HomeMy WebLinkAbout047 Blurb about Maya Varma Proclamation - Word - 04.14.2016Cupertino resident, Maya Varma has been selected as the winner of the First Place Medal of
Distinction in the 2016 Intel Science Talent Search competition, which garnered her a $150,000
prize. After her friend suffered a sudden asthma attack, Maya realized there was a need for a
low-cost tool to help patients self-monitor their lung ventilation. In her research about
spirometers, she noted that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the fourth leading cause of
death worldwide. To address the fact that the developing world doesn’t have resources for
expensive diagnostic equipment, Maya used $35 worth of electronics and computer-aided
design tools to engineer a wireless transmitter using Bluetooth technology to connect to a
micro-controller and additionally developed an app to work with the device. On April 13, 2016,
President Obama mentioned Maya’s project and introduced her when he made a speech at the
2016 White House Science Fair. Though she has not determined where to go to college, Maya
plans to study biomedical engineering and develop medical devices. We will be honoring Maya
with a proclamation at the May 3, 2016 City Council meeting.