”
Anika, who’s a Year 8 student at Avanti Fields, said that careers that involve game designing, engineering and architecture are options she’d like to pursue in the future.
The second annual Eurekas saw over 250 students submit over 200 entries, more than double the number submitted in the first year of the competition.
Last year, a group of four Avanti Fields School students won the top prize for baking a cake in the shape of a cochlear implant.
The judging panel included author and science teacher Alom Shaha, journalist, broadcaster and physicist Shivani Dave and founder of The Eurekas, Ray Mitchell.
“We can’t believe Anika has won the top prize; the second time Avanti Fields School students have secured the £1000 prize in this national competition,” said Rakhi Patel, Key Stage Lead Science, Careers Lead and ECT Mentor at Avanti Fields School.
“We are so proud of her passion and use of science knowledge in her entry. It is great to see her flair for physics develop under our strong curriculum, which aims to develop our students’ sense of awe and wonder at the world around them and explore the way everything connects.”
“Anika’s entry was really creative and showed her passion for science and physics in particular,” added Vanessa Bardsley, school principal.
“We’re just over the moon that from a national competition, she’s a winner. I think she’s done the school and herself very, very proud.”
